Flugelhorn & Strings - Jazz Meets Classic is the eighth album by Gerhard Daum that I've reviewed in as many years, and they are all very different from each other. Some are piano, some are guitar, some are horn, and some are interesting combinations (like flugelhorn and strings!) - all are excellent! In addition to his many recordings, Daum has composed a vast amount of music for American and European films and television, and has won an impressive number of awards. His music has a visual, soundtrack quality and is very emotionally expressive. With his versatility and musical vision, I've come to believe that Gerhard Daum can do anything he wants in music and do it all exceptionally well!

The twelve original tracks on Flugelhorn & Strings are on the slower, soulful side, with the flugelhorn's velvety-smooth lead enhanced by the dreamy string orchestrations (also performed by Daum). The album doesn't fit neatly into one category or genre of music (I love that!), but some of the tracks approach an ambient sound where melodies or fragments of melodies weave in and out of the atmospheric strings. Soulful and very beautiful, Flugelhorn & Strings - Jazz Meets Classic can be enjoyed with full listening attention or as quiet, soothing background music.

Recorded in Berlin, Germany, the album begins with "Ascending," which sets the mood and tone for the album with a very spare, haunting flugelhorn and light, shimmering strings. "Quintessence" goes quite a bit darker and more mysterious, expressing deep emotion with a slow, somewhat bluesy feeling. I haven't experienced the "Northern Lights" in person (yet), but the piece with that title describes the glowing, otherworldly quality I have seen in photos and videos - stunning! "Higher Spirit" becomes more introspective, maintaining the quiet peaceful mood that flows throughout the album. As its title suggests, "Weightless" seems to float blissfully on air, completely at ease. Both "Blue Soul" and Transcendence" are on the more introspective side - gently bittersweet as well as soul-searching. Very open and spare, "Breaking Dawn" reflects on the peaceful hush of a sunrise and the promise at the start of a new day. As the title suggests, "Motionless" moves very slowly with a soulful grace and ease. Without breaking the quiet, peaceful mood, "Unfathomable" seems to express feelings of tragedy and profound grief - it stops me in my tracks every time I hear it. The word "Zephyr" has several meanings, but I think "a gentle breeze from the west" suits the piece with that title best since it is so calm and soothing. The album comes to a peaceful close with the warm and mysterious "Transformation," one of the more ambient tracks and a beautiful ending to a great album!

Flugelhorn & Strings - Jazz Meets Classic is excellent from the first note to the last. It is available to stream or download on Amazon, and is also on many of the streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended for some of the quieter moments in life!