...catchy and inventive...the performances develop in unexpected directions, and the often-episodic frameworks make most of the selections sound like mini-suites.
Ozean is German for "ocean," where life on Earth started and the pathways for forging cultural exchange and enrichment of civilization were navigated. The beauty, importance and fragility of the waterways were front-of-mind as guitarist Hugo Fernandez composed this music for his Berlin-based quartet. Born in Mexico, with stops at Berklee and the University of New Orleans before a decade in Madrid and now Berlin, Fernandez's experiences through life in these vivid cultural capitals comes through the music with wide-ranging elements of folkloric forms, Western classical music, and even pop, informing his deep jazz sensibilities. With trumpeter Christoph Titz, bassist Martin Lillich, and fellow expat, drummer Jesus Vega, they embrace a musical world that could be a "forward-looking vision of jazz" (House of World Cultures, Berlin).
"...personality, competence and a sound all of its own..."
El Pais (Spain)
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Hugo Fernandez - guitar
Christoph Titz - trumpet & flugelhorn
Martin Lillich - electric bass
Jesus Vega - drums
Produced by Hugo Fernandez
Co-produced by Vanessa Labrada
Recorded by Michael Buk
at Greve Studios, Berlin, DE
on January 21-22, 2022
Mixed by Michael Buk & Volker Greve
at Greve Studios, Berlin, DE
Mastered by Volker Greve
Photos by David Beecroft
Cover design & layout by John Bishop