The Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra infuse Innuendo with inspiration and innovation on their incredible new album — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The latest full-length release from the multi-award winning saxophonist, composer and arranger — and the followup to 2022’s acclaimed outing Conspiracy — Innuendo once again sees Tobias at the helm in a big-band setting. The album features eight original compositions, including the title track, which was awarded Best Composition in the category of Original Composition – Large Ensemble at the 47th Downbeat Student Music Awards.
Featuring a stellar lineup of musicians from Vienna, Graz and Germany, the Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra have developed into an ensemble of note, with each section blending together in such a way that only more established bands sound. As Grammy-winning producer and arranger Michael Abene stated in the album’s liner notes: “I was blown away by what I heard on these recordings, to say he has matured as an arranger / composer is an understatement… The writing is fresh, exciting and requires serious listening.”
it also required some serious thought. After the success of Conspiracy, Tobias initially doubted whether he could produce another album of such high quality. “With this positive feedback I received, self-doubt arose,” he admits “Would I be able to produce another album of the same quality?” Pushing aside those concerns, Tobias composed and arranged new material, grateful that his “passionate and dedicated musicians were willing to have another arduous go with a further production.”
In summer 2023, the orchestra spent a week in Graz, Austria “working on the music and dived deep into the new material to get the best out of the music, most of which had never been played before.” The resulting album left Hoffmann “not only deeply satisfied and proud, but also thankful that I could record my own music and we all together were able to shape the music and bring it to life.”
The album opens with the title track, which pays homage to the legendary rock band Queen. Hoffmann was fascinated from an early age by the shifting moods and emotions that unfold over the course of that composition. His Innuendo captures that multifaceted spirit, combining various aspects into one dynamic piece featuring an alto saxophone solo by Florian Trübsbach.
Up next, Summer Solstice aims to represent a range of moods and styles, Hoffmann composed this piece, rooted in the tradition just before the summer solstice in June 2023. With a trombone solo by Simon Harrer, Summer Solstice provides a contrast to the album’s more intricate contemporary works while still embodying Hoffmann’s distinctive compositional voice. The mood changes with No Way Back, a complex piece in mixed meters that emerged from a difficult period for Hoffmann. This piece channels an outpouring of newfound energy and is inspired by artists like Alex Sipiagin, Chris Potter and Dave Holland. No Way Back features solos by trumpeter Gerhard Ornig and pianist Viola Hammer. The composition, which aims for musical coherence despite its challenging rhythms, earned third prize in the 2022 Big Band de Canarias composition contest.
Continuing with Sanctuary, a deeply personal work that features a heartfelt tenor solo performed by Martin Harms. Changing up the tempo is Convictions. Stemming from an exercise by Bob Brookmeyer that uses only the white keys of the piano, this piece fundamentally changed how Hoffmann approaches composing. Patrick Dunst’s alto saxophone solo exemplifies the fresh possibilities that emerged from such self-imposed constraints on the compositional process.
Inspired by both classical music and minimalism, Bipolarity finds Hoffmann fusing those influences with his jazz background. He aimed to craft the piece a non- traditional yet coherent manner to sound like and arranged “saxophone solo.” Robert Bachner provides the valve trombone solo on this track. One could see this piece as exploring new contexts for traditional compositional concepts. The album continues with an ethereal track titled The Lake. Atmospheric impressions from a misty winter morning on Lake Attersee in Austria inspired this evocative work. Hoffmann sought to musically capture the powerful yet serene energy of the lake’s subtle movements through various formal sections and solos by Jakob Helling on trumpet and Vilkka Wahl on guitar.
Closing out the set is Perseverance, one of Hoffmann’s longest compositions for jazz orchestra. This track exemplifies his growing interest in through-composed forms that develop continuously rather than repeating. The title reflects the mental stamina required to fully realize such an intricate idea. Soloists include Robert Unterköfler on tenor sax and Florian Menzel on trumpet.
With Innuendo, Hoffmann showcases his remarkable growth as a composer and arranger. His deft blending of jazz with influences like classical, rock, and minimalism results in a thrillingly eclectic yet cohesive listening experience. Bolstered by a stellar ensemble brimming with virtuosic soloists, Innuendo cements Hoffmann’s reputation as one of the most exciting creative voices in contemporary large ensemble jazz.
Listen to Innuendo below, watch the album’s videos above, and get the latest on the Tobias Hoffman Jazz Orchestra at his website, Instagram and Facebook.
