| Jazz |
Here is a new album where the guiding thread is undoubtedly universal poetry. Though undeniably Slavic, Petra Onderuf and her quartet immerse us in an intellectual realm that unfolds a cascade of poetic expressions. She captivates audiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas with her boundless energy, virtuosity, and creativity. As the founder of the renowned international ensemble Wild Strings Trio, her artistry has long been a source of fascination.
Built around a collection of original compositions, this violinist-composer displays her mastery of jazz with a talent too expansive to be confined to a single album. Every note seems destined for the stage, and one can already envision the splendid outcome. By melding her passion for contemporary jazz with her classical and jazz training, her extensive experience with traditional and global ethnic styles, her gift for crafting poignant melodies, and her penchant for unbridled improvisation, she offers us her debut album—an opus of remarkable depth. It firmly establishes Petra’s extraordinary professionalism. The compositions and arrangements are anything but conventional, making for a profoundly enjoyable listening experience that feels deeply personal.
This album represents Onderuf’s long-cherished dream: to release a record of her own creations. Synthesizing ideas and experiences from her international tours, myriad collaborations, and profound musical studies, the eleven original tracks of An Odd Time of Day have been meticulously crafted and refined over the past nine years. They awaited the right people, the right place, and the right moment to come to life. Each piece reflects her experiences and emotions shaped by life’s unpredictability, or conveys a playful curiosity about sounds, irregular rhythms, and musical concepts.
One might imagine that Joe Zawinul himself would have greatly admired this album, given its kinship to his compositional approach. Each piece’s structure takes precedence over its duration, resulting in a richness of melodic intricacies and solos. Petra Onderuf thinks like an artist of the world, drawing from her cultural roots as well as from European and American jazz traditions. The music holds universal appeal, though it is primarily tailored to connoisseurs of contemporary jazz.
So, what can you expect from this album? Let Petra speak for herself:
“Complex, sinuous melodies with a contrapuntal quality, intricate percussive grooves, and the vibrant interplay of a live ensemble define the expressive and expansive tone of this album. The warm acoustic timbre of my violin leads the quartet through vivid compositions, opening into creative, exploratory improvisations, anchored in the joy and celebration of the musical moment. Music has the power to connect us, inspire us, and help us understand the world. For me, this album is a way to share my story and, hopefully, to resonate with yours. It’s about finding beauty in life’s strange moments and celebrating the unexpected.”
There is nothing more to add except this: on January 17, treat yourself to this extraordinary album, which already claims its place among our “Essentials” for 2025!
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, January 5th 2025
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Line up:
Petra Onderuf | Violin, Composition Rok Zalokar | Piano
Luka Dobnikar | Double Bass
Aleš Zorec | Drums
Featuring:
Jure Pukl | Soprano Saxophone (Tracks 5, 10)
Gašper Selko | Trumpet (Tracks 1, 7, 9)