Sarah Chaksad - Together (2023) [Hi-Res]

Swiss composer and saxophonist Sarah Chaksad has earned international acclaim for her innovative large ensembles and emotionally rich compositions. Known for her detailed arrangements blending composed and improvised elements, Chaksad’s music integrates jazz with global influences, including traditional Persian music, inspired by her Iranian heritage. Her new Large Ensemble, featuring 13 musicians from diverse backgrounds, showcases a flexible and dynamic approach to jazz, allowing space for personal expression and improvisation.

Her latest album, Together, recorded in Berlin’s Hansa Studio, explores themes of solidarity and personal reflection, drawing on rhythms and melodies influenced by Persian traditions. Tracks like Hope and Imagine Peace feature complex time signatures and global elements, such as the kamancheh (Middle Eastern violin) played by Misagh Joolaee, bridging cultures and creating a unique soundscape.

Chaksad's compositions often reflect her life experiences, such as the loss of her father in 2020, and are characterized by refined rhythms, vibrant melodies, and emotional depth. The ensemble includes standout musicians like pianist Julia Hülsmann, trumpeter Hildegunn Øiseth, and flutist Christoph Bösch, blending jazz with contemporary classical music and global traditions.

Together is both a celebration of musical diversity and a plea for unity, offering an engaging mix of personal introspection and collective expression. With concerts planned for 2024, the album promises to captivate audiences worldwide.

LINE-UP
SARAH CHAKSAD alto and soprano saxophone, composition
YUMI ITO vocals
CHRISTOPH BÖSCH flutes
FABIAN WILLMANN tenor saxophone, clarinet
CATHERINE DELAUNAY basset horn, clarinet
HILDEGUNN ØISETH trumpet
PACO ANDREO valve trombone, euphonium
LUKAS WYSS trombone
SOPHIA NIDECKER tuba
JULIA HÜLSMANN piano
FABIO GOUVEA guitar
DOMINIQUE GIROD bass
EVA KLESSE drums

Tracklist:
1-1. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Circle (07:31)
1-2. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Misagh Joolaee, Sophia Nidecker - Together (07:24)
1-3. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Love Letters (03:15)
1-4. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Green I (06:28)
1-5. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Green 2 (06:13)
1-6. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Lost (10:28)
1-7. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Imagine Peace (07:09)
1-8. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Tears (08:33)
1-9. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Louana (05:45)
1-10. Sarah Chaksad, Julia Hülsmann, Catherine Delaunay, Christoph Bösch, Eva Klesse, Fabio Gouvea, Dominique Girod, Yumi Ito, Paco Andréo, Lukas Wyss, Fabian Willmann, Hildegunn Øiseth, Sophia Nidecker - Hope (05:47)