Public Jazz Society (Live) Joo Kraus & SWR Big Band

• 1 In the Stone 03:46
• 2 Scarborough Fair 08:07
• 3 Let's Dance 07:12
• 4 Fast Forward 06:24
• 5 Bolero 06:23
• 6 Birdland 07:30
• 7 Getaway 04:40
• 8 Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 03:14
• 9 San Fran Safari Club 05:23
• 10 Magic Cube 04:54
• 11 Black or White 06:14
• Total Runtime 01:03:47

Info for Public Jazz Society (Live)

Joo Kraus is one of a select few: trumpet-players of an exceptional caliber from Germany who have gained an international reputation. Having kicked off the chase to border-crossing renown through the formation Tab Two together with Helmut Hattler, first-rate instrumental sessions and an insatiable creative inquisitiveness were driving factors in establishing a growing impression after the group split up. Whether as guest artist on projects such as De Phazz or Soullounge, in alternating formations with Cuban pianist Omar Sosa (currently to be heard on the album SKP 9136 “JOG” as duo/trio), or teamed up with Paula Morelenbaum, the reigning queen of Brazilian Bossa Nova in the Bossarenova Trio (SKP 9113 “Samba Preludio”), the style of playing generated by Joo Kraus on trumpet is always one-of-a-kind, and even more so in combination with breathy Rap inserts. In 2012 his efforts were honored in Germany with an ECHO Jazz award. Alongside Tab Two, just as successful in both an artistic and commercial sense was the project entitled “Public Jazz Lounge” (SKP 9040). This intriguing name merged the southwestern German broadcasting network’s SWR Big Band, Joo Kraus and his alter ego, arranger Ralf Schmid, back in 2003 to create an equally audacious and tasteful blend of Jazz and Pop that ranked in the Top 10 on the German Jazz Charts and won a Jazz Award in GOLD not too long ago for more than 10,000 recording media sold in Germany. Rip-roaring concerts ensured that the concept always remained fresh and up to date by adding new repertoire.

Keeping all this in mind, it was naturally long since overdue to document this currently ‘public’ state of affairs and capture the magic live. The best from ‘hometown’ concerts in Ulm, Tübingen, Karlsruhe, Ludwigsburg and Mannheim has now been recorded under the title “Public Jazz Society”. In addition to classics from the concert program such as the Simon & Garfunkel hit “Scarborough Fair” or “Birdland” by Joe Zawinul, above all it’s a number of new pieces that strike the balance between the rollercoasting big-band sound (for instance on the prelude track “In The Stone”, an Earth, Wind & Fire cover version) and trumpet showcases featuring Joo Kraus (like on the David Bowie song “Let’s Dance”). Amidst the fireworks and fanfare, time and again the outstanding arrangements by pianist Ralf Schmid (lend an ear to the completely new approach taken to the Maurice Ravel classic, “Bolero”) and the fantastic soloists in the SWR Big Band make these concerts more than memorable.

Public Jazz Society is going to be touring extensively in 2016. It’s a sure bet that audiences will be thrilled by other highlights from the current album, including the Michael Jackson hit “Black Or White” and “Getaway” by Earth, Wind & Fire, all live and onstage.

Joo Kraus
It is unimaginable to do without JOO KRAUS in the German history of music of the last two decades. So the entry of the man born in Ulm in the Jazz charts was obligatory. 2012 he won the “jazz echo” as best brass instrumentalist in germany.„Low Sky Sketches“ – Joo’s latest album is a special cooperation between Joo Kraus and Pit Baumgartner, mastermind of the legendary band DePhazz. This album is often sub-titled „the phazzination of blue notes“ or „rebirth of de-cool“.„SONGS FROM NEVERLAND“ … is the title of the new project together with the Tales in Tones Trio. And the title is a telling name: “Thriller”, “Man in the Mirror” and “Billie Jean” were reduced to their essences and in the following accented with an enchanting heart beat but also with an unexpected softness. At the same time these men let the spirit of the songs breathe and gave it space to unfold. One would almost think that the heart of the King is beating here, who had yet served his songs so differently.

“PAINTING POP” – Joo Kraus created a very special ear catcher with the Tales in Tones Trio here. Together they roamed around in the attic of pop music history and thereby discovered wonderful pearls of music, cleared them from dust and packed them right away into own exciting arrangements, stirred and shaken well and merged with influences of trance jazz, hip beat and sophisticated soul.

For his album “SUENO” (2008, edel, content record) together with the arranger/pianist Ralf Schmid he brought touching melodies and harmonies to Havana, Cuba, to give them a touch of Cuba together with high carat Cuban musicians. This way a project developed, which reveals the fine Cuban Bolero and Son. Kristiina Tuomi from Finland and the Cuban Luis Frank upgraded some songs with their voices.

For “THE RIDE”, the second solo album of Joo Kraus, his band “Public Jazz Lounge” became a “BASIC JAZZ LOUNGE” three years later: The Basic Jazz Lounge announces an easy soul jazz with a proper portion of groove, that brings the body into motion!

His first own record “PUBLIC JAZZ LOUNGE” came out 2003 at Skiprecords. On this record jazz, pop and rap combine with arrangements à la BigBand. Joe Zawinul’s “Birdland” is orchestrated, Björk’s “Venus As A Boy” is rapped, Earth Wind & Fire’s “Getaway” philharmonised, Mary J. Bliges “Love Is All We Need” jazzed.

The musician was able to make an excellent name of himself with the JazzAward winning Hip-Jazz project Tab Two. Equipped with a virtual band the duo could be heard at nearly all national and international festivals in the 90ies. The fan base of this duo was at that time in Europe, America and Asia very remarkable. Without Tab Two Acid-Jazz, but also the later Hip Hop and Drum’n’Bass would miss an enormous dimension.

After the break-up of Tab Two, Joo Kraus quickly made an own name of himself as an exceptionial trumpeter and composer. The list of those who adorned themselves with his solos and learned to appreciate Joo’s compositions for own projects, clarifies the diversity of his musical talents: Omar Sosa, BAP, Nana Mouskouri, Tina Turner, Xavier Naidoo, Laith Al Deen, Jazzkantine, DePhazz, Fury in the Slaughterhouse, Pee Wee Ellis, Mezzoforte, Klaus Doldinger and many more.

This album contains no booklet.