The trap of modern big bands is that too many try to throw around too many ideas, and lose the sight and vision of jazz, and getting sterile in the process. Conductor and composer Tobias M. Hoffmann avoids all of the pitfalls and land mines of 21th Century Jazz Orchestras, deftly combining clever charts with swinging sections and soloists, satisfying head and heart in the process.–
The band is indeed a big one, with 5 woodwinds, five horns, four trombones and a four member rhythm team, but there’s not an inch of clutter in the process. There’s a hint of Gil Evans sophistication with the horns on the clever “Trailblazers” featuring some rich baritone work by Jonas Brinkmann, while the horns get a place in the spotlight, as they stand alone on the floating and rich “ Elegy” .
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Drummer Reinhold Schmolze digs in hard with bassist Ivar Roban Krizic to form a deep rivulet under the rich alto sax of Patrick Dunst as he works around the askance horns of “Relentless” while Jakob Helling works his mellifluous flugelhorn around the moody reeds on like a sun peering through the clouds on “Awakening”. The team shows it’s playfulness with a collection of trombones sliding around like Ricky Henderson on the quirky and clever “Who Knows Intro” while everyone guitarist Vikka Wahl rocks out with the horns on “Who Knows” to make you think that this is w hat the band Chicago could have sounded like if they hadn’t changed directions. Stylish, snazzy and with something to say.