TOBIAS HOFFMANN NONET

Tobias Hoffmann Nonet

I am very happy that the latest recording “Retrospective” of the Tobias Hoffmann Nonet is out since September 2nd, 2019 on the Austrian label Alessa Records.

For digital download and streaming please go to the following platforms:

About "Retrospective"

Ever since I have been a musician, there have been two hearts beating in my chest: on the one hand that of the saxophone player and on the other that of the composer and arranger.
It is not always easy for me to unite both. With the Nonet, I have finally not only managed to merge all my different musical influences of the past years but also to write and play music in which I find myself reflected both as a saxophone player and as a composer and arranger.

When in 2017 I started to plan this project and write the music, I didn’t know yet in which direction the music would go, not to mention what was lying ahead of me, which ups and downs I would need to go through and if I would ever be able to realize this project on the level I was aiming for. Looking back, it feels almost surreal to hold the CD in my hands and being able to say that I am very satisfied with the result.

I would like to thank my incredible band. Each of them helped with their commitment, their musicality and their personality to bring this music alive.

Enjoy listening to the recordings.
Tobias Hoffmann

I first met Tobias Hoffmann when he contacted me while I was teaching in Graz and wanted to do some studying with me. When I first heard his writing I was impressed with his melodic and rhythmic ideas. Over a period of time we discussed on how to fine tune some of the musical questions he had asked. This CD is some of the results of our meetings and am very happy with the results. When you listen to the performances you cannot believe the wonderful fat sound he gets out of five horns and four rhythm. This has to do with his sense of orchestration, knowing how to put the right instruments on the right notes creating some interesting colors. Sometimes the music can be quite difficult but for the right reasons and the musicians he assembled to play his music play it superbly from beginning to end both in ensemble playing and the solos including Tobias himself on tenor and soprano saxophones. Some great grooves and great melodies. Please enjoy this recording of Tobias’ work as much I have.

Michael Abene
Grammy winning Producer/Arranger/Educator

Musicians

Simon Plötzeneder – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Stefan Gottfried – Alto Saxophone
Tobias Hoffmann – Tenor Saxophone & Soprano Saxophone
Daniel Holzleitner – Trombone
Fabian Rucker – Bass-Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone
Christopher Pawluk – Guitar
Philipp Nykrin – Piano
Andreas Waelti – Bass
Michael Prowaznik – Drums

Information

ALR 1076 | LC 08129
Recorded in August 2018 by Werner Angerer at Wavegarden Studio
(Mitterretzbach, Austria)

Mixed and Mastered in December 2018 and January 2019 by Werner Angerer at Acoustic Art Studios (Vienna, Austria)

Distributed by Sounddesign Austria, Peter Guschelbauer

Artwork by Sara Ozvaldic

Vidoes by Lukas Wögerer

Photos by Franz Schaden & Andreas Waelti

Alessa Records (LC 08129)
c/o Sounddesign Austria
Peter Guschelbauer
Schallenbergstrasse 3
A – 4232 Hagenberg

Tel: +43 664 415 80 10

Mail: sounddesign@aon.at
Web:http://www.alessarecords.at

If you are interested you can download the Electronic Press Kit (EPK) with information about the music, the musicians and press quotes in German and English.

Videos

What others say about "Retrospective"

"Some great grooves and melodies. Please enjoy this recording of Tobias' work as much I have."

Michael Abene Grammy winning Producer, Arranger, Educator

„His strong postbop writing and arranging and the superior talents of the musicians, who get plenty of room to blow, keep your ears continuously on their happy toes.“

Mel Minter - An Avid Listener’s Observation Music Journalist and Blogger

"The nonet of Tobias Hoffmann has a sound of its own. The compositions express a wide range of moods and atmospheres that are exemplified by highly capable soloists in the band when it is time for them to show their impressive improvisation skills. [...] Repeated listening of ‘Retrospective’ will bring you more and more musical enjoyment. Guaranteed!""

Wouter Turkenburg - History of Jazz in Europe Guitarist, musicologist, jazz history teacher,

„Die Kompositionen, die der gebürtige Deutsche und nun in Wien lebende Saxofonist seine neun Musketiere spielen lässt, sind von höchster Güte: starke Basslines, spannungsvolle Hooks, rhythmische Varianz und gute Melodien.“ Musketiere spielen lässt, sind von höchster Güte: starke Basslines, spannungsvolle Hooks, rhythmische Varianz und gute Melodien [...].„So muss ein Jazz-Nonett im Jahr 2019 klingen! 4.5 von 5 Punkten."

Concerto Magazin 6/2019 Österreichs einzige Publikation für Jazz, Folk, Blues und World Musik

„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!"

Adam Baruch – The Soundtrack of my Life Music Journalist and Critic

„Die Abwechslung zwischen straight-ahead swingenden Bop-Tunes [...] und Funkigerem gelingt Hoffmann durch eine geschickte Aneinanderreihung seiner Kompositionen auf ganzer Albumlänge und sorgt für 66 hochkarätige Jazz-Minuten ohne Genrediskussion.“

Xavier Plus SKUG Musikkultur

„Es macht echte Freude, sich durch dieses Album zu hören. „Retrospective“ ist eine Sammlung von wirklich starken Nummern, die in vielfältiger Art abgehen und den Jazz in einer wunderbar lebendigen Form erklingen lassen.“

Michael Ternai MICA Austria

„Retrospective is a dazzling release, from a performer with a clear passion for musical creativity and expression on every level.“

Stereostickman.com online music magazine

„Und so sind zehn Kompositionen von Hoffmann entstanden, die vom Besonderen geprägt sind. Doch nicht allein die Kompositionen sind es, die glänzen, auch die Arrangements sind von beispielhafter Eleganz und leidenschaftlichem Feuer, und ebenso ist der Freiraum für die jeweiligen Solisten besonders hervorzuheben, den diese enthusiastisch nutzen.“

Wolfgang Giese Musikansich.de

„Zehn durchkomponierte und perfekt arrangierte Stücke, die, wenn sie auch in verschiedenen Temperamenten auftreten, homogen ineinander übergehen, bieten 66 Minuten hochklassigen Bigband-Jazz mit großem Sound, ohne daß das dafür zusammengestellte Nonet eine Bigband im eigentlichen Sinne ist. Ein brillantes Album, das unser Prädikat, den Musenkuß verdient."

Frank Becker Musenblaetter.de

„Ich bin beeindruckt von Tobias Hoffmanns hervorragender Umsetzung des kompositorischen Konzepts in seiner Musik. Ich stelle hier seine Ideen in den Vordergrund. Es gibt keine Effekthascherei, es gibt eine Autorenmusik, in der die Improvisation eine bestimmte Rolle spielt. [...] Das Ergebnis klingt perfekt!“

Jacek Brun jazz-fun.de

„Das Album macht richtig Spaß und man meint beim Zuhören die Spielfreude, mit der die Musiker aufgenommen haben, zu spüren. Es ist auch immer wieder faszinierend zu hören, mit welcher Leichtigkeit die Stücke trotz der Komplexität der Arrangements erklingen, wenn sie von Könnern an ihren Instrumenten gespielt werden.“ 

Thomas Kottke musicampus.de

„[…] ein satter, ganz und gar nicht retrogewandter Gesamtsound, schmissige Bläsersätze, treibende Beats, eine starke Rhythmusgruppe mit Feeling fürs Balladeske - und dazu ideale Katapulte, die Hoffmann seinen Solisten baut und die sie, allesamt hervorragende Musiker, lustvoll und kreativ zu nutzen verstehen.“

Steff Rohrbach JAZZ'N'MORE Magazin Schweiz 4/2020