Breathe: Music for Large Ensembles
Peter Lenz (gambsART)
Breathe: Music for Large Ensembles
by Peter Lenz
Label: gambsART
Release Date: November 8, 2024
Peter Lenz’s Breathe: Music for Large Ensembles is an ambitious new release that promises to expand the possibilities of Jazz orchestration. Set to release on November 8, 2024, the album reflects Lenz's vision of bringing a fresh orchestral palette to the Big Band tradition, pulling from his extensive background in Jazz, composition, and performance. Recorded in April 2023 at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, the album features a staggering lineup of 21 musicians—including celebrated names like Chris Speed, David Leon, Keisuke Matsuno, and Jim Black—collaborating under Lenz's direction to breathe life into his intricate compositions.
Drawing from a diverse array of instruments and arranging for three distinct ensemble sizes, Lenz has crafted a unique sound for each of the album's five tracks. Pieces like Enclouded, Eleanor—a subtle nod to The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby—and Von inneren Grenzen are performed by a 17-piece ensemble, highlighting the harmonic depth and orchestral scope of Lenz's writing. Between Lines expands this texture by incorporating a full big band with an added string quartet, while the title track, Breathe, pares down to a chamber ensemble featuring strings, three horns, bass, and drums, delivering a sound that is both lush and introspective.
Lenz's music is underpinned by his rigorous training and experience: a degree in Jazz from the University of Arts in Graz, a master's from CodArts in Rotterdam, and further studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. This foundation, combined with his years of collaborations with top-tier musicians, has fueled a compositional style that moves beyond the traditional Big Band’s boundaries. As Jim Black observes, Lenz’s work focuses on each piece’s journey and the natural sound of the ensemble, allowing the music to feel both rich and unforced.
Breathe was mixed by Werner Angerer in Vienna and mastered by Alex DeTurk back at The Bunker. Visuals for the album come from Colombian artist Violeta Lenz, whose artwork complements the intricate textures and vibrant colors in Peter’s compositions. With a team of world-class musicians and collaborators, Peter Lenz has created a work that both honors Jazz’s storied past and forges new paths forward.