New CD: “Innuendo”
I am so happy to announce that my large ensemble, the Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra will be releasing a new CD this year. After releasing the first CD “Conspiracy” with my Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra in 2022, I am excited to announce that my ensemble’s new album “Innuendo” will be released on the German label MONS Records (MR874873) on September 20, 2024.
German saxophonist, composer and arranger Tobias Hoffmann returns with his second big band album “Innuendo”. Following the success of 2022’s “Conspiracy”, this new release continues Hoffmann’s evolution as a large ensemble writer, taking his Jazz Orchestra to even greater heights. With “Innuendo”, Hoffmann has composed an eclectic set of intricate, genre-blending works including the title track that was awarded “Best Composition” in the category “Original Composition – Large Ensemble” at the 47th Downbeat Student Music Awards. The result is a deeply personal, stunningly mature album that confirms Hoffmann’s reputation as one of the most exciting creative voices in contemporary large ensemble jazz.
The album opens with the dynamic title track “Innuendo”, a Downbeat award-winning composition that pays homage to the legendary rock band Queen. Highlights include “Summer Solstice”, the energetic “No Way Back” in an odd meter piece inspired by Sipiagin and Potter, and the deeply moving “Sanctuary”. In addition, Hoffmann explores new realms from Bob Brookmeyer’s “white note” exercise on “Convictions” to fusing classical, minimalism and jazz on “Bipolarity”. The atmospheric “The Lake” captures the serene power of nature through inventive solo sections.
With “Innuendo”, Tobias Hoffmann has crafted a true tour-de-force that showcases his remarkable growth as a composer and arranger. Blending a multitude of influences into a cohesive whole, he delivers a thrillingly eclectic yet profoundly unified listening experience. Bolstered by a stellar ensemble overflowing with virtuosic soloists, this captivating release cements Hoffmann’s place as a creative voice the in the current contemporary jazz landscape.
Single: “The Lake”
Atmospheric impressions from a misty winter morning spent at Lake Attersee in Austria inspired the evocative composition “The Lake”. Hoffmann aimed to capture the serene yet powerful energy he experienced gazing over the subtly moving waters at dawn. The piece features through composed formal sections and soaring improvisations by trumpeter Jakob Helling and guitarist Vilkka Wahl that conjure a sense of mystical tranquility intertwined with an underlying, propulsive vitality.
The single “The Lake” will be digitally released on August 23, 2024!
Single: “Perseverance”
“Perseverance” showcases Hoffmann’s growing fascination with through-composed forms and is one of his most ambitious works for jazz orchestra. Featuring captivating solos by tenor saxophonist Robert Unterköfler and trumpeter Florian Menzel, “Perseverance” encapsulates Hoffmann’s artistic tenacity and evolving compositional vision. As its title suggests, this sprawling, kaleidoscopic opus demands focused listening to experience its full emotional and structural journey – a journey that vividly reflects the dedication behind its creation.
The single “Perseverance” will be digitally released on September 6, 2024!
