OUR TEAM
SARAH CHAKSAD
LARGE ENSEMBLE
A large-scale, inspiring event was also the Sarah Chaksad Large Ensemble, new with vocalist Yumi Ito, German pianist Julia Hülsmann and still with the stunning Norwegian trumpeter Hildegunn Øiseth. The bandleader and saxophonist has developed into a terrific composer and arranger of European level in recent years. Like the great Maria Schneider, she loves to juggle with different sound worlds. In Schaffhausen she fully exploited the sound world of her colorful bunch, created different levels and juggled virtuously with contrary melodies.
AZ BZ Medien 16.05.2022
CIRCLE
SARAH CHAKSAD LARGE ENSEMBLE
LINE UP
YUMI ITO voc
SARAH CHAKSAD soprano, alto sax
CHRISTOPH BÖSCH flute
FABIAN WILLMANN tenor sax, bass clarinet
CATHERINE DELAUNAY basset horn, clarinet
HILDEGUNN ØISETH trumpet, goat horn
PACO ANDREO valve trombone, euphonium
LUKAS WYSS trombone
SOPHIA NIDECKER tuba
FABIO GOUVEA guitar
JULIA HÜLSMANN piano
DOMINIQUE GIROD bass
EVA KLESSE drums
SARAH CHAKSAD LARGE ENSEMBLE
Sarah Chaksad continues to surprise with compositions for a new, 13-member band. The saxophonist and composer, born in Wohlen in 1983, has carefully assembled a large ensemble with exceptional musicians from Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway and Brazil. It is a mixture of associates with whom she has already worked.
Her thoughts centered on how the ensemble should sound, with how the music could be realized. Of special interest was the use of flute, tuba and basset horn - the "tenor clarinet" - instruments that had never belonged to her bands. The result showcases the composer's signature, but grows from her earlier projects. The music is open and risky, without sacrificing flow, drive or intensity.
Sarah creates a rich palette of colors and moods. In addition, she sculpts sound spaces within for individual instruments and combinations. She makes sophisticated use of the variety and flexibility that the new band offers her. On this musical journey, she sometimes travels by bus, sometimes by tandem - always with brilliant colleagues. Together they take us on a wondrous and entertaining adventure.
Steff Rohrbach, November 2021 / Jazz’n'More
SARAH CHAKSAD SONGLINES
Sarah Chaksad Songlines is the first album of the septet around Lisette Spinnler, Hildegunn Øiseth, Pepe Auer, Malcolm Braff, Marc Mezgolits, Gregor Hilbe and bandleader Sarah Chaksad. Sarah gathered unique musicians from Switzerland, Norway and Austria around her back in 2018.
«I was looking for people with strong musical character,» she says. «I had played with all of them individually many times before, so I was sure we would also fit well together as a band.»
The album contains lyrical, poetic pieces whose content revolves around themes such as humility or coming home. Sarah Chaksad had them in mind for some time. "I wrote them pretty quickly, like songs," she says. Because she usually spends a long time tweaking complex arrangements, including for her own orchestra, she really enjoyed being able to move a little more freely for once, both as a composer and as a player, in the context of this septet. "The energy of this band is strong," Sarah says. "Everyone puts themselves out there, adding whatever brings the most to the music. When we play live, it feels like flying."
Sarah Chaksad Alto- und Sopransaxophon
Lisette Spinnler Vocal
Hildegunn Øiseth Trompete
Pepe Auer Bass Klarinette
Malcolm Braff Piano
Marc Mezgolits Bass
Gregor Hilbe drums
BIO
Sarah Chaksad is a versatile musician, who works as a saxophonist, composer, producer, orchestra director, cultural manager and curator in a variety of musical contexts. Sarah Chaksad plays with various groups of different sizes for which she composes most of the music. In 2016, she released her first album «windmond» with the Sarah Chaksad Orchestra, followed in 2017 by performances at the Schaffhausen Jazz Festival and the Offbeat Jazz Festival Basel as part of the CD release tour. In 2019, «Tabriz», her second album with her orchestra was released and she earned her international recognition for her artistic work.
Sarah Chaksad was curator of the Schaffhauser Jazzgespräche from 2017 to 2019, received a grant from the Aargau Kuratorium in 2018, and a work grant in 2020. Together with guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, Sarah Chaksad currently leads the unique «Focusyear» program at the Jazzcampus in Basel and besides that she is part of the management and booking company Esteam Music GmbH which collaborates with acknowledged artists of the international jazz scene.
HUMILITY
photo by Peter Pfister
