FIVE ON FIRE feat. Musikkollegium Winterthur
Daniel Gubelmann’s trademark is his lyrical saxophone sound, around which his band “Five on Fire” is also centered. In 2013, the band fused with a string quartet. Now, their musical framework has been expanded even more: On their newest album Eternal Movement, “Five on Fire” perform with the renown Musikkollegium Winterthur’s large string section.
“I try to express the perpetuity that is inherent in music. A spiral which is continously moving. Something new is constantly emerging, but everything new is always related to what came before.”
The title of this album is testament to the saxofonist from Winterthur’s desire to think big. This album is showcases a subjective view on life, realized in a sensual musical language which tells of the experiences of this Swiss musician. Especially impactful was the time he spent in Buenos Aires, where he studied with Daniel Hector Montes. The piece “Preludio de Buenos Aires” takes us into the incomparable atmosphere of Argentine’s capital city.
“El Rio de las Estrellas” tells of night-time impressions under clear, star-studded skies over the Atacama desert. And pieces like “La Flor del Amor” thematize great love and passion. There is no question about it: Gubelmann brought something of the “Piazzolla gene” with him from Argentina. He is also influenced by John Coltrane and Alexander Scriabin. All these inspirations intelligently come together on the album Eternal Movement and, according to Gubelmann, he hopes to get a little closer to the “essence of feel- ings.”
Interview Berlin – Daniel Gubelmann
Album Teaser – “Eternal movement”
Press releases
“Both ensembles shine with their differentiated sound, made possible by Gubelmann’s impressive and complex arrangement. The string orchestra is not only used as a sound carpet, as is occasionally heard in other works, but here has an equal role alongside the jazz quartet, which performs at an equally high level – both ensembles merge into one.” (Das Orchester)
“The charm of this music lies in its diversity, which results from different styles, genres and eras. An impressive symbiosis of the foreign and the familiar is achieved, which invites you on a journey through the very special cosmos of this music. It is a pleasure to follow the highly professional formation on its journey through ever new, surprising worlds of sound.” (Klassik Begeistert)
“A masterpiece!” (O-Ton)
“Symphonic expressiveness and jazz improvisation become equal components. It is precisely here that the sovereignty of this encounter between the Musikkollegium Winterthur and the jazz quartet led by Daniel Gubelmann becomes apparent.“ (NRW Jazz Net)
“The performances, crisp, stylish, and tonally lovely, are reproduced in excellent sound. If Eternal Movement breaks no new ground either in concept or execution, it nonetheless provides an hour of attractive and engaging music.“ (Fanfare Magazine, USA)
„Daniel Gubelmann’s saxophone playing fits perfectly with the string sound as well as the jazz combo. With its full, sonorous tone, it offers the whole range from contemplative to expressive-virtuoso. The whole composition tells an exciting and varied story with many surprising twists and turns – if you hear the beginning, you will want to listen to the CD to the end.“ (Das Orchester)
FIVE ON FIRE feat. Casal Quartet
The warm sound of string instruments has a special place in Daniel Gubelmann’s heart. And since he added four fantastic string players to his jazz quartet FIVE ON FIRE in a stroke of genius, he has been sharing this enchanting and lilting world of sound with music lovers worldwide.
“FIVE ON FIRE” stands for the five fingers of each hand (Five) that create overwhelming music from dreams, experiences and thoughts. Gubelmann and his musical companions unconditionally place passion (on Fire) at the center of their performance and with the “Casal Quartet” they expand the diverse spectrum of their expression with vibrations, moods and timbres, thanks to which they embark on new journeys of discovery together with their audience.
In “FIVE ON FIRE strings attached” jazz and classical music meet, a jazz quartet and a string quartet, great melodies and profound expressiveness. Daniel Gubelmann’s lyrical saxophone playing wants nothing less than to touch people’s souls. Thus, the soloist wordlessly tells stories on the colorful carpet that his formation weaves for him – always for the moment and the feeling for which it seems to be made.
«FIVE ON FIRE strings attached» is supported by the following institutions:
