Primary Instrument: Drums
Instrument: Drums
Reinhold Schmoelzer - drummer, arranger, composer
With his large ensemble debut record “Reinhold Schmoelzer & orchest•ra•conteur - Miraculous Loss Of Signal” Reinhold challenges himself not only being a drummer, but also a composer for a 19-piece band. Each of the seven compositions have an internal dramaturgy which, after taking the listener on an emotional voyage to the far reaches of the composer's imagination, returns to its starting point - with hopes of having made lasting impressions on the way. Thus, the 19-piece ensemble also assumes the role of storyteller,
lending it its unusual name: orchestra + raconteur = orchest-ra-conteur. Reinhold is a composer who thinks in broad strokes. His orchestrations can be sparing - but at times they burst the bounds of the big band itself, though based on the traditional ensemble format. Extended instrumentation featuring oboe, flute, contrabass clarinet and marimba, allow him to realize and expand his colorful concepts in sound.
Growing up in very south of Austria and playing in local bands, he early knew to go on in studying drums and composition. As an Alumni of “University for Music & Dramatic Arts Graz” and “Jazzinstitute Berlin” he was encouraged by his teachers (Howard Curtis, Ed Partyka, John Hollenbeck) to start his own large ensemble and compose for it. This also led to a commission for a new arrangement of Radiohead´s “Lotus Flower” by Hessische Rundfunk (HR) Big Band - Frankfurt/Main which also can be found on the record. Furthermore he received the “DOWNBEAT Student Music Award 2012” for the same arrangement!
Despite these successes as a composer, Schmoelzer sees it as vital as a musician to play as often as possible, staying in close contact with the jazz scene. Numerous ensembles and well-known players (i.e. Rob Bargad, Renato Chicco, Wayne Darling, Jure Pukl etc.) value his farsighted, unobtrusive, but highly emotional playing style - whether playing time-honored standards, original compositions by colleagues, or his own works as on this record. Reinhold Schmoelzer is a servant of the music in the best sense and shows every sign of following in the footsteps of his eminent role models.
REINHOLD SCHMÖLZER & ORCHEST•RA•CONTEUR
MIRACULOUS LOSS OF SIGNAL
TO BE RELEASED ON NOV. 16th, 2012
www.reinischmoelzer.at
www.unitrecords.com
