Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Florian Ross Brass Project: Lilacs and Laughter

Florian Ross Brass Project: Lilacs and Laughter

By C. Michael Bailey
August 1, 2000
View read count

Florian Ross Brass Project: Lilacs and Laughter

Fixtures. Florian Ross has shown up as leader on three Naxos Jazz releases. The two previous to this one are the Florian Ross Quintet Seasons and Places (86029) and Florian Ross Suite for Soprano Saxophone and String Orchestra (86037). Florian Ross’ musical conception is as broad as that of Uri Caine who has most recently been investigation the jazz elements of Gustav Mahler and Tin Pan Alley. Ross’ style can best be described as exploratory. His quintet recording is very much avant-garde and modern. His suite for soprano saxophone was probing and free. Lilacs and Laughter is his most fully realized project to date. It is an effective mixture of mainstream jazz and classical brass ensemble. Not exactly third stream, but a genre-buster to be sure.

Ross’ piano is for the most part introspective. His playing and writing are precise. His horn ensemble operates with the cohesiveness of a classical ensemble. Of note are the “Vamps” he includes. These are finely crafted musical vignettes, tone and rhythm pictures. This is interesting and intelligent music. Look out, Uri.

Track Listing

Opening Chorale; Opening Fanfare; Lilacs And Laughter; Vamp 1; Mutual Recognition; Rondo #5 Four Is A Company; At The Movies; Vamp 2; Vamp 3; Old New City; Vamp 4; Aldersong (Encore). (Total Time: 73:49)

Personnel

Florian Ross

composer / conductor

Florian Ross: Piano; Ingold Burkhardt, Claus Stotter, Eric Vloeimans: Trumpets; Christine Chapman, Ruth Funke: French Horns; Jurgen Neudert, Nils Wogram: Trombones; Ed Partyka: Bass Trombone, Tuba; Ingmar Heller: Bass; John Hollenbeck: Drums; Manfred Knaak: Conductor.

Album information

Title: Lilacs and Laughter | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Naxos

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Premonition
< Previous

Producer Don Paul
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.