Iris Ornig
Iris Ornig ‘Storyteller’
Friday July 19, 2019 At the Jazz Loft
Bassist & composer Iris Ornig is one of the most original female voices on today's New York jazz scene. Since her arrival in New York City in 2003 from Germany, she has played with an impressive roster of some of the most influential contemporary jazz musicians in New York including Gretchen Parlato, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joel Frahm, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Michael Rodriguez, Rebecca Martin, Allison Miller, Sachal Vasandani, Helen Sung, Marcus Gilmore, Dan Tepfer, among others.
Ornig is a gifted instrumentalist, a talented composer, arranger and a charismatic performer and her latest CD ‘Storyteller’ was for four consecutive weeks in the top charts of Jazz Week in January and February 2019.
Ornig also is the assistant of the artistic director Gino Moratti at Jazz at Kitano and she created and hosts the Emerging Artist Series on Tuesday’s at Jazz at Kitano.
Ornig’s quintet formation (trumpet, tenor, piano, bass and drums) has captivated listeners around the world with its unique sound. Ornig successfully combines European tradition with the expanded chord structures of modern jazz, blues inflections, improvised "riffs", swing rhythms, and call and response. The result is hybrid & fascinating, with plenty of surprises. She just released her third album “Storyteller”.
Her sense of tone, melodies, rhythm, and musicianship are all-impeccable. A true artist. You can hear her quintet on a regular basis at the 55 Bar jazz club in the West Village or at Jazz at Kitano in New York City.
The band consists of Dave Smith on trumpet, Jeremy Powell on tenor, Chris McCarthy on piano, Rodrigo Recabarren on drums. All compositions by Iris Ornig.
"LOVE THIS RECORD 'Storyteller', especially all twists and turns, surprise beginnings and endings, conversations amongst your characters... All essential elements of any good story told. Nine engaging tales here." - Gary Walker WBGO
“I love Iris Ornig's music. Iris is one talented artist. She has produced the album and has written all the songs. Usually that's a recipe for disaster with many artists. But with Iris, she knows exactly what she's doing.” Jazz Wax - Marc Myers
“Taking jazz on a special journey here, her crème can't help but to rise to the top of the real jazz world. A totally tasty treat, this set is a high water mark for current listening dates out to set new standards. Hot stuff.” Midwest Record - Chris Spector
“Iris is an icon to keep an eye on. If there were only 10 future females of jazz, we'd be happy with Iris on bass thanks.” - All About Jazz - Fiona Ord-Shrimpton