Fabienne Ambuehl is a London-based pianist, singer and composer born in Switzerland. Her new album ‘Thrive‘ was released in January 2025 on the progressive label Ubuntu Music. The band successfully showcased the album at a
sold-out show at the Vortex Jazz Club in London.
‘Thrive‘ has received glowing reviews from the international jazz press. Jazzwise Magazine rewarded it four stars and it has received regular radio play in the UK, including BBC Radio 3 Jazz Record Requests, ‘Round Midnight and Night Tracks. On the Catalan public radio 3cat, there is an hour-long programme about Fabienne’s music and the single “New Ones” was featured track and on the JazzFM C playlist for several weeks. The album was also presented on Deutschlandfunkkultur and ARD Jazz - Das Magazin and was selected “Album of the Week” on both Presto Music and the German Rondo - Magazin für Klassik und Jazz.

Her band is a dynamic ensemble of brilliant musicians – Matt Ridley on bass (The Antidote, The Darius Brubeck Quartet) and Jon Scott on drums (Mulatu Astatke, GoGo Penguin, Sons of Kemet XL), with special guest guitarists Tom Ollendorff and Ant Law. Ambuehl has a strong sense of ensemble interplay and balance between individual expression and collective cohesion. As Rondo - Das Klassik & Jazz Magazin put it: “Thrive convinces with warmth, precision and excellent interplay of the band”.

Ambuehl’s music is inspired by her surroundings, from the sounds and silence of the mountains, where she finds a deep connection with nature, to the rhythms and soundscapes of the big city. Her melodic ideas and detailed arrangements are rooted in jazz, playing with a folk-tinge and showcase her expressive and supple piano playing. Her vocals “are crystal clear, distinct and refreshingly free of jazz clichés” (Neil Duggan, AllAboutJazz) and as a writer she “has a poetic sensibility and uses expertly a range of poetic techniques in her lyrics” (Trevor Hodgett, RNR magazine)

Her first album, ‘Glitterwoods’ with Yuri Goloubev on bass and Asaf Sirkis on drums, was released on Traumton Records 2015. The album was very well received in the European jazz press and listed by UKvibe.com as an “Album Of The Year”.   “Stripped-back minimalism and emotional depth, playfulness and maturity, and a profound jazz sensibility combined with a powerful romantic imagination, forge her unmistakable style”, wrote Norbert Krampf about Glitterwoods.

In addition to leading her trio and quartet and performing solo, Fabienne has collaborated with the Noga Ritter band and worked in Senegal in an Arts Council England-supported residency. With Neele & the Soundvoyage she released an EP and the album ‘Visions’ (QFTF Berlin 2018), touring in Switzerland and Germany. She has conducted choirs herself for many years and was the soloist for Jazz Choir Freiburg who she toured in Germany and Austria with, and was their improvising soloist at the Eurovision Song Contest for Choirs in Riga, Latvia (2017).

Originally trained as a classical pianist, Fabienne fell in love with jazz after hearing a neighbour play the blues. At fourteen, she recorded her first album with a big band. She later completed a Master of Arts in Music from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, further developing her singing at the Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen.
Fabienne is a winner of Friedl Wald Stiftung Price and Förderpreis of Kanton Zug.

T H R I V E
is the result of introspection and questions of belonging, also contemplating humanity’s place within the natural world. Beside her own lyrics, Ambuehl used a poem for “My River” by Emily Dickinson and for the title track, set the words of a poem by D. H. Lawrence to music. ‘Thrive’ combines Ambuehl’s jazz roots with a folk tinge, resulting in instrumental and vocal songs full of compelling rhythm and emotion.

“Quite simply fab” Marlbank

“Ambuehl’s vocals are crystal clear, distinct and refreshingly free of jazz clichés.” Neil Duggan, AllAboutJazz

”This is different, innovative music full of freedom, breath and relaxation… thematic interweaving which does not shy away from uninhibited improvisation. We are thrilled! “ Jacek Brun, jazz-fun.de

”With Thrive Ambuehl poses somewhat of a triple threat as a fine pianist, wonderful singer and a composer of note. “
Nick Lea, Jazzviews

G L I T T E R W O O D S
is the sound from Swiss forest walks, swims in mountain streams and contrasting strolls through foreign cities. Influenced by early Brad Mehldau as well as Romantic music, the album matches Ambuehl’s own attitude towards life and tells of her love for small things. 
With Yuri Goloubev on bass and Asaf Sirkis on drums, ‘Glitterwoods’ confidently melts the beauty of breezy harmonies with lyrical depth.

“A masterpiece. “
Reiner Kobe, Jazz ’n’ More

"… a splendid debut recording that indicates great expectations for the future."  
Greg Drygala, Hificritic

“… radiating, clear melodies between considered reduction and emotional depth… “
Ulfert Gorman, Jazzpodium