Chris Muller Bigband - Turning Thoughts (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Assumably the youngest professional big band on the Dutch block these days! Composer and conductor Chris Muller is guiding Jazz Gen Next into a world of orchestral jazz, inspired by the likes of Christian McBride and Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band. ‘Turning Thoughts’ is their dazzling debut album with 8 brand new compositions by Chris Muller and arrangements by him of Bronislaw Kaper’s ‘Invitation’ and Wayne Shorter’s ‘Yes or No’. Featuring guest a.o. are Nicola Missing on vocals and Jasper Blom on tenor saxophone.

As with so many productions that have seen the light of day in the past year, the breeding ground for 'Turning Thoughts' is also in Covid-19 times. Chris Muller wrote the title piece after he graduated as a physicist and still decided to follow his heart in music. “A matter of ‘Turning Thoughts”, he says.

“The transition towards the musician's life was not easy, but at the moment I am happy that I can use my technical background as a musician. Physics has taught me a lot about how the world works, and that now helps me, for example, in writing new music.”

During the first pandemic period in 2020, he composed the piece 'Anticipation', inspired by the thought of what life would (could) be like again after the pandemic.

What are the sources of inspiration for the material on 'Turning Thoughts'? “The album is mainly an expression of the thoughts and reflections I've had over the years,” says Chris. In addition to the aforementioned 'Anticipation', 'Lost Changes' is also an example of this. “There are a number of choices you make in your life that involve sacrifices, and that is not always easy, which I have tried to capture in a harmonious ballad.”

'Meant To Be Different' is a love ballad and the only vocal piece on the album, which is carried by Nicola Missing with a feature for saxophonist Jasper Blom. Some other compositions are a lot less charged, for example 'Brainfreeze' is about eating an ice cream that is just a little too cold.

Two pieces on the album are personal odes. For example, an arrangement of 'Yes or No' is dedicated to the recently deceased Wayne Shorter, and the composition 'Waltse for C.C.' is an ode to Chick Corea. “Shorter and Corea have both had such an impact on the jazz climate that we thought it appropriate to thank them in this way.”

Miguel Valente, saxophone
Jeline Weening, saxophone
Oleg Tkachenko, saxophone
Fleur Peereboom, saxophone
Pepijn Mouwen, saxophone
Alvaro Jimenez, trumpet
Pablo Castillo, trumpet
Álvaro Rey, trumpet
Oleg Prilutskiy, trumpet
Dima Loginov, trumpet
Alvaro Zarzuela, trombone
Maarten Combrink, trombone
Matteo Paggi, trombone
Jeroen Vermazeren, trombone
Yannik Sieburg, guitar
Ton Felices, bass
David Puime, drums
Chris Muller, piano, compositions/arrangements, conductor

Tracklist:
1. Anticipation (7:07)
2. Running Around (5:21)
3. Waltse for C.C. (7:43)
4. Turning Thoughts (8:59)
5. Meant to be Different (6:48)
6. Circular (6:25)
7. Brainfreeze (5:41)
8. Invitation (Arranged by Chris Muller) (5:59)
9. Lost Changes (4:48)
10. Yes or No (Arranged by Chris Muller) (6:53)


Thanks to the Original customer!