Lilacs & Laughter - Florian Ross Brass Project

mit Studierenden der Jazz/Pop- und Klassikabteilung

In the BRASS PROJECT of the Cologne University of Music and Dance, Cologne pianist Florian Ross takes his cue from his third Naxos production "LILACS & LAUGHTER" from 2000, where he was inspired by the sound of the English brass tradition of the mining bands. Contrary to some "big band superiority", the "Brass Project" does not need to show off with sheer volume. Instead, it explores the colorful and dynamic possibilities offered by three trumpets, three trombones and two horns. Ross himself writes about the music:

"Before I started composing the music for the "Brass Project", I listened to a lot of typical brass band music, such as the music of British colliery bands and composers like Bliss, Elgar and Walton, where chorales and fanfares seemed to be a recurring theme. While chorales capture moments of calm and reflection when time stands still, fanfares act as a grand 'hello' on festive occasions. Since this music is primarily functional, I wanted to use it at the beginning of the program to draw the listener's attention away from the noise that surrounds us every moment and then greet them with a glimpse of things to come."

These openers are followed by 10 more, sometimes short, excursions into the different worlds of brass sounds - each with interesting spots for the soloists.