Anyone who has played the "Stubnblues" with Willi Resetarits, performed with Harri Stojka at the Montreux Jazz Festival, is one of Austria's jazz elite and also composes music in a wide variety of genres, is entitled to a title:
Herbert Berger is one of Austria's most versatile musicians.
In addition to saxophone, clarinet and flute, he is also a master of the chromatic harmonica.
The last few years have often been a time of uncertainty and silence for the arts.
The Salzburg composer and arranger has used this time creatively and put his ideas for a large jazz orchestra on paper.
"It's a musical dream that hasn't yet come true due to the lack of time that such a project requires," says the busy musician.
This year's concert by his big band at the Oval in Salzburg is now available as a recording.
The eleven tracks mainly feature compositions written by Berger himself, as well as arrangements of well-known standards such as "Nature Boy" and "The Shadow of Your Smile".
In addition to pieces by Berger's favorite composers Johnny Mandel and Neal Hefti, there is also a special arrangement of the "Winnetou Melody" in big band sound.
The wonderful singer and songwriter Karin Bachner appears as a special guest on two pieces.
The chromatic harmonica plays an essential role on the CD. This sensual, melancholy instrument takes on the solo part in three pieces.
"For me, the quintessence is the passion for jazz, the attraction of being creative in the moment and having a lot of freedom.
At best, this results in beautiful, intense, musical moments."
Many of these can be found on this live CD.
With the 15-piece "All-Star-Band", consisting of musical companions of the Austrian jazz elite, the result is an unforgettable big band experience in a class all its own!
Lineup:
Herbert Berger: Saxofon,Klarinette, chromatische Mundharmonika, Komp. & Arr.
Karin Bachner: Gesang
Saxofone: Martin Fuss, Florian Fuss, Gerald Selig, Alexandra Lassnig Walder
Trompeten: Bernhard Nolf, Simon Plötzeneder, Chris Haitzmann, Gabriele Roithner
Posaunen: Mario Vavti, Georg Schrattenholzer, Clemens Hofer, Christina Lachberger
Klavier: Helmar Hill
Bass: Alexander Meik
Schlagzeug: Franz Trattner
