Written by The Zurich Jazz Orchestra is set to release a notable new album, “Neat Little Songs”, on Mons Records, coinciding with the ensemble’s 30th anniversary. Under the new musical director and arranger Ed Partyka, the album promises to mark a significant departure from the band’s earlier work under Steffen Schorn, highlighting a distinctive shift in approach and sound. Featuring trumpeter and composer Thomas Gansch, a longtime collaborator and featured soloist, the project reflects both an evolution in compositional style and continued collaborative spirit within the band.
Scheduled for release in May 2025, “Neat Little Songs” promises a new direction for the bands discography, with arrangements that explore new textural possibilities and inventive harmonic directions. Partyka’s approach to the music is anticipated to provide a fresh sonic palette marked by detailed tutti passages and moments of spontaneous improvisation. The album’s programming is said to move fluidly between styles and moods, encompassing elements of jazz, classical, and folk music, all filtered through the creative partnership with Gansch and the ensemble’s dynamic interplay.
Ed Partyka | Photo by: Photo by Palma Fiacco
The launch of “Neat Little Songs” will be celebrated with a concert at Zurich’s Moods Jazz Club on May 22, 2025. The live performance is expected to showcase the new material alongside the orchestra’s broader repertoire, offering an opportunity to experience the band’s renewed musical direction in a live setting. This event emphasizes the ZJO’s ongoing commitment to live performance and to maintaining Zurich’s vibrant jazz culture.
The release further strengthens the relationship between the ZJO and Mons Records, a label known for supporting projects that engage with jazz and contemporary classical music at a high artistic level. The record is anticipated to contribute to conversations about the role of large jazz ensembles in the European context, especially as the band continues to balance tradition with experimentation.
In addition to the release and concert, an extensive feature on the Zurich Jazz Orchestra will appear in the Autumn issue of Jazz in Europe magazine to coincide with the bands official anniversary, offering insight into the ensemble’s history, and numerous milestones. This feature provides context for the band’s current activities and highlights its importance within the Swiss and European jazz scenes.
Photo by Palma Fiacco
Tickets for the May 22 concert at Moods are available via the venue’s box office and authorized ticket platforms. The occasion is anticipated to draw interest from aficionados who follow the development of European big band jazz and the ZJO’s work in particular.
This album release and the concert at Moods promise to be important moments on the Zurich jazz calendar, highlighting a period of renewed creative energy for the ensemble while marking an important milestone in its three-decade existence.
For More Information on The Zurich Jazz Orchestra visit their website. Tickets for the Release concert on the 22nd of May are available on the Moods Jazz Club website.
Last modified: September 30, 2025
