Andrew Tobias Investiment

Jazz orchestra, big band, or large ensemble the differential in terminology is in direct proportion to the number of members and the arrangements involved. I have heard some fine big bands here in the United States, perhaps too many. Three bands in two years have been almost flawless while the rest are simply above average.

There are times in life when your direction is set anew. Tobias Meinhart dedicates his new album to such times. "In Between" stands for a leap into the unknown, life between continents and the search for his own voice in music. Following his much-praised debut in the "Next Generation" series (Pursuit of Happiness, 2011, Doublemoon), "In Between" is the logical successor three years later (Doublemoon, 2014). This CD provides an unusual range of sounds, above all thanks to the participation of various singers.

With his first original big band album, the conductor, composer and arranger Jochen Neuffer impressively demonstrates why he has already written arrangements for great musicians of the calibre of Lalah Hathaway, the Metropole Orkest and Helen Schneider. With finely balanced melodic phrases, richly colorful harmonies and a wide-ranging musical span, AUGMENTED REALITY, except for a refreshingly modern implementation of the classic “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, comprises only original and multi-faceted compositions from the pen of Neuffer and leaves the traditional conventions of traditional big band jazz to one side.