Vienna Art Orchestra & Voices – Swiss Swing (CD2060)

Yodel echoes, Ländler rhythms and Alpine mountain songs, played by a jazz band. On Swiss Swing, Mathias Rüeggbrings together a small version of the Vienna Art Orchestra and five female voices to explore the folk music of his home country. It was recorded on March 8–9, 1986 at the Radio DRS studios in Zurich.

Lauren Newton leads the vocal group with Sarah Barrett, Renate Bochdansky, Elfi Aichinger and Maria Bayer. The instruments give it a unique sound: Hans Hassler on accordion, Woody Schabata on vibraphone, Bumi Fian and Hans Kennel on trumpet, Uli Scherer on keyboards, Heiri Känzig on bass and Wolfgang Reisinger on drums and percussion. Pieces like “Ländler für 5 Stimmen”, “Bergecho”, “Von der Rigi” and “Hymne, nicht zu andächtig” (“Hymn, not too devout”) take Swiss tradition seriously and play with it at the same time. The album ends with the wonderfully named “Zitatmaschine” (“Quotation Machine”).

The result is neither pure jazz nor pure contemporary music. It’s a world of its own, unmistakably Rüegg: witty, affectionate and full of surprises. Released on Moers Music. When you buy here, you’re buying directly from the label, and we only sell originals.

The Side Story

Swiss Swing is Rüegg’s second look at the folk music of Switzerland, where he was born in Zurich in 1952. Two years earlier, on Five Old Songs (CD2036), the Vienna Art Choir reinterpreted traditional Swiss songs, including “Zoge am Boge”. On this album the story continues with ”Zoge am Boge III”.

The Swiss Swing project premiered at the famous Willisau Jazz Festival in Switzerland. A year later the “Swiss choir” performed at festivals in Paris and in Moers. Many of the musicians on this album also appeared in Rüegg’s earlier Vienna Art Orchestra production about Switzerland, a “musical-critical examination” of his home country.

Rüegg’s Swiss connection runs through the whole band: bassist Heiri Känzig is Swiss, and so are accordionist Hans Hassler and trumpeter Hans Kennel. Lauren Newton, Woody Schabata, Bumi Fian, Uli Scherer and Wolfgang Reisinger were all key members of the Vienna Art Orchestra in the 1980s, and you’ll find them on other Moers releases like Nightride of a Lonely Saxophoneplayer and Inside Out, Live ‘87.

Tracklist

1. Im Tenigerbad – 8:51

2. Hymne, nicht zu andächtig – 4:40

3. Ländler für 5 Stimmen – 4:20

4. Zoge am Boge III – 3:26

5. Bergecho – 4:40

6. S’wott es Fraueli… – 4:12

7. Von der Rigi – 7:53

8. Zitatmaschine – 4:26

Compositions and arrangements by Mathias Rüegg. Total running time: approx. 42 minutes

Personnel

• Mathias Rüegg – conductor, composer, arranger

• Lauren Newton – vocals

• Sarah Barrett, Renate Bochdansky, Elfi Aichinger, Maria Bayer – vocals

• Bumi Fian – trumpet

• Hans Kennel – trumpet

• Hans Hassler – accordion

• Uli Scherer – keyboards

• Woody Schabata – vibraphone

• Heiri Känzig – bass

• Wolfgang Reisinger – drums, percussion

Details

• Format: CD

• Label: Moers Music

• Catalog no.: CD2060

• Recorded: March 8–9, 1986, Radio DRS, Zurich

• Price: €14.00