Dominik Schürmann Ensemble - The Seagull's Serenade (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/48]

Dominik Schurmann has referenced a lot of jazz history. There’s swing, bebop, the cool school, jazz/funk, latin, and the jazz ballad. It’s all there in The Seagull's Serenade.

Having released seven co-produced albums under his own name in the last three years alone, prolific Swiss bassist Dominik Schürmann’s discography is a testament to his passion and skill for jazz. His large ensemble debut ‘The Seagull’s Serenade’ is set to release on the 1st of December.

The son of a pianist from Basel, Schürmann took to music early and his talent was supported and fostered by his father. He quickly became a sought after bassist on the Swiss Jazz scene, with well over 50 albums to his name, countless tours and performances with the likes of Jorge Rossy, Max Ionata, Hendrik Meurkens, Karl Ratzer, Luis Diego Bonilla, Isla Eckinger and many more.

An experienced composer and aficionado of the Big Band sound, Schürmann challenged himself to arrange a selection of his original repertoire for a 12 piece ensemble. With help from his longtime musical companions George Ricci and Tilman Günther and co-production support from Swiss Radio SF2 Kultur, Schürmann’s vision was brought to reality.

Grounded in a deep love for the epoch of swing, bebop and hard bop, the record is idiomatically diverse, containing toe-tapping swing numbers, grooving latin tunes, emotive jazz ballads, and a high-energy jazz/funk song. Bluesy melodies, playfully syncopated writing, and the rich harmonies of an eight-strong horn section illustrate that while this may be the bassist’s large ensemble debut, his familiarity and passion for the art form did not let him down.

Featuring a host of highly renowned musicians on the Swiss scene, international collaborators and up-and-comers of European jazz, the album creates space for every musician to showcase their improvisational prowess. Searing saxophone solos, soaring trumpets, the haunting, lyrical voice of Song Yi Jeon and the lush timbre of three flutes expand the ensemble’s sonic and tonal palette to create a varied, dynamic and compelling sound.

Here is a magnificent album coming to us from Switzerland. However, you may not be familiar with the composer and double bassist Dominik Schürmann. So, here are some excerpts from his biography before we discuss this album. Dominik Schürmann is the son of jazz pianist Niggi Schürmann. Thanks to his father, he was exposed to music, especially jazz, from a very young age. At the age of six, Schürmann began taking piano lessons and later transitioned to the double bass. He quickly became an integral part of the Swiss jazz scene and regularly collaborates with internationally renowned jazz musicians today, including Hendrik Meurkens, Max Ionata, Luis Diego Bonilla, Jorge Rossy, Karl Ratzer, George Gruntz, Isla Eckinger, Oscar Klein, Vince Benedetti, Domenic Landolf, David Klein, Adrian Mears, Adam Taubitz, Titi Winterstein, Kurt Weil, Jim Galloway, John Serry, Bonnie Jeanne Taylor, Miguel de la Cerna, Othella Dallas, Andreas Herrmann, Markus Hauser, Mario Schneeberger, Sam Burckhardt, and many others. He has performed in numerous jazz clubs and jazz festivals in Switzerland and abroad.

With this background, we can expect an exceptional album, which is indeed the case. It possesses a beautiful cultural identity, blending jazz with hints of classical music. It’s worth mentioning that in Europe, as in Switzerland, musicians typically begin their journey with the study of classical music. Although this is somewhat less true today with the presence of jazz programs here and there, we find ourselves with extremely well-crafted compositions, fluid and filled with brilliant harmonies and enchanting refrains. Since creating an album as a double bassist is no simple feat, we appreciate the emphasis placed on group composition and the excellent choice of the vocalist Song Yi Jeon, who appears on tracks 1, 6, and 7. Her contributions add delightful surprises to the album. Furthermore, the music is performed by fantastic musicians, including Marc Ullrich (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Claudio Bergamin (Trumpet), Daniel Blanc (Alto Saxophone, Flute), Domenic Landolf (Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Flute), Patrick Joray (Tenor Saxophone, Flute), Lukas Briggen (Trombone), Kira Linn (Baritone Saxophone on Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8), George Ricci (Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet), Tilman Günther (Piano), Dominik Schürmann (Bass), Jãnis Jaunalksnis (Drums). As you move from track to track, you’ll savor the richness of the musical performances and the arrangements that subtly highlight the brass instruments. So when the double bass takes center stage, your ears perk up, and you appreciate the warmth and roundness of the sounds.

With seven co-produced albums released under his own name in just the past three years, the prolific discography of Swiss double bassist Dominik Schürmann reflects his passion and talent for jazz. Yes, Dominique offers us jazz with a strong identity, his own. An aficionado of beauty and grandeur, his compositions resonate as if one were gazing at vast landscapes. The trumpet acts as a storyteller, and the double bass takes over, revealing the beauty of the path to follow, as in the title “Jazz People.” However, don’t expect grand effects here. Just like in a novel by Paul Auster, you need to focus on the smallest details. To say that the editorial teams at Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move consider this album “Indispensable” is truly an understatement!

Song Yi Jeon, vocals (tracks 1, 6, 7)
Marc Ullrich, trumpet & flugelhorn
Claudio Bergamin, trumpet & flugelhorn
Daniel Blanc, alto saxophone & flute
Domenic Landolf, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone & alto flute
Patrick Joray, tenor saxophone & flute
Lukas Briggen, trombone
George Ricci, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet & clarinet
Kira Linn, bariton saxophone (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8)
Tilman Günther, piano
Dominik Schürmann, bass
Jãnis Jaunalksnis, drums

Tracklist:
01. The Seagull's Serenade
02. Bird Stories
03. The End of a Bug Affair
04. Afternoon Song
05. Jazz People
06. Ramba Samba
07. Moons Ago
08. Coffee Cat
09. Lonely Owl
10. The Seagull's Serenade (Piano Tiro Version)


Thanks to the Original customer!