Leonhard Skorupa Ensemble

"Leonhard Skorupa is a central figure in Austria’s jazz scene — a saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader who pursues his passion for eclectic sophistication with both freedom and finesse. There’s a strong sense of Vienna — especially the district of Hernals — in the witty, poetic texts by Gert Jonke, spoken by Maria Hofstätter and interwoven with the music. Vienna also echoes in the music itself: Schubert, of course, but also the brooding expressiveness of Schönberg and Berg, reflected in the violin cantilenas of Joanna Lewis. Skorupa’s compositions often draw on the warmth and intimacy of traditional waltzes and Wienerlieder, providing a foundation for Oscar Antolí’s brilliant clarinet to take flight — playful, virtuosic, and guiding us eastward on a sonic journey." (original text ©Ö1)