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Florian Hoefner

Born and raised in Germany, trained in New York City and now based in Canada, jazz pianist and composer, Florian Hoefner, draws from a myriad of influences that culminate in his unique brand of modern jazz. Praised as a “composer-bandleader of insightful resolve” by the New York Times and a “harmonically daring pianist […] reaching toward new sonic territory” by Downbeat, Florian Hoefner has made his mark as an inventive creator and performer of exciting contemporary Jazz.

With the Florian Hoefner Group, he has released 3 albums on Origin Records that have received rave reviews around the globe. “Luminosity,” his latest release, has been described as a “starkly picturesque album [...] that makes profound statements from quiet moments” by Downbeat, as “the real deal” by Jazz Journal (UK) and as a “total experience” by the New York Jazz Record. Featuring tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, this record has been his most ambitious project so far. It has been nominated as Jazz Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards 2017. With the quartet, he maintains a busy touring schedule that has included over 100 performances in Europe and North America to date. After their performance at the Montréal Jazz Festival 2015, Hoefner was awarded the Stingray Rising Star Award.

In September 2017 he released “Coldwater Stories” (Origin Records), his first ever solo piano album with 10 original compositions and improvisations. Exploring a new process that interleaves composed with freely improvised sections it has been described as “sublimely evocative music” by The WholeNote Magazine.

His latest project is a trio with Toronto based musicians, Andrew Downing on bass and Nick Fraser on drums that focuses on interpretations of folk and country music from around the world. Its debut album will be released internationally in September 2019 on Alma Records.

As a member of the Germany-based collective, Subtone, he has released 4 critically acclaimed albums on labels including ENJA Records and performed on 4 continents including festivals such as Jazz Baltica (Germany), ACACIA Jazz Festival (Ethiopia), Jazz in Situ (Ecuador) and Tremplin Jazz d’Avignon (France) where the group was awarded the jury and audience awards. Florian’s work as a sideman has led to numerous additional CD releases including a collaboration with guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel on Fresh Sound Records. He has shared the stage with the likes of Joe Lovano, Seamus Blake, Rich Perry, John Riley, trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindemann, and New York Philharmonic clarinetist, Mark Nuccio.

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15
Multiple Reviews

3x3: Piano Trios: July 2022

Read "3x3: Piano Trios: July 2022" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Florian Hoefner Trio Desert Bloom Alma Records 2022 If the title of First Spring appropriately represented the Florian Hoefner Trio's first emergence, Desert Bloom is the picture of a colorful summer to follow--warmer, more vibrant, and at the same time more settled. As on their debut, the trio shows off an impressively honed interplay and an eagerness to mix their jazzy leanings with some pretty different musical spheres. This time Hoefner takes his compositional cues ...

10
Album Review

Florian Hoefner Trio: First Spring

Read "First Spring" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Many piano trios reach back to past masters for inspiration, playing in the style of Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson. Others craft their sounds under the influence of contemporary players: Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Barron, Ahmad Jamal. On the other hand, the occasional piano trio comes down the road rolling its own idiosyncratic way. Pianist Florian Hoefner is one of the latter group, with his immersion in “the ethos of traditional songs and the high lonesome ...

1
Album Review

Florian Hoefner: Luminosity

Read "Luminosity" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


Il quartetto di Florian Hoefner -origini tedesche, residenza da anni a New York -è con Luminosity alla terza uscita discografica e si sente. L'intesa fra i musicisti è perfetta -Seamus Blake è subentrato a Mike Ruby ma sembra membro del gruppo da sempre -la musica ha la precisione di un orologio svizzero, fluisce senza scossoni e senza impedimenti. Vi è inoltre una chirurgica successione di brani dall'andamento lento e riflessivo con altri dal ritmo più sostenuto, mentre gli assoli guadagnano ...

7
Album Review

Florian Hoefner: Luminosity

Read "Luminosity" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


A change in scenery can bring a new perspective as revealed in Florian Hoefner's Luminosity, his third release on Origin Records. Since moving to St Johns, Newfoundland in 2014 after spending years in New York City, the pianist and composer builds on previous works that highlighted a lyrical adeptness in the vein of contemporaries Aaron Parks and Fabian Almazan while exposing an identifiable voice. Fueled by bassist Sam Anning and drummer Peter Kronreif who have performed with ...

35
Album Review

Florian Hoefner: Songs Without Words

Read "Songs Without Words" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


A youthful quartet led by German pianist Florian Hoefner offers a modern jazz effort that is by no means a game-changer, yet boasts a diverse track mix. Now residing in New York, Hoefner is a two-time recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. Featuring his original compositions, the quartet on Songs Without Words displays verve while executing delicate sound mosaics, pumping Latin beats and fluidly crafted unison choruses. The pianist's intricately articulated phrasings on the pensive ballad ...

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“Florian Hoefner is a cerebral and harmonically daring pianist whose style crystallizes around jazz and blues fundamentals, but whose adventurous spirit finds him reaching toward new sonic territory. Luminosity, his starkly picturesque new album, makes profound statements from quiet moments. […] There is serious density to this music. Prepare to explore it on end.” Brian Zimmerman, Downbeat “Mr. Hoefner is an articulate German-born pianist. […] His new album, “Luminosity,” shows him to be a composer- bandleader of insightful resolve.” Nate Chinen, New York Times “Hoefner’s own poetry can also be chameleonic as he invents new harmonies and chords that are tantamount to reinventing tonality itself

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Halifax

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

As a teacher, Florian has been active both as a private instructor and clinician, working for institutions like the University of Toronto, the University of Arts in Berlin, Germany, the Anton Bruckner University in Linz, Austria, Riverside Piano in New York City and the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Contents of clinics can be negotiated. Florian has presented clinics at the University of Toronto, the Anton Bruckner University in Linz, Austria, the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, the Jazz School Krakow, Poland, the Earl Haig Secondary School in Toronto, the North Toronto Collegiate Institute and The York School Toronto.

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Desert Bloom

Alma Records
2022

buy

First Spring

Alma Records
2019

buy

Coldwater Stories

Origin Records
2017

buy

Luminosity

Origin Records
2016

buy

Falling Up

OA2 Records
2013

buy

Songs Without Words

OA2 Records
2012

buy

The Way of Water

From: Coldwater Stories
By Florian Hoefner

Stoney Lake

From: Falling Up
By Florian Hoefner

Uncertain Times

From: Songs Without Words
By Florian Hoefner

Videos

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