
Florian Ross Octet - Tunes & Explorations
Release Date: 21 October 2022
Florian Ross Octet - Tunes & Explorations
Composed and arranged by Florian Ross, this new album, Tunes and Explorations re-imagines the American Songbook
You could characterize Florian Ross' latest endeavour as "new bottles, old wine." He decided to pay homage to the songs from the Great American Songbook after releasing numerous albums of original compositions. The objective was to produce vibrant, modern arrangements that retain or build upon the original melodies without dismantling them. This keeps those wonderful tunes true to their original intent while allowing Ross' compositional language to unfold. "Tunes & Explorations" is exactly what it sounds like: a journey into familiar territory using an unfamiliar path.
Turning 50 is a significant milestone for many people, perhaps more so in the arts than in almost any other profession. This is typically a time of deep reflection, looking back at what has passed and anticipating what is to come. As jazz musicians, this usually entails a nostalgic journey into the music of our predecessors, which for the most part involves the ever-present American Songbook. Metheny,
Lovano, Brecker, and countless others have all taken their turns at the forefront of creative jazz, while also referencing and honouring the music that influenced their creative endeavours - the Great American Songbook.
This collection of arrangements (including one original, Making Bagels, that feels and sounds like it's been in the cannon for decades) serves as a reminder that we all have the same jazz music roots. This iconic collection of songs has infiltrated the musical DNA of every jazz artist, including Florian. As a European jazz artist, it is perhaps most interesting to hear how Ross has interpreted these American classics, revealing the international appeal and language of jazz music.
01 BAKING MAGELS (Florian Ross)
02 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU (Jimmy van Heusen)
03 I SHOULD CARE (Sammy Cahn)
04 HONEYSUCKLE ROSE (Fats Waller)
05 SEND IN THE CLOWNS (Stephen Sondheim)
06 LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY (Jerome Kern)
07 IF ISHOULD LOSE YOU (Ralph Rainger)
08 PURE IMAGINATION (Leslie Bricusse)
09 FUN RIDE (Bill Evans)
10 SWEET AND LOVELY (Gus Arnheim)
11 SISTER SADIE (Horace Silver)
BASTIAN STEIN - TRUMPET
MATTHEW HALPIN - TENOR/FLUTE
CRAIG BRENAN - TROMBONE
NIELS KLEIN - BARITONE/BASS-CLARINET
ELIOTT KNUETS - GUITAR
LEON HATTORI - PIANO
DIETMAR FUHR - BASS
TOBIAS BACKHAUS - DRUMS
Florian Ross - COND./ARR.
TotalTime 54:23
Recorded March 21-24 2022 at Kammermusiksaal Deutschlandfunk, Cologne, Germany by Nico Raschke, Wolfgang Rixius & Oliver Dannert. Edited by Julian Speyer. Mixed by Christian Heck at Tonart Studio. Mastered by Florian Ross. Radio Producer for Deutschlandfunk Odilo Clausnitzer. Front Photo by Florian Ross (Elizabeth St. Rooftop, 1999). Florian Ross Portrait by Lena Semmelroggen. All tracks arranged and produced by Florian Ross © &℗ 2022