Christoph Grab, Nicole Johänntgen, Marcel Thomi, Elmar Frey - Root Area: In Pursuit of Happiness (2025) [Hi-Res]

ROOT AREA plays Soul Jazz – “Soul” music in the truest sense. Following their RAY Session (LAMENTO 006), the band makes an impressive return with the album In Pursuit Of Happiness. The high-caliber lineup, featuring Christoph Grab and Nicole Johänntgen on saxophones, Marcel Thomi on the Hammond organ, and Elmar Frey on drums, presents nine brand-new original compositions, recorded live in a single afternoon at Hardstudio in Winterthur.
The new program continues their concept of integrating various grooves into their “language,” using them as the foundation for their original compositions and improvisations. Jazz and irresistible rhythmic energy are fused to create ROOT AREA’s unmistakable sound.
Whether bluesy boogaloo, gospel-tinged ballads, New Orleans grooves, edgy reggae, or Afrobeat – ROOT AREA combines deep musical roots with a contemporary edge. This synthesis generates phenomenal energy that transcends boundaries, creating unique, joyous moments for both the audience and the band.
With their infectious playfulness, groove, and refined arrangements for two saxophones and Hammond organ, ROOT AREA shapes a distinctive style that has gained recognition far beyond national borders. The German press describes ROOT AREA as a “celebration of blues, soul, swing, and other jazz-root ingredients.”
In Pursuit Of Happiness is being released, like the previous albums, on Christoph Grab’s own label, LAMENTO.