Record Reviews

MAX ANDRZEJEWSKI`S HUTTE AND CHOIR ~ HUTTE AND THE HOMEGROWN ORGANIC GOSPEL CHOIR WHYPLAYJAZZ 034 (Barcode: 4250459990346) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by German drummer / composer Max AndrzejewskiFind albums by this artist and his HutteFind albums by this artist quartet, which also includes saxophonist Johannes SchleiermacherFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. On this album the quartet is joined by a thirteen piece choir, called The Homegrown Organic Gospel ChoirFind albums by this artist, led by Tobias ChristlFind albums by this artist. Guest vocalist Dorrey Lin LylesFind albums by this artist appears on four tracks. Together they perform eleven original compositions, all composed by Andrzejewski. The music is an attempt to mix contemporary / Free Jazz with Gospel Music, an innovative idea, which sadly fails to achieve its purpose. Taken separately the music played by the quartet and the choir parts might work out well, but when they are superimposed each on top of the other, there is a clash which is hard to reconcile. The Jazz parts are complex and free spirited, while the Gospel parts are based on simple melodies, with exaggerated theatrics. The quartet is an excellent ensemble, which offers top class modern Jazz and is definitely worth following, as are other project Andrzejewski takes part in, but this particular project simply leaves me cold since its ingredients simply do not mix at all, as far a I am concerned. Overall this is an interesting and innovative project, which has some great quartet performances, sadly constantly disturbed by the simplistic and repetitive Gospel vocals. Not my cup of tea.

Updated: 06/06/2017Posted: 06/06/2017

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BARBARA BRUCKMULLER ~ A CHAIN OF MOMENTS BICOLORIOUS MUSIC 2024-01 ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is a 3CD album by Austrian composer / arranger / bandleader Barbara BruckmullerFind albums by this artist, which presents her Suite in five Movements, called “A Chain Of Moments”. The suite is performed in three different arrangements, each on a separate CD. CD1 presents the suite performed by piano and a string quartet, with Cuban (resident in NY) pianist Aruan OrtizFind albums by this artist. CD2 presents the suite performed by a Jazz sextet, which includes Ortiz, saxophonist Viola FalbFind albums by this artist, Polish trumpeter Kaya MellerFind albums by this artist, trombonist Mario VavtiFind albums by this artist, bassist Thatiana GomesFind albums by this artist and drummer Howard CurtisFind albums by this artist. CD3 presents the suite performed by the Barbara Bruckmuller Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist & Strings, which also includes Ortiz and other local Jazz musicians, like saxophonist Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist, trombonist Robert BachnerFind albums by this artist and the a.m. members of the sextet and the string quartet. All the music was recorded live, with the orchestra performing at the famous Porgy & Bess Club in Vienna and the smaller lineups at the MusikQuartier 1060 in Vienna. The sheer scope of this project is truly impressive, requiring the composer / arranger to re-think the music in different environment, with the specific challenges and limitations in mind, all of which Bruckmuller does with incredible skills and obvious expertise. As a result, the listener is exposed to classic example of the differences between these three Jazz environments: Jazz-Classical, Jazz ensemble and Jazz Big Band. Although the music is obviously the same, it sounds quite different in these varied exposures, enabling an ideal comparative experience. Ortiz, who is usually associated with the Avant-Garde Jazz scene, shows that he is perfectly capable of playing scores exactly as written, and his improvisational identity is most evident during the sextet performance, where he soloes extensively. But his contribution to this recording, in all three exposures, it absolutely outstanding and highly appreciated. Of course the actual music, which we can enjoy, is the most important factor, which makes the entire experience so enjoyable and artistically fulfilling. Bruckmuller is a wonderful weaver beautiful melodic themes, as well as a skillful arranger, especially in the Big Band environment, and her work so far is really outstanding. Overall, this is a highly ambitious and complex musical adventure, which presents a suite in three different Jazz environments, proving that great music sound wonderful in every milieu, when it is aesthetically sound and skillfully performed. I absolutely loved this album and highly recommend it to all Jazz fans, who love the flirt between Jazz and Classical Music, and of course the European Big Band Jazz sound. Well done Milady!

