Silent Explosion Orchestra by Kevin Naßhan - Portraits of New York City

The new album of the Saarbrücken Silent Explosion Orchestra, "Portraits of New York City" is the soundtrack to an exciting journey to the jazz capital of the world, New York City.  After arriving exhausted at night and in the rain then wandering around amongst the huge skyscrapers, you are overwhelmed and recognize the advantages and beauty of the city in the further course of the journey. The great cultural diversity is particularly impressive. You can experience a "lazy day" in Central Park, watch the crowds on the large lawns and ice rink as well as the many strollers on the countless paths. Visit classical concerts in Lincoln Center, jazz concerts in one of the legendary clubs in Greenwich Village and follow in the footsteps of the great bebop pioneers around Charlie Parker in Harlem.

Further into the journey you walk over the High Line and enjoy the view over the Hudson and the different parts of the city. The pathway then leads into the dense crowds of the brightly lit Times Square. At the end of the journey you leave the many impressions of the big city behind you, walk over the Williamsburg Bridge and enjoy the peace and quiet with an extraordinary view of the New York skyline. The album sees itself as a declaration of love for the city of New York and describes the real experiences from the perspective of the band leader and drummer of the band, Kevin Naßhan, who composed the eight tracks on the album.

In addition to classic big band swing and mainstream jazz, there are also classic elements as well as Pop or R’n’B-influenced titles on the CD, which does justice to the great cultural diversity of the city. To underline this, the classic big band line-up with the two singers Svenja Hinzmann and Andreas Braun has also been supplemented by a classic string ensemble, consisting of musicians from  „Saarändische Staatsorchester“ and „Deutsche Radiophilharmonie“, and thus grows into a symphonic orchestra. Portraits of New York City is the second studio album by the Silent Explosion Orchestra and was recorded at Saarländischer Rundfunk Saarbrücken. The band brings together some of the most talented young jazz musicians from Saarbrücken, Mannheim, Mainz and Cologne, such as the outstanding soloists Fabian Schöne, Marko Mebus and Peter Hedrich.

The arrangements were written by Jörg Achim Keller and Malte Schiller, who are among the most renowned arrangers on the international big band scene. True to the SEO motto of combining different art forms, a partner was found by New York photographer Desmond White who captured the experiences and circumstances that are described musically with "portraits". A book with the photographs as well as the stories, explanations and exciting background stories will also be available for the album. The album is aimed at everyone who has visited this wonderful city, who feels a certain wanderlust and reflection to their own personal stories and photo memories. But to everyone who has not been able to physically travel to New York you can experience your own musical and visual journey through the city that never sleeps.