Lubos Soukup & Points Septet, the third album of the Czech band Points, presents a collage of 12 truly unique compositions, that represent the European contemporary jazz music and free improvisation. All compositions are written by saxophonist and clarinettist Lubos Soukup who tailored the music to the band members. He has managed to magnificently elevate their individual personalities through his work. The result is a fresh, creative and playful universe of sounds.
Lubos Soukup collaborates with leading Czech jazz musicians
The band Points Septet was created as a special project arising from several concerts of the internationally successful quartet Points. They were the winners of the Spanish jazz competition in Getxo in 2009. Although the septet has a bigger sound, it retains the characteristic features of the original band: the absence of a harmonic instrument and their focus on storytelling in compositions.
The initiative to record a new CD came from saxophonist and composer Lubos Soukup, currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark, who helped to realize this special project. Rather than Soukup’s international approach seen in his earlier projects, he chose to work exclusively with Czech musicians on this album. The core of the new band consists of five horn players including Soukup himself: trumpeter Oskar Torok, saxophonist Petr Kalfus, trombonist Jan Jirucha, and bass clarinetist Marcel Barta. They are accompanied by a unique rhythmical duo of bass player, Jaromir Honzak and drummer, Tomas Hobzek.
An universe of sounds
All 12 pieces featured on the album are written by Soukup. The music is tailored to the aforementioned musicians who have worked closely together on various projects during the last years and so have a keen understanding of each other’s individual style. Taking a closer look at the compositions, one can divide them in two different groups according to their concept.
The first group contains more conventional compositions, which crosses borders between jazz, classical music, and exotic folk music. The track called Gruzie, which translates to “Georgia”, is a piece inspired by traditional Transcaucasian music, while Jesterka, which translates to “Lizard”, is a piece in which Soukup makes a reference to the original roots of jazz i.e. African music. Choral is an ambient composition reflecting European church music, WTF is a vivid number based on a catchy groove, and finally Alegría is inspired by South American melodies and it is dedicated to one of the Soukup’s favourite musicians, Wayne Shorter.
The second group is a collection of music sketches with an open concept and elements of free improvisation and no harmonic form. Starting with letters VZ, they represent an infinite universe of sounds (Vesmir zvuku) that can be accessed only through the absolute connection and openness of the magnificent seven who are courageous enough to immerse deeply into themselves and explore unknown areas in the musical cosmos.
What does the author, saxofonist Lubos Soukup, say about the new album
“The most exceptional thing about Points Septet is the unique sound and dexterity of all players. My colleagues are the top Czech musicians who can play both jazz and free music. The connection between us is also remarkable. It is strong, indescribable. Sometimes, I feel like the guys are reading my mind and improvising exactly what I would imagine at the moment,” explains Soukup.
“I aimed for fresh and creative music. The band name (Points) symbolizes us, the band members. Each of the musicians is a separate point on the scene. These points come together and create certain energy that works well together. To cumulate this kind of creative energy and to deepen our connection during the performance, we stand in a semicircle, which is not common for a jazz ensemble,” adds Soukup.
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Download the album press release in the PDF format.
Album Info
- Artist
- Luboš Soukup & Points Septet
- Title
- Luboš Soukup & Points Septet
- Catalogue Number
- ANI 051-2
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Animal Music
- Barcode
- Animal Music
- Style
- file under Jazz
- Country of origin
- Czech republic
- Release Date
- 3Oct 30th 2015
Sound
- Recorded by
- Milan Cimfe (Sono Records, Nouzov)
- Mixed by
- August Wanngren (We Know Music Studios, Islands Brygge, Kodaň, Dánsko)
- Mastered by
- Pavel Karlík (Sono Records, Nouzov)
Tracks
- Black Monolith
- Ještěrka (Lizard)
- VZ 1
- VZ 4: Interlude
- Léto 1985 (Summer 1985)
- Gruzie (Georgia)
- Rhythm
- VZ 6
- Alegría
- VZ 3
- WTF
- Choral (Chorale)
Total time: 54:45
All compositions by Lubos Soukup
Musicians/Personnel
- Oskar Török
- trumpet & flugelhorn
- Petr Kalfus
- soprano & alto saxophones
- Luboš Soukup
- tenor saxophone & clarinet
- Marcel Bárta
- bass clarinet & tenor saxophone
- Jan Jirucha
- trombone
- Jaromir Honzak
- acoustic bass
- Tomas Hobzek
- drums
The album Lubos Soukup & Points Septet was released thanks to support from DJBFA and OSA.
