FLORIAN ROSS
BRASS PROJECT
LILACS and LAUGHTER
Florian Ross - Piano
Ingolf Burkharft, Claus Stotter, Eric Vloeimans - Trumpets
Christine Chapman. Ruth Funke - French Horns
Jurgen Neudert, Nils Wogram - Trombones
Ed Partyka - Bass trombone, Tuba
Ingmar Heller - Bass
John Hollenbeck - Drums
Manfred Knaak - Conductor
NAXOS JAZZ 86053 -
D
Amazon
UK £5.99
Opening Chorale
Opening Fanfare
Lilacs and laughter
Vamp 1
Mutual Recognition
Rondo No 5
Four is a Company
At the Movies
Vamp 2
Vamp 3
Old, New City
Vamp 4
Aldersong
After doing a number of reviews recently, I had held this one till last,
because having read the sleeve note, I thought it would not be for me. The
thing that is most satisfying about being a record reviewer is that you are
sometimes forced to listen to things that would have otherwise passed you
by. This looked at first glance like a Brass band with a rhythm section,
it is much more than that, it is new exciting music written for a Brass Jazz
Ensemble. The melodic content is excellent, the soloists superb and the rhythm
section is of the highest order. The arrangements remind me a lot of Gerry
Mulligan writing for his Big band and for me their can be no higher praise,
as it was one of the most exceptional outfits in jazz
Ross himself, Ingmar Heller and drummer John Hollenbeck are the kind of rhythm
section most jazz players dream of working with, but rarely get. The Band
has many fine Front line soloists; one slight criticism is that the sleeve
notes don't say who takes which solo. This is excellent contemporary music
and just when I thought I was a died-in-the-wool old Bopper, along comes
something contemporary, musical melodic and well worthy of attention.
Don Mather
CD Reviews
