The Atlantic Jazz Collective is a group of 3 JUNO award-winning artists from Canada’s Atlantic Region. Florian is collaborating with saxophonist Mike Murley and bassist Jim Vivian who are veterans of the Canadian jazz scene and recently returned home to Halifax, NS (Murley) and St. John’s, NL (Vivian) after decades of living in Toronto. Born out of the Atlantic Jazz Nights concert series at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John’s, the Atlantic Jazz Collective’s mission is to develop and promote jazz in Atlantic Canada and beyond through exciting international collaborations.
For their first project, they have invited legendary UK-based vocalist, Norma Winstone, and revered drummer, Joe LaBarbera to join them. Both Winstone and LaBarbara, now in the latter stages of their careers, have participated in iconic recordings that have shaped the direction of modern jazz and have set standards for vocal and piano trio recordings. Winstone was featured as vocalist and lyricist on Wheeler’s influential Music for Large and Small Ensemble (1990, ECM Records). Her 1987 ECM album Somewhere Called Home was described as “one most original yet idyllic of vocal jazz recordings” by Allmusic. LaBarbera was part of Bill Evan’s double Grammy award-winning album “We Will Meet Again” (1979. Warner Bros, Records) and many other acclaimed recordings by the trio.
The quintet met for an inaugural performance and recording in St. John’s in September 2023. The result is now out under the title “Seascape” on Alma Records. The repertoire includes reimagined versions of pieces by Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Ralph Towner, Steve Swallow and others. A brilliant wordsmith whose timeless, poetic lyrics have set the standard for the contemporary jazz art song, Winstone has written original lyrics to these previously instrumental pieces.
Atlantic Jazz Collective
Mike Murley – saxophones
Florian Hoefner – piano
Jim Vivian – bass
with special guests:
Norma Winstone – vocals
Joe LaBarbera – drums
