Crazy Days: The Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra plays the Music of Ed Puddick

The task of telling the Brexit story, or indeed any linear story, through a series of wholly instrumental big-band orchestrations is a tough one. Broad emotional brushstrokes are as close to... — Allaboutjazz.com, July, 2021 More…

Release Date: 30th Jul 2021
Catalogue No: CD-0972
Label: ATS

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1. Crazy Days

2. An Ocean of Air

3. Forum Internum

4. Slow News Day

5. New Familiar

6. Thank You, My Friend

7. Veiculo Longo

8. June the 23rd 2016

9. 52% Major 48% Minor

10. Article 50

11. Withdrawal Agreement

12. Prorogation

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About

Ed Puddick became aware of the UAJO through his mentor and friend Michael Gibbs. He has been in contact with us for years and has already contributed some arrangements to use at the annual BB workshop in Bad Goisern. The ‘Brexit Suite’, the central work of the recording session, was composed in reaction to the events of the last 5 years, in which the UK decided to leave the EU.

Ed's journey from England to Upper Austria and back at the beginning of January 2021 was adventurous. Brexit had culminated just days before and situation with the Covid pandemic was constantly changing, but in the end it all worked out and Ed, Reinhard Brunner (sound man and coproducer), Bernhard See (videographer) and we are happy to have opened a new chapter of fabulous big band music.

Lineup

Trumpet Section

Andreas Pranz, Simon Plötzeneder, Joschi Öttl, Manfred Weinberger

Saxophone Section

Andreas See, Robert Müllner, Christian Maurer, Andreas Lachberger, Jürgen Haider

Trombone Section

Dominik Stöger, Robert Bachner, Peter Nickel, Hermann Mayr

Rhythm Section

Helmar Hill (Piano), Primus Sitter (Guitar), Christian Wendt (Bass), Ewald Zach (Drums)

Reviews

July, 2021

The task of telling the Brexit story, or indeed any linear story, through a series of wholly instrumental big-band orchestrations is a tough one. Broad emotional brushstrokes are as close to narrative as the format allows. Literalist composers sometimes employ spoken word to bridge the gap, but Puddick wisely rejects any such temptation. The suite begins with "June The 23rd 2016," the date of the referendum itself. Its vibe is upbeat, curiously so unless you read the liner notes for the track, in which Puddick writes that "Whatever their viewpoint, people were optimistic of better days ahead." The next three tracks—"52% Major 48% Minor," "Article 50" and "Withdrawal Agreement"—could be about anything, including the pure joy of writing arrangements for a top-drawer seventeen-strong jazz ensemble—but the closer allows no doubt about where Puddick's sympathies lie on Brexit. "Prorogation" is a desolate, heartrendingly sad piece that could only be a remembrance of something tragic. At 7:18 it is not the longest track on the album, but it is without a doubt the most affecting and it is a small masterpiece.

July, 2021

The 17-piece orchestra perform Puddick’s compositions with great sensitivity, and bring out the very attractive textures of his writing. There are also a number of fine soloists, guitarist Primus Sitter, mentioned above, pianist Herman Hill, saxophonists Andreas See and Christian Maurer and trumpeter Manfred Weinberger.

Crazy Days: The Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra plays the Music of Ed Puddick

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