Zurich Jazz Orchestra – “Neat Little Songs”

The long and very fruitful artistic relationship between Thomas Gansch and the ZJO has now been immortalized in a studio recording. This new CD will be presented at Moods on May 22. The program consists exclusively of compositions by Thomas Gansch, arranged by Ed Partyka. In addition to Thomas, the soloists of the ZJO can also be heard extensively. The music is profound and humorous at the same time, combining elements of jazz, classical and folk music with unexpected forays into the world of film music and 20th-century popular culture.

Almost exactly eleven years have passed since Thomas Gansch’s first appearance with the ZJO. Today he is a good friend of the band and a favorite of the ZJO audience. That’s why the basic concept for the joint CD remains the same: musical fireworks, fun, unconventional, crazy. Gansch and the ZJO have already performed everything imaginable together: Gil Evans, Don Ellis, their own material. And Thomas Gansch’s own material can now be heard on the new CD.

Thomas Gansch and Ed Partyka have known each other for ages. They met in 1999 at the Vienna Art Orchestra, and later Ed Partyka also played in Thomas Gansch’s band Gansch & Roses. “We have known each other for so long, but I never had the opportunity to arrange his music for jazz orchestra. I am very happy that this has finally become possible and that we can present this special program with new arrangements with the ZJO on a joint disc,” says Ed Partyka. Thomas Gansch not only has a keen awareness of the history of popular music and jazz, his roots also extend to Alpine folk music and the entire history of European classical music. All this profound knowledge is packaged in Viennese humor and presented with a great stage show and virtuoso trumpet playing. When you listen to him, you get the impression that playing the trumpet is easy.