j(A)zz!: Vincent Pongrácz Synesthetic Octet (a) cd Release Concert at Opus Jazz Club

The Austrian band Synesthetic Octet, founded by the composer, musician and bandleader Vincent Pongrácz, refers with its name on the famous French composer and ornithologist Olivier Messiaen who was self-admittedly a synesthete.

The ensemble reached its present lineup two years ago, during a series of concerts in Vienna's famous jazz club, the Porgy & Bess. The members come from the most diverse genres like contemporary classical music, jazz and hip-hop. Willingness, subtlety and an artistic spirit of resistance that the musicians share unifies the band and takes shape in the compositions of the bandleader....

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The Austrian band Synesthetic Octet, founded by the composer, musician and bandleader Vincent Pongrácz, refers with its name on the famous French composer and ornithologist Olivier Messiaen who was self-admittedly a synesthete.

The ensemble reached its present lineup two years ago, during a series of concerts in Vienna's famous jazz club, the Porgy & Bess. The members come from the most diverse genres like contemporary classical music, jazz and hip-hop. Willingness, subtlety and an artistic spirit of resistance that the musicians share unifies the band and takes shape in the compositions of the bandleader.

The concert at the Opus Jazz Club presents their debut album Rastlos (Restless), to be released in May 2015 on Jazz Werkstatt Records. As the band-leader Pongrácz puts it, “the record is music for a film that has not been shot yet”, a blend between the sound aesthetics of 90's hip-hop and a wind-instrument sound that reminds of Gil Evans' records from the 60's. Most of the compositions contain long solo parts of single band members. The use of accents in odd meters in which the pulse is divided in tunes like xxo and Femton simulates a loose or “wonky” rhythmical sound in which the whole ensemble plays. Listening to the pieces lets us see the composers propelling musical world through colourful flashing 3D glasses.

Tickets are available for 1500 HUF on the spot, in the national JEGYPONT network of Interticket, at jegy.hu and here.

Please don't forget your table reservation, as seating at the Opus jazz Club can only be guaranteed in this case. Tel: (+36 1) 216 7894.

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