Moons Ago Dominik Schürmann trio

• 1 Butterflies 03:50
• 2 The End of a Bug Affair 05:25
• 3 Heureka 05:02
• 4 Autumn Breath 04:56
• 5 Ramba Samba 04:41
• 6 Moons Ago 06:06
• 7 Lonely Owl 05:17
• 8 Afternoon Song 05:53
• 9 Rainy Summer 05:11
• 10 Coffee Cat 05:27
• 11 Banana Dog 04:38
• 12 Malia's Waltz 04:58
• Total Runtime 01:01:24

Info for Moons Ago

A wise man once said that it doesn’t matter where jazz goes as long as it takes the tradition with it. One artist that understands this concept well is Swiss double bass player Dominik Schürmann. On his album titled “Moons Ago”, to be released on the 25th of March 2022 on Mons Records, Schürmann presents 12 tracks featuring original compositions that stylistically pay homage to the jazz legends of the 1950s and 60s.

For this recording Dominik gathered together a group of musicians who not only blend beautifully with his compositions but also add artistic value to this impressive set. Italian based saxophonist, Max Ionata, was in the words of Schürmann, “…the ideal tenor saxophone player. His sensitive playing and soft, full sound lend the compositions exactly the appropriate timbre I was looking for. He has a strong sense of tradition and has developed his own personal sound.” The Italian connection continues with the addition of pianist Yuri Storione, who moved to Basel to study at the Musikhochschule – Jazz Campus where, in 2019 he obtained his third Masters degree. Equally at home in both the classical and jazz world, Storione’s piano playing is marked by impressive virtuosity and a strong sense of phrasing. Rounding out the line-up on the album is Latvian drummer, Janis Jaunalksnis, who has also settled in Basel. Schürmann went on to say that “… he understands like no other how to listen to his fellow musicians and to act and react to their playing in an adept and sensitive way.”

Dominik Schürmann is the son of jazz pianist Niggi Schürmann and with this in mind it’s no surprise that he discovered the music at a young age, starting with piano lessons at age six before switching to bass some years later. Currently Schürmann is a fixture on the Swiss jazz scene working both as a side-man and leader. During his diverse career he has participated in theatre and musical productions, appeared on Swiss TV and radio and as a side-man, participated on over 50 CD productions. As a leader, his 2016 release, “Upswing” became one of the most successful Swiss CD releases of that year. In addition, Schürmann has been integral part of a number of co-productions with the Schweizer Radio, SRF2 Kultur with two albums recorded with the Hard bop ensemble “Compulsion” (“Dahaana” in 2015 and “Nothing Is As It Seems” in 2018) and “Sambâle”, recorded with the Piano Trio Gutfleisch-Schürmann-Frey, which he co-founded in 2017.

The album opens with the medium up Samba “Butterflies” that will be the 1st of three pre-release singles on the 25th of February. Written during the summer of 2021 on one of the rare sunny days, this song harks back to the care free summer days we all knew prior to the new normal of the current times. Soloists Max Ionata and Yuri Storione each navigate effortlessly over the harmonic landscape adding to the allure of this Brazilian inspired track.

The following track, “The End Of A Bug Affair”, is play on the title of the Edward Redding classic “The End Of A Love Affair” made famous by Frank Sinatra on his 1959 album “Close to You”. This track also references the pandemic. Written in the summer of 2020, this easy swinging track looks longingly to the day we can finally say farewell to the restrictions of the Corona era. Schürmann commented that the “… the song conveys a certain melancholy, but also hope and the confidence that one day things will improve.”

On Moons Ago you will find several up-tempo swingers such as “Heureka” and “Banana Dog” along with the moving ballads “Autumn Breath” and the title track “Moons Ago”. The Latin Samba feel of the albums opening returns with “Ramba Samba”. The track’s title is a play on the German term “Ramba Zamba” that eludes to process of stirring up excitement and this is certainly the case here, especially in the solo chorus by pianist Yuri Storione.

Max Ionata, tenor saxophone
Yuri Storione, piano
Dominik Schürmann, bass
Jãnis Jaunalksnis, drums

Dominik Schürmann
is the son of jazz pianist Niggi Schürmann. His contact with music and particularly with jazz started at a very young age. He started piano lessons at the age of six before changing to the bass later on. He quickly became a fixture in the Swiss jazz scene and now works regularly with internationally renowned musicians.

He has worked with musicians like Hendrik Meurkens, Max Ionata, Luis Diego Bonilla, Jorge Rossy, Karl Ratzer, George Gruntz, Isla Eckinger, Oscar Klein, Vince Benedetti, Domenic Landolf, David Klein, Adrian Mears, Adam Taubitz, Titi Winterstein, Kurt Weil, Jim Galloway, John Serry, Bonnie Jeanne Taylor, Miguel de la Cerna, Othella Dallas, Andreas Herrmann, Markus Hauser, Mario Schneeberger, Sam Burckhardt and many more.

He has performed in numerous jazz clubs and festivals in Switzerland and abroad. He has been a member of Thomas Moeckel‘s «Centrio» since 1998. Countless music projects have been the product this longterm musical friendship with the well known Swiss all-round musician Thomas Moeckel.

Several of his own projects followed these collaborations, such as the coproductions with Schweizer Radio SRF2 Kultur «Dahaana», «Nothing Is As It Seems» (both albums recorded with the Hardbop band «Compulsion») and «Sambâle», recorded with the Piano Trio Gutfleisch-Schürmann-Frey, which was founded in 2017. His album «Upswing» became one of the most successful Swiss CD releases on international download platforms in 2016.

Dominik Schürmann’s work is marked by musical passion, sensibility, harmony, and perfect timing gained by years of experience. He is very much in demand as a sideman or as a bandleader. Whether in jazz, blues or Latin American music, he always leaves his mark with compassion, enthusiasm and eloquence. He has also participated in theatre and musical productions and has appeared on TV and radio shows. As a bass player, Dominik Schürmann, participated in over 50 CD productions.

This album contains no booklet.