The son of a pianist from Basel, Schürmann took to music early and his talent was supported and fostered by his father. He quickly became a sought after bassist on the Swiss Jazz scene, with well over 50 albums to his name, countless tours and performances with the likes of Jorge Rossy, Max Ionata, Hendrik Meurkens, Karl Ratzer, Luis Diego Bonilla, Isla Eckinger and many more. 

An experienced composer and aficionado of the Big Band sound, Schürmann challenged himself to arrange a selection of his original repertoire for a 12 piece ensemble. With help from his longtime musical companions George Ricci and Tilman Günther and co-production support from Swiss Radio SF2 Kultur, Schürmann’s vision was brought to reality. 

Grounded in a deep love for the epoch of swing, bebop and hard bop, the record is idiomatically diverse, containing toe-tapping swing numbers, grooving latin tunes, emotive jazz ballads, and a high-energy jazz/funk song. Bluesy melodies, playfully syncopated writing, and the rich harmonies of an eight-strong horn section illustrate that while this may be the bassist’s large ensemble debut, his familiarity and passion for the art form did not let him down. 

Featuring a host of highly renowned musicians on the Swiss scene, international collaborators and up-and-comers of European jazz, the album creates space for every musician to showcase their improvisational prowess. Searing saxophone solos, soaring trumpets, the haunting, lyrical voice of Song Yi Jeon and the lush timbre of three flutes expand the ensemble’s sonic and tonal palette to create a varied, dynamic and compelling sound.

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