If you have ever spent the night at a bivouac, you know full well that you are not in for living the high life: in a bivouac you will find neither thermal spa nor sumptuous breakfast buffet-but you are in close touch with nature instead. It is no coincidence then that Biwak (German for bivouac) is the name that tenor saxophonist Thomas Lüthi gives to his contemporary jazz trio consisting of bassist Arne Huber and drummer Claudio Strüby. Bandleader Lüthi´s interest in purity, authenticity and reduction makes the trio´s music seem to grow organically out of a fertile soil that is free from artificial add-ons and ornamental knick-knack. Dynamic and dialogic in nature, the sound of Thomas Lüthi´s Biwak oscillates between asperity and warmth; their music radiates sublimely and earthly at the same time. The trio starts out as a working band in 2008 and is dedicated to familiarize itself with the origins of the Great American Songbook tradition. The collaboration turns out to be exceptionally fruitful and prompts the musicians to write their very own distinctive music, which they have documented and recorded on two CD releases so far.