Into the Aquasphere Florian Hoefner Trio feat. Andrew Downing, Nick Fraser

• 1 Aerial Rivers 13:48
• 2 AMOC 13:09
• 3 Force of Nature 07:40
• Total Runtime 34:37

Info for Into the Aquasphere

Florian’s debut large ensemble album featuring a chamber orchestra conducted by JC Sanford and a jazz group. Its three original compositions explore water as a life-giving and world-shaping force, from the Amazon’s moisture systems to climate-threatened Atlantic currents. A bold, cinematic symbiosis of jazz and classical language.

Hoefner insists the two groups were written as one. "This is not a jazz quartet accompanied by an orchestra, but one ensemble, where the quartet is fully integrated with the orchestra," he said in material released with the album.

The album was recorded at Studio Piccolo in Montreal in October 2024, with JC Sanford conducting. The ensemble includes John Hébert on bass, Eric McPherson on drums, clarinetist and bass clarinetist Christine Carter, percussionist Ben Reimer, and a string section led by Grammy-winning concertmaster Nathalie Bonin. BroadwayWorld, reporting from the release materials, identifies Carter as Hoefner's wife.

The record contains three original compositions, each about a different aspect of the relationship between people and water. "Aerial Rivers" is named after the atmospheric flows of moisture from the Amazon Basin that sustain life across much of South America. "AMOC" takes its name from the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, a system of Atlantic Ocean currents that the release materials describe as threatened by climate change. "Force of Nature," which ALMA says was the first single, explores water's capacity to both destroy and soothe.

"I have always been creatively inspired by the environment," Hoefner said. "Even when I lived in Germany I always sought out nature experiences, whether it was hiking high up in the Alps or swimming in wild waters. These experiences have left a lasting impression on me, and I care deeply about protecting the natural places that inspired them."

Hoefner has also written classical chamber music, including the "Blue Chapter" of Project Earth for the Iris Trio and poet Don McKay. Other recent projects include his longstanding trio with Andrew Downing and Nick Fraser, a revived Florian Hoefner Group, and the Atlantic Jazz Collective, which he co-founded with saxophonist Mike Murley and bassist Jim Vivian. That group's debut album, Seascape, featured singer Norma Winstone and drummer Joe LaBarbera and was nominated for a Juno in 2025.

"I'm driven by the challenge of finding new ways to express my musical voice," Hoefner said. "Whether through different ensembles, collaborations, or artistic contexts, my goal is always the same: to create work that connects with audiences through performance."

Florian Hoefner, piano
John Hébert, jazz bass
Eric McPherson, drums
Chris James, flute, piccolo flute, alto flute
Christine Carter, clarinet, bass clarinet
Quinsin Nachoff, tenor saxophone
Micajah Sturgess, French horn
Ben Reimer, percussion
Nathalie Bonin, concertmaster
17-piece string orchestra
JC Sanford, conductor

Florian Hoefner Trio
Born and raised in Germany, trained in New York City and now based in Canada, jazz pianist and composer, Florian Hoefner, draws from a myriad of influences that culminate 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, 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,” his 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.

As a member of the Germany-based collective, Subtone, he has released 5 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 Sound Records. He has shared the stage with the likes of Joe Lovano, Seamus Blake, Rich Perry, John Riley, and New York Philharmonic clarinetist, Mark Nuccio.

A two-time winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, Hoefner’s compositions and arrangements can be heard on many commercial albums by artists including Till Brönner, Jasmin Tabatabai and Peter Fessler. His big band compositions have been performed by the New York Jazz Orchestra, the Lucerne Jazz Orchestra, the German Youth Jazz Orchestra and the DanJam Orchestra.

Now Florian presents his new Canadian trio with Andrew Downing on bass and Nick Fraser on drums. The group is performing a completely new repertoire of his originals and arrangements of folk songs from different parts of the world. Their debut album, “First Spring” was released on September 27th 2019 on Alma Records / Universal.

Booklet for Into the Aquasphere