Till Brönner - OCEANA
„One of the internationally most successful German pop stars is a jazz musician.“ (Musikexpress, 12/05)
“Keeping it simple” is easier said than done. Simplicity goes a long way. It is reached by focusing on the essentials and therefore a goal most desired. Till Brönner has reached an impressive degree of maturity that now allows him for that much-coveted clarity of his new album OCEANA.
Says Till “New York was jazz for the head; Los Angeles is jazz for the soul”. Hollywood was his obvious choice for producing his ninth solo album: A perfect place for projecting the desire for a better world.
After decades of intensive exploration of modern life’s most free-spirited music, Till Brönner comes up with a masterpiece as futuristic as it is historical, ringing in the ears of all apostles of the “jazz generation x”.One of the most refined and unique artist of the international jazz circuit is a German – a scandal in itself.
Brönner’s allies in the production of this timeless piece of music is legendary producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Leonard Cohen) who lifts the space for Till’s remarkable playing. It is one of the reasons why OCEANA enfolds its compelling and sincere elegance beyond all expectations. Nothing appears quite as expected but everything is exactly as it needs to be.
Till plays his trumpet with a force that touches souls – greatly simple and simply great. His instrument sounds as warm and clear as his guest musicians’ appearances add that extra feeling of a perfect day in the company of good friends.
These are the songs great voices have been waiting for. Carla Bruni gently whispers a bittersweet song by Leonard Cohen. Madeleine Peyroux gives a whole new meaning to Hank Williams’ “I’m so lonesome I could cry”. Luciana Souza adds an extra touch of soul to Edu Lobos’ “Pra dizer adeus”. Till, himself, explores Nick Drake’s “River Man” with a yet -unheard- deepness.
OCEANA makes you drown in a sea of sound, as masterfully as easily created by Till and his fellow musicians. From the first bars of Wes Montgomery’s “Bumpin’” to the echoes of the last song OCEANA leaves you with the profound experience of how clear and mature, how easy and yet essential music can be. All you have to do is listen. It’s that simple.
Album Credits
1. Bumpin’ (Wes Montegomery) |
7. Pra Dizer Adeus (Edu Lobo/Torquato Neto) |
2. Chinatown (Jerry Goldsmith) |
8. It Never Entered My Mind (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers) |
3. In My Secret Life (Leonard Cohen/Sharon Robinson) |
9. River Man (Nick Drake) |
4. The Peacocks (Jimmy Rowles) |
10. Danny Boy (Traditional) |
5. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams) |
11. Distant Episode (Larry Klein/Till Broenner) |
6. Subrosa (Larry Goldings) |
12. Tarde (Larry Klein/Till Broenner) |
Produced by Larry Klein
Engineered and Mixed by Helik Hadar
Recorded at Paramount Recording, Hollywood, CA and Market Street, Santa Monica, CA
*except Carla Bruni’s vocal on “In My Secret Life”; recorded at Studio Davout, Paris, France
Assistant Engineers: Erik Reichers and Stephane Prin
Mixed at Market Street, Santa Monica, CA
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA
Downloads
Biography (33 KB, PDF)
Discography (38 KB, PDF)
Press-text (33 KB, PDF)