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Zack Lober Releases Sophomore Album, So We Could Live, Feat. Jasper Blom, Suzan Veneman, Sun-Mi Hong The versatile bassist and composer Zack Lober presents his sophomore album, So We Could Live, via the Dutch imprint Zennez Records on October 3. Here Lober presents an adventurous and deeply personal musical statement with his band NO FILL3R featuring rising Jazz stars Sun-Mi Hong (drums) and Suzan Veneman (trumpet), and Dutch tenor saxophone legend Jasper Blom. The live recorded album, So We Could Live, pays tribute to Lober's late father and to all who sacrifice so others could live a better life. The band's perfect marriage of catchy, singable songs and spontaneous collective improvisation will be out as digital download, compact disc, and on all major streaming platforms. Originally a native of Montreal, Lober now resides in The Netherlands (after stops in New York and Boston). As an in-demand sideman he has played with diverse groups led by artists including David Binney, Henry Threadgill, Seamus Blake, Butch Morris, Frank London, John Escreet, Greg Ward, Jamie Baum, Jerry Bergonzi, Phil Grenadier, Jason Palmer and Chet Doxas. He has performed throughout Europe, India, Mexico, Canada, and the United States in bands led by Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Benoit Charest, Christophe Schweizer, as well as with "The Story". He also explored the rock and pop worlds. 8 tracks were produced by Lober's good friend Ben Van Gelder at the Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum. The lead single and leadoff track for the album, “Joe Type Tune, ” is a tribute to Joe Henderson and his famous chord-less trio album The State of the Tenor featuring Ron Carