Germany’s Florian Hoefner Trio
March 10 & 11 @ 8:30 PM
Florian Hoefner - Piano
Andrew Downing - Bass
Nick Fraser - Drums
Born and raised in Germany, trained in New York City and now based in Canada, Juno-award-winning jazz pianist
and composer, Florian Hoefner, draws from a myriad of influences that cumulate in his unique brand of modern jazz.
Praised as a “composer-bandleader of insightful resolve” by the New York Times and a “harmonically daring pianist
[…] reaching toward new sonic territory” by Downbeat Magazine, Florian Hoefner has made his mark as an inventive
creator and performer of exciting contemporary Jazz.
With his quartet, the Florian Hoefner Group, he has released 3 albums on Origin Records that have received rave
reviews around the globe. “Luminosity,” their latest release that features tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, has been
described as a “starkly picturesque album ... that makes profound statements from quiet moments” by Downbeat and
as a “total experience” by the New York Jazz Record. It has been nominated as Jazz Recording of the Year at the East
Coast Music Awards 2017. The Group also received the Stingray Rising Star Award after their performance at the
Montréal Jazz Festival 2015. Its busy touring scheduled has taken the group to North America, Europe and Australia
so far, including a celebrated performance at the Melbourne Jazz Festival 2019.
As a member of the Germany-based collective, Subtone, he has released 4 critically acclaimed albums on labels
including ENJA Records and performed on 4 continents including festivals such as Jazz Baltica (Germany), ACACIA
Jazz Festival (Ethiopia), Jazz in Situ (Ecuador) and Tremplin Jazz d’Avignon (France) where the group was awarded
the jury and audience awards. Florian’s work as a sideman has led to numerous additional CD releases including a
collaboration with guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel on Fresh Sounds Records.
Since 2018, Hoefner has been working with his new Canadian trio with Andrew Downing on bass and Nick Fraser on
drums. Their award-winning debut album “First Spring,” was released in September 2019 on Alma Records /
Universal. The album that focuses on Hoefner’s arrangements of folk tunes from around the world was nominated for
a 2021 Juno in the category Jazz Album of the Year: Group and won “Instrumental Recording of the Year” and “Jazz
Recording of the Year” at the 2020 East Coast Music Awards in Atlantic Canada. Now the three are presenting their
follow-up album, “Desert Bloom” (release: June 3 rd 2022, Alma Records). The new program includes 7 new original
compositions that showcase Hoefner’s hallmark lyricism and knack for suspenseful dramaturgy, and 2 new
arrangements of pieces out of the contemporary Indie Rock and Bluegrass world.