For those unaware, with a tribute to Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) by Igor Stravinsky, the hr Big Band, which plays here as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, and the American tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, fills essential parts of their new CD Rituals (out now via Challenge Records).

Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) by Igor Stravinsky is regarded as a key work of classical music of the 20th century. Due to its rhythmic and tonal structures, interspersed with numerous dissonances, it created turmoil in the audience at its world premiere in Paris in 1913, but was then able to quickly establish itself as a central work in the repertoire of concert halls.

The work on this new album was commissioned by the Alte Oper Frankfurt, which held a Stravinsky Festival in 2013, Olaf Stotzler recalled, producer of the hr Big Band. At that time there was a music festival around a central work of classical music, in this case Le Sacre du Printemps.

The idea was to commission Jim McNeely to compose this work for Chris Potter. However, it is not a jazz version of Le Sacre du Printemps, but instead a new composition. It was inspired by the sound language of Le Sacre du Printemps.

The performance was a huge success, which is why Potter and the hr Big Band decided to record the whole thing again in a studio. With plenty of verve and aplomb, the hr Big Band glides through the complex rhythmic and harmonious score that McNeely composed in the spirit of Stravinsky.

With Chris Potter, one of the best contemporary saxophonists could be won over for the role of soloist. With a unique sonorous tone and inexhaustible inventiveness, he actually seems to play as if his life depended on it. Chris Potter is the voice of this spring sacrifice, Olaf Stotzler explained. He embodies this character, which is why we chose a soloist in the first place. Musical representation of this spring sacrifice is a mammoth task. He really plays all the time, and that is a challenge for which we wanted to have one of the best.

1. Rituals - Adoration I (6:58)
2. Rituals - Adoration II (5:12)
3. Rituals - Adoration III (2:16)
4. Rituals - Sacrifice I (7:40)
5. Rituals - Sacrifice II (6:36)
6. Rituals - Rebirth (4:21)
7. Dawn (7:46)
8. The Wheel (8:45)
9. Wine Dark Sea (8:32)
10. Okinawa (10:22)

This beautifully crafted, creatively juicy new album opens on the firecracker Rituals - Adoration I and then bleeds seamlessly into the huge cinematic scope of Adoration II, which then leads us into the frenetic Adoration III, then comes Rituals - Sacrifice, which does not break step as it also comes complete with some breathtaking musicianship, whereas Sacrifice II subtly brings the uproar down a level, the laid back, at first, then volcanic, Bond-esque Rituals - Rebirth a simply stunning track that follows.

Up next is what seems to be a cumulative, layered jam track, Dawn, and that is itself followed by the jamboree brought forth within the triumphant The Wheel, the album rounding out on the uproarious Wine Dark Sea, the entire recording coming to righteous close on the free-wheeling melodies and rhythms within the ten minute Okinawa.

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