Label: Mons Records, 2022
Personnel includes - Tobias Hoffmann: composer; conductor; Patrick Dunst: alto and soprano sax, flute; Andy Schofield: alto sax, clarinet, flute; Robert Unterköfler: tenor and soprano sax, clarinet; Martin Harms: tenor sax, clarinet; Robert Bachner: trombone, euphonium; Jonas Brinckmann: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Jakob Helling: trumpet, flugelhorn; Kasperi Sarikoski: trombone; Vilkka Wahl: guitar; Philipp Nykrin; piano; Ivar Roban Krizic: acoustic and electric bass; Reinhold Schmölzer: drums, electronics, and more.
Tobias Hoffmann is a skilled bandleader, saxophonist, and modern composer born in Germany, whose work could be admired in the Vienna Spittelberg Jazz Orchestra from 2014 to 2017. Following Retrospective, an interesting work for nonet, he now conducts an 18-piece aggregation that swells and sprawls with potent compositions favoring musical interchange and organic unity.
Sparkling with color while sonically addressing the dangers of conspiracy theories, “Conspiracy”, which gave the album its name, is delivered at full force. It boasts a functional contemporary layout and resoluteness in the arrangement, which includes intricate tempos, challenging beat-cycle vamps and a tangible tenor saxophone solo unleashed by Robert Unterköfler.
Some pieces incorporate rock elements into the marrow of his style. This is the case of “Relentless”, which, bold in the pulse, revels in unisons, counterpoint, shifting passages and meter. It also squeezes in the most adventurous saxophone solo on the record, perfused with unpredictable intervals and resonant timbre by altoist Patrick Dunst. Another example is the closer, “Who Knows”, a danceable 4/4 jazz-rock number fueled by guitarist Vilkka Wahl, who strikes with a fusion-soaked improvisation upfront.
“Awakening” maintains a heartfelt, ruminative mood in its strangely familiar progression after a smooth introduction populated with strings and reeds. The pathos is endorsed by flugelhorn player Jakob Helling, but there’s a more optimistic grit as the time advances. By a contrasting effect and owing much to tradition, we have “December Song”, a soul-strutting piece inspired by Vince Mendoza, and “Trailblazers”, a fluid blues progression in six that pays homage to the legends of jazz. The latter grooves high with Jonas Brinckmann and Kasperi Sarikoski, on baritone sax and trombone, respectively.
This sort of ritual of transformation keeps going with the Darcy James Argue-influenced “Renegade”, a slow burn in nine with such a groove firmly in place. With the following number, “Impostor Syndrome”, the band propels the music forward again with a rollicking mass of horns, but also concedes a thoughtful unaccompanied passage for Austrian pianist Philipp Nykrin.
Hoffmann promotes a solid group ethos throughout this tautly constructed program.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Conspiracy ► 05 - Relentless ► 08 - Impostor Syndrome