Silence Talks is the latest and most eloquent musical statement from guitarist Nicolas Meier and his band. It is the sound of a band that have been playing together for more than three years and where every member brings their own distinct musical voice to the music in an ongoing musical conversation. This dialogue and empathy shines through every note of this, their third, album together as Meier’s increasingly confident compositions provide a natural launch point for some dazzling investigations of his own unique eastern-flecked jazz.

Silence Talks is the third album from UK based Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier and the Meier Group and his previous albums Orient and Yuz have received widespread acclaim and scooped two awards in 2006 at the prestigious Revelations Jazz A Juan festival in France: Best Guitar and the Grand Jury Prize. Critics and admirers alike are drawn to his superb guitar playing but also to his multifaceted compositions drawing on Methenyesque fusion, straight ahead jazz and Turkish and Eastern influences (Meier’s wife is Turkish and he is a frequent traveler to that amazing country where East meets West).

The album opens with October in Ankara inspired by the sounds of that wild city (the melody came to Meier when the band played there in 2006), while the meditative title track (on which Meier plays a Godin "Glissentar" fretless guitar with 11 strings) is inspired by the tranquil beauty of Fethiye. Turquoise mixes jazz with flamenco and eastern sounds and Dance of the Rain is a Turkish dance (check out Atzmon’s solo), Deniz’s Love is for a new addition to Meier’s Turkish family and features him on nylon string guitar and the album closer A Rose In The Pyrenees recalls a happy trip and provides a fine end to the album.

Meier, winner of ‘Grand Prize of the Jury’ and ‘1st Prize Jazz Guitar’ at the French Jazz a Juan Revelations Awards 2006 is a highly accomplished Swiss guitarist and composer. Prior to producing Yuz, he was hailed as one of the rising stars of a vibrant British jazz scene.

Yüz, is a multi-cultural, cross-genre musical extravaganza. Combining aspects of Jazz and Blues with World music, Meier’s prolific proficience on guitars, is underpinned by the talents of the Nicolas Meier Group, exhibiting instrumental and influential styles from across the globe on the Naim Label stage.

Orient, Meier’s previous release on the Naim Label generated some marvellous press:

"Meier is elegant in tone and bubbling with ideas... his originality as a writer, a player and a team leader dispatches any doubts." John Fordham The Guardian

"Meier should be praised for making an accessible record from his fascination with remote regions..."

Tom Barlow Jazzwise Magazine

Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier may be a new name here but his Meier Group are well known in Europe, having toured extensively in Switzerland, Italy and France.

Now based in London, his new look Meier Group features saxophonists Gilad Atzmon, Dave O'Higgins and Rob Laver, bassist Tom Mason and drummer Asaf Sirkis. With the release of Orient and a tour set for February 2006, Meier is about to be a whole lot better known here as well.

Orient draws on a multitude of influences: Jazz, Flamenco, Latin and middle-eastern music are all passionately explored in a series of heartfelt acoustic modern jazz originals and all represent part of Meier's musical and personal world. His wife Songul is Turkish and he has spent time both there and in Spain. Orient draws on the captivating melodies and rhythms of both countries.

Nicolas studied arranging with Max Jendly and Francis Boland before earning a scholarship to Berklee in Boston, USA, immersing himself in classic American jazz and playing acoustic jazz and fusion. He has performed live with illustrious names such as Elvin Jones, Brad Meldau, Trilok Gurtu and Bill Evans.