The sheer songfulness of the material spurred Hoefner to interpret and improvise with lyricism at the forefront. His arrangements added the right amount of jazz breadth and sophistication to the mix in terms of harmonic and structural richness, without turning the material into jazzschool contrivances. These pieces, plus Hoefner’s like-minded and well-crafted originals such as the quick, spinning tune Solstice, Winter in June and the suite-like First Spring, gave the trio ample space and inspiration to create its own identity. The musical edifices that Hoefner had architected so well relied on the seasoned pairing of Downing and Fraser. The trio’s efforts gained layers from Downing’s fluid playing and standout arco abilities, while Fraser’s shining musicality tied everything together. – Read more
Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen