Exuberance, due out May 10, 2024 via Tonal Conversations, vividly traces Christopher Zuar’s personal evolution through his relationship with his wife and collaborator, animator Anne Beal.

Christopher Zuar’s music has been performed both nationally and internationally by the WDR Big Band (Germany), the Brussels Jazz Orchestra (Belgium), the Danish Radio Big Band (Denmark), and New York Youth Symphony Jazz among others.

Hailed by music critic Raul Da Gama as “prodigiously gifted”, Zuar feels at home writing in a variety of musical styles. His compositional language, steeped in the jazz and classical traditions, explores a deep sense of harmony and lyricism that combine to create a voice rooted in both past and present.

Zuar holds a bachelor of music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a master of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music both in jazz composition.

His debut album, Musings, a collection of eight original compositions for large ensemble, was released on Sunnyside Records in 2016. The record has gone on to receive critical acclaim, including a spot on DownBeat magazine’s “Best Albums of 2016”, and runner-up “Debut of The Year” in the NPR Jazz Critics Poll.

Zuar is the recipient of a 2020 Copland House Residency Award, and 2022 MacDowell Fellowship.

1. In Winter Blooms
2. Moments in Between
3. Communion
4. Simple Machines
5. Before Dawn
6. Certainty
7. Exuberance

The album opens on the veritably cinematic In Winter Blooms and the moody Moments in Between and then we get the sprightly Communion, the more strident Simple Machines, the recording rounding out with the atmospherically-strewn Before Dawn, the impassioned Certainty, and closes on the playfulness of the titular Exuberance.

Musicians:
Dave Pietro - Alto/Soprano Saxophone, Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute Charles Pillow - Alto/Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Alto Flute, Oboe Jason Rigby - Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet Ben Kono - Tenor/Alto Saxophone, Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet Carl Maraghi - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet Tony Kadleck - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Jon Owens - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Scott Wendholt - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Matt Holman - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Matt McDonald - Trombone Mark Patterson - Trombone Alan Ferber - Trombone Max Seigel - Bass Trombone Pete McCann - Electric/Nylon String Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro Glenn Zaleski - Piano, Fender Rhodes Drew Gress - Bass Mark Ferber - Drums Rogerio Boccato - Percussion, and Mike Holober - Conductor.

Featuring: Sara Caswell - Violin (Tracks 3 & 4) Max ZT - Hammered Dulcimer (Track 4) Joe Brent - Mandolin (Track 4) Keita Ogawa - Percussion (Track 4), and Emma Frank - Voice (Track 7).

Official Purchase Link