David Helbock & Julia Hofer Duo
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Tourdates with the album “Faces of Night” 2025/2026
Press “Faces of Night”
„You will buy this record — it’s a double whammy.“
The TIMES / best jazz albums of 2025 / GB
“One of the best new albums in a long time. […] – provides proof that the jazz genre in general, and these musicians in particular, have few limitations. **** ½” Editor’s Pick
Jazzwise / GB
“Overall, the project succeeds very nicely causing you to reflect for more than a moment on the the dual faces of the night, unknowable and soulful and then full of dance and fun.”
UK Jazznews / GB
“When you hear how free of clichés and unusually the duo Europeanizes Prince's hits like Purple Rain and Sexy M.F., you have to conclude: this shouldn’t remain a mere musical one-night stand for the two of them. ****”
RONDO / DE
“When composition crosses into artistry, when sound becomes an honest, sometimes acrobatic expression, the result is timeless.”
Paris Move / FR
“Versatility, playfulness and a love of experimentation.”
ORF / AT
“A delightful album on which stillness and motion, shadow and light complement each other.”
Musica Terra / JP
“Sounds to encounter the night: playful, curious, and daring.”
3sat Kulturzeit / DE-AT-CH
“A stylistically diverse album by an original pianist and conceptualist who continually finds unusual approaches to well-known pieces.”
Der Standard / AT
“An intense, multifaceted work – an intimate sonic journey between contemplative depth, grooving energy, and chamber-music delicacy.”
Concerto / AT
"Helbock and Hofer have an intuitive, almost telepathic musical connection and complement each other perfectly. A true stroke of luck."
Neue Tageszeitung / AT
“The many faces of the night, dancing and lost in dreams. In a dense, intense narrative, a field of tension emerges from sensitive reinterpretations”
Jazz thing / DE
"Extremely original! …A highly accomplished album."
Jazzthetik / DE
“An emotional musical blockbuster.”
Kulturzeitschrift / AT
"The Hofer/Helbock duo is presented as a partnership that remains curious, takes risks, and allows something new to emerge from every moment."
Vorarlberger Nachrichten / AT
"Here, the risk is fully embraced. And all that remains is to salute the monumental work of two passionate musicians who are sincerely in love with their art."
Paris Move / FR
"A warm, welcoming, and playful tone permeates the music, speaking equally to the head and the heart."
MICA / AT
On this album Julia Hofer plays with astonishing openness and precision, while the very inspired David Helbock is her ideal counterpart!
SK Jazz / SK
„A really cool, different type of project… a wonderful listen all the way through with a beautiful flow. For those who enjoy really good compositions and something different – you’re really going to dig this.“
Bellisario Sonic / US
“This duo works. The common will, the alchemy, the deeply positive spirit of these two musicians, all their experience of bringing audiences with them… they made something special happen. Long may it last.”
UK Jazznews / GB
"Helbock and Hofer are a perfect match. They generate an outstanding chemistry together without having to compromise their individual class."
Hessische Allgemeine / DE
"The prospects already look very good that these two artists will rank among the greatest pairs.”
Mindelheimer Zeitung / DE
"They are among the most exciting and, at the same time, the most enjoyable and accessible things that the Austrian jazz scene currently has to offer."
Kleine Zeitung / AT
"D. Helbock and J. Hofer take the venue by storm. A duo evening full of energy, emotion, and musical magic. Fantastic!"
Donaukurier / DE
“Hofer shifts between cello, electric and fretless bass with supreme ease and Helbock is an incredibly playful and inventive pianist who uses all manner of percussive techniques.”
UK Jazznews / GB
"I always thought I didn’t really like jazz. But that was really fantastic!"
Passauer Neue Zeitung / DE
“Fresh and dynamic, the duo benefits not only from the well-known expertise of the pianist but also from the instrumental versatility of the Viennese musician Hofer.”
Jazz Italia / IT
"This is possible because the two seem to understand each other blindly and conduct their communication on a purely intuitive level. The audience listens with great enthusiasm and leaves at the end deeply moved and inspired."
Kultur-Kritik.net / DE
"The duo develops a timeless jazz and thereby achieves a playful freedom without dissolving the form. David Helbock and Julia Hofer become completely immersed in their music and only resurface after the second encore."
jazzreportagen.com / DE
"Hofer masters her bass with dreamlike confidence. At times, one had the impression that it wasn’t just two people playing."
Fränkischer Tag / DE
“Dark Soul ushered in a stormy finale, after which a driving encore put a resounding full stop to a thoroughly enjoyable concert.”
jazzradar.com / NL
“From the moment they clapped their hands to trigger a tempo shift to the moment they took their final bow, the alchemy was undeniable - a sustained hour of music breathing as a single, living thing.”
Nenad Georgievski, Jazzkaar 2026 / EST
David Helbock, one of Austria’s leading jazz pianists, has captivated audiences worldwide with his projects at major festivals across all continents. His virtuosity & creativity have earned him numerous awards, including multiple prizes at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition and the Austrian “Outstanding Artist Award.”
For his latest project, Helbock has formed a duo with the versatile Viennese electric bassist and cellist Julia Hofer. Known primarily from the pop world through tours with No Angels and appearances on Stefan Raab’s TV shows, Hofer has also built a massive online following with her Thomann bass videos on YouTube. She now brings her dynamic style into the jazz realm alongside Helbock.
In autumn 2025, the duo released their acclaimed new album on the renowned label ACT Music. Praised by critics and named “one of the best jazz albums of 2025” by The Times (UK), it masterfully blends dreamy original compositions with groovy, energetic pieces that highlight both artists’ distinctive voices.
Besides their own originals, the duo also performs works by G.I.Gurdjieff, Thelonious Monk, Eddie Harris, Robert Schumann, and Prince. With inventive effects, rhythmic piano percussion, and seamless switches between cello and electric bass, their concerts deliver an emotionally rich and innovative musical journey.
Videos
Photos
Photos by Severin Koller at Reaktor Vienna (AT):
Photos by Lucas Dietrich at Pianosalon Christophori Berlin (DE):
Photos by Gerhard Donauer at Austrian Soundcheck Festival Graz (AT):
Photos by Anneli Ivaste at Jazzkaar Festival Tallinn (EST):
Photos by Julienne Speckle at jazzambach Götzis (AT):
Photos by Robert Crowley at Ronnie Scott´s London (GB):
Photos by Michael Steiner at Jazztage Ingolstadt (DE):
Photos by Balint Hrotko at Opus Jazzclub Budapest (HU):
