Florian Hoefner Group

CD Release Tour “SONGS WITHOUT WORDS”

This concert is supported by the German Embassy, Washington DC.

New York-based pianist Florian Hoefner introduces his unique brand of modern jazz with the “Florian Hoefner Group”. Alongside his contemporaries in the New York jazz scene, the two-time winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award presents a set of original compositions with appeal to a wide span of music fans and jazz lovers alike.

“Songs Without Words”, their debut record, was released in April 2012 on OA2 Records. The record received rave reviews and airplay on major radio stations across the US and Europe. The release tour included 26 dates in six different countries and was well acclaimed by critics and the public.

The players’ individual track records are as impressive. Florian Hoefner was part of eight commercial CD releases on labels like ENJA Records and Freshsounds Records, including a collaboration with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Mike Ruby on tenor sax is the featured soloist with the pop band “St. Lucia” and regularly performs with Ari Hoenig’s group. Bassist Sam Anning is the winner of the Bell Award as Young Jazz Musician of the Year in Australia and has performed with the Kenny Werner Trio, George Garzone, Jim Black and many others. Peter Kronreif on drums has already played on more than 30 CD releases and as a sought-after tour drummer can be heard all over the world.

Mike Ruby – tenor & soprano saxophone

Florian Hoefner – piano

Sam Anning – bass

Peter Kronreif - drums

“Songs Without Words” in the press:

“There is a congeniality to this album akin to pop music, and the melodies are infectious as hell, but they are anything but sweetness and light. [...]Falling in between is some wonderfully understated interplay. It’s one of my favorite albums of 2012.“

Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm

"Well conceived modern stuff that sets a high water mark for sitting down jazz that can be enjoyed by all."

Chris Spector, Midwest Record

"This is a strong, promising quartet headed by a pianist you’ll want to hear more from."

Nick Bewsey, Jazz in Space

"An album that does a brilliant job building on statements of melody. An unequivocally catchy album that is a joy to hear."

All About Jazz

Florian Hoefner has been able to establish himself both, as a jazz pianist and composer.

His piano playing is featured on eight international CD releases. Performances brought him to numerous countries on four different continents, including venues and festivals like Jazz Baltica (Germany), Bohemia Jazz Fest (Czech Republic), Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola NY (USA) and Porgy & Bess Vienna (Austria). He has shared the stage with artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joe Lovano Seamus Blake, John Riley and Tim Ries.

While still a student at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, he won his first of two ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards. His big band compositions have been premiered by the German National Jazz Orchestra, the Lucerne Jazz Orchestra and the New York Jazz Orchestra.

Mike Ruby has established himself in New York City as an astonishing performer with a captivating stage presence that brings energy and beauty to the music he performs.

Mike was praised by Downbeat Magazine for his “impressive command of his instrument” while Showtime Magazine compared him to “the young Joshua Redman”. His international reach has included performances in the Netherlands, the U.K and Germany. Mike has also played at many jazz festivals across Canada and the U.S., the most notable being the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival, respectively. He has opened for Yo-Yo Ma at The Waldorf Astoria and has performed with such greats as Thomas Hampson, Hermeto Pascoal, Ari Hoenig and many others. In the short time he has been working in New York City Ruby has already played jazz venues Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola @ Lincoln Center, Smalls, Iridium, Jazz Gallery, 55 Bar, and many more.

Mike was voted Best Soloist by Downbeat Jazz Magazine and won a recording contract with Universal Music’s internationally distributed Canadian jazz label, Alma Records. He holds a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from The Manhattan School of Music. His teachers include Dave Liebman, Donny McCaslin, George Garzone, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenon and Mark Turner.

Sam Anning is one of Australia’s foremost up-and-coming Jazz musicians.

After graduating from WAAPA in Perth, completing a Bachelor of Jazz, Sam went on to study and perform in New York City, the U.K., and Europe, where he also developed and broadened his compositional and performance style.

He received the Toyota Scholarship for Jazz (2001), the 2008 Bell Award for Young Jazz Musician of the Year and the 2010 Bell Award for Classic Jazz Album of the Year (“Homage”- Anning, Hannaford, Browne – Jazzhead Records). He is currently a full scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music, Masters program.

Sam has performed with a large number of national and international artists including: Kenny Werner, Jim Black, Ari Hoenig, Gilad Hekselman, Charlie Haden, Wycliffe Gordon, Sheila Jordan, Chris Cheek, George Garzone, Will Vinson, James Morrison, Terrell Stafford and Greg Osby.

Before relocating to New York in 2010 Peter Kronreif was already one of the busiest young drummers in Europe.

While still a student, based in Vienna he began playing with the greats of the European scene like Harry Sokal, Martin Reiter, Matthieu Michel and Allegre Correa. His excellent reputation as a studio drummer led to over 30 international CD releases.

After being awarded the Hans-Koller-Prize as “Sideman of the Year 2010” in Austria he took the hint, released his first CD “Gloaming” as a leader with his group “Wayfarers” and brought the band on tour in Europe. Since his move to NYC he could quickly establish himself in the scene. He is now busy touring with New York’s LeBoeuf Brothers and other emerging artists.