Updated: 11/04/2025Posted: 11/04/2025

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TOBIAS HOFFMANN JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ CONSPIRACY MONS 874757 (Barcode: 4260054557578) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by German (resident in Austria) saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist. Following the debut album “RetrospectiveFind albums with this title” from 2019, which was recorded with a nonet, this time Hoffmann conducts a full-fledged eighteen-piece strong Jazz Orchestra, which performs ten of his original compositions. The music emphasizes the wealth of possibilities a Jazz Orchestra is able to generate, based on excellent compositions, and featuring the full power of instrumental collaboration by the orchestra members. As usual in such circumstances, most of the orchestral performances feature soli by selected members of the orchestra. The album is mainly a testimony of Hoffmann’s development as a Jazz composer, which shows significant progress in comparison to his debut album. Although still within the mainstream milieu, the music is interesting, diverse and coherently constructed, superbly utilizing the potential of a Jazz Orchestra. Hoffmann continues the European approach to Jazz Orchestra, which cultivates an overall ensemble sound, rather than the American approach, where the band mostly accompanies soloists. Overall, this is an excellent Orchestral Jazz effort, with first class compositions flawlessly executed by the instrumentalists, which continues the splendid European Orchestral Jazz tradition, keeping it alive despite the difficulties involved with working and sustaining big ensembles in today’s climate. It seems that Austria manages to be the best environment in Europe for Orchestral Jazz these days. Well done indeed!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 02/10/2022

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TOBIAS HOFFMANN JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ INNUENDO MONS 874873 (Barcode: 4260054558735) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the 3rd album by German saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist and the 2nd album with his eighteen-piece Tobias Hoffmann Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which he conducts, released again on the Mons Records label. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions by Hoffman. Hoffmann continues his musical path as a composer of music for Jazz Big Band / Orchestral environment, developing his skills rapidly, as this album proves. His music becomes more complex and sophisticated, without losing coherence and melodic continuance. He knows how to use the rich potential that a Big Band offers, and utilizes it to the max. His compositions ideally suit the European Jazz Big Band approach, which presents the entire Orchestra as one multi-headed (or rather multi-instrumental) body, which creates music together, in contrast to the American Big Band tradition, which mostly uses the Big Band to support leading soloist with rather simplistic arrangements. Although recorded just a couple of years following his previous album, Hoffmann uses this time a much wider and more imaginative palette of instrumental ingenuity, which adds spark and spirit to the resulting music. Overall, this is a wonderful Jazz Big Band album, splendidly performed and offering an excellent collection of first rate compositions, which should offer a delightful listening experience to Orchestral Jazz enthusiast the world over. Thanks for keeping me up to date with your achievements, my young Friend, following our brief meeting in Vienna a few years ago. God speed with your career!

Updated: 15/08/2024Posted: 15/08/2024

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TOBIAS HOFFMANN NONET ~ RETROSPECTIVE ALESSA 1076 (Barcode: 9004501010767) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by German (resident in Austria) Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist recorded with his nonet (five horns and four-piece rhythm section). It presents ten original compositions, all by Hoffmann. The music is melody based mainstream Jazz, excellently arranged and orchestrated for the nonet and sounding almost like a big band. The compositions are all well rounded and obviously created with this setting in mind. The music is performed passionately and spotlessly by the highly professional group of players, with many splendid soli and superb teamwork from start to finish. The nonet sounds great both when playing the highly energetic up tempo swinging numbers and the soulful ballads, which results in a well balanced and diverse collection of tunes. Although not particularly innovative or groundbreaking musically, this album is a splendid tribute to large Jazz ensembles and classic Jazz arrangements, which often get totally neglected these days. Hoffmann manages to bring back the full glory of a well arranged and splendidly executed classic sound of a large Jazz band, which of course is still an integral part of the Jazz tradition. One should appreciate the enormous commitment and time invested to conceive, produce and record an album like this one, crowned with such elegant and musically pleasing result, especially so in case of musicians of the young generation devoted to our beloved music. Well done indeed!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 24/01/2020

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend