Dominik Schürmann’s work is marked by musical passion, sensibility, harmony, and perfect timing gained by years of experience. He is very much in demand as a sideman or as a bandleader in the European Jazz scene. He always leaves his mark with compassion, enthusiasm and eloquence.This project is Schürmann’s most time-consuming and ambitious recording to date. As a huge Big Band fan, he set himself the goal of arranging a selection of his compositions for a twelve-piece ensemble. For the arrangements, he was actively supported by his longtime musical companions, George Ricci (saxophone and clarinet) and Tilman Günther (piano).
Schürmann was lucky to be able to recruit great musicians for his ensemble from home and abroad. Two of the most renowned Swiss jazz musicians are involved, namely Domenic Landolf (saxophone and alto flute) and Daniel Blanc (alto saxophone and transverse flute). Claudio Bergamin on the trumpet and Lukas Briggen on the trombone are two other Swiss soloists who have been important on the Swiss jazz scene for many years. The young saxophonist Patrick Joray (1999) has already achieved significant renown and convinces on this recording with solo flights of fancy just like his experienced bandmates. Schürmann also had a “lucky find” with the two ladies in his ensemble: The well-known and ambitious South Korean singer Song Yi Jeon gives Schürmann’s compositions a wonderful lyrical tone and the young baritone saxophonist from Cologne Kira Linn impresses with her powerful and assured playing. The ensemble is completed by the experienced French trumpeter Marc Ullrich and the young Latvian drummer Janis Jaunalksnis. Marc Ullrichs’ soft and trained sound comes into it’s own on the ballad “Jazz People” and Janis Jaunalksnis comes together with Dominik Schürmann on the bass for an unshakably assured and swinging rhythmic foundation.
The album opens with the title track “The Seagull’s Serenade”, a jazz ballad, and ends with a piano trio version of the same piece. This gifted performance should prove enjoyable for all listeners.dominikschuermann.ch
