Purple is the Color (AUT / CH)

Founded in 2016 by Austrian pianist Simon Raab, Purple is the Color has grown into one of the most distinctive and exciting voices in contemporary European jazz. Together with Štěpán Flagar (saxophone), Martin Kocián (double bass), and Michał Wierzgoń (drums), a true working band has emerged—a collective that evolves organically and consistently prioritizes artistic depth over quick effects. Their third album, Unbemanntes Raumschiff, is the result of a year-long residency as the stage band at Porgy & Bess in Vienna. As part of the program, the quartet performed monthly concerts throughout an entire season, creating a tailor-made set for each performance—a rare opportunity that sparked an intensive creative process. “It became clear to us early on that a lot of new music would come out of it,” says Raab. “And the more we played, the stronger our desire became to capture that moment.”