Petra Onderuf Quartet | An Odd Time Of Day | January 17, 2025

Slovak violinist/composer Petra Onderuf’s limitless energy, virtuosity and creativity have captivated audiences across Europe, Asia and America as the founder of internationally celebrated ensemble Wild Strings Trio.

Bringing together her passion for Contemporary Jazz, Classical and jazz training, widespread experience in global traditional and Ethno styles, emotive melodic songwriting, and uninhibited improvisation, her debut album ‘An Odd Time of Day’ is set to be released on January 17th 2025.

The record represents Onderuf’s long-held dream of releasing an album of her own compositions. Compiling ideas and experience from her global touring life, countless collaborations, and deep musical study, the eleven original pieces on ‘An Odd Time of Day’ have been brewing and evolving over the past nine years, waiting for the right people, place and time to come alive. Each is a reflection of her experiences and emotions shaped by life’s unpredictable turns, or simply an expression of playful curiosity with sound, odd rhythms, and musical ideas.

Complex winding melodies with a contrapuntal quality, intricate percussive grooves and the sound of a live band feeding off each other’s energy make up the album’s expressive and spacious tone. The warm acoustic timbre of Onderuf’s violin guides her quartet through her colorful written material before opening up into creative, explorative improvisations grounded by the joy and celebration of being present in music making.

“Music has the power to connect us, inspire us, and help us make sense of the world. For me, this album is a way to share my story and hopefully resonate with yours. It’s about finding beauty in the odd moments of life and celebrating the unexpected” – Petra Onderuf

Line up

Petra Onderuf | Violin, Composition Rok Zalokar | Piano
Luka Dobnikar | Double Bass
Aleš Zorec | Drums

Featuring

Jure Pukl | Soprano Saxophone (Tracks 5, 10)
Gašper Selko | Trumpet (Tracks 1, 7, 9)

Track Listing

Cremm
Tanec
Dete
Opening
Resemblance
Julia’s Sunset
Next Chapter
Time of Day
Eleven
Waiting for M.K.
Positive

PR Quotes

Jazzthetik (DE)
“a strong statement in the beloved synthesis that gives Onderuf’s wonderfully bold violin playing a new voice”

Paris-move (FR)
“unfolds a cascade of poetic expressions”

Making a Scene (US)
“raw, organic, melody-driven beauty. This music is art”

Jazz in Family (IT)
“configured as an inner exploration of the artist, an invitation to discern the beauty hidden in the unusual moments of existence, leaving the notable influence on the listeren’s sensitivity”

Esensja (PL)
“If the mixture of classical, ethnic and free jazz music is not too much of an extravagance for you, you have no right to miss “An Odd Time of Day”.”

Blue in Green (UK)
“yet another testament to Ross McHenry’s phenomenal and ever-evolving mastery that has garnered without doubt one of his most compelling projects to date.”

La Habitacion Del Jazz (ES)
“The album is a collection of intricate and complex melodies, creating a rich and expansive sound”

SK Jazz (SK)
“Summa summarum: Excellent debut!”

Era Jazzu (PL)
“The warm acoustic timbre of the violin leads the quartet through colorful compositions, creating creative, exploratory improvisations based on the joy of making music”

Jazz Views (UK)
“In AN ODD TIME OF DAY, Onderuf hasn’t just created an album, she’s crafted a musical autobiography that proves some stories can only be told through the voice of a violin, and some moments are worth waiting nine years to share.”

Jazz Weekly (US)
“progressive and intricate”

Wilderness Viking (NO)
“Especially if you also enjoy the lead instrument roles being switched around and combined, and that you find it intriguing when folk and world music elements are used to expand the boundaries of a more traditional and subtly expressive variety of instrumental jazz of this kind.e”

FREQ (UK)
“With jazz, classical, improv and global influences, the album is a widescreen melange of all these styles, but at heart is a warm-hearted journey through Petra’s life, using the music as a way of telling stories and relating experiences with sympathetic backing from players that know when to hold back and when to push forward.”

Jazz.sk (SK)
“It is a mature work by a self-confident author, in which her determination is audible and the right feeling for the choice of teammates is essential.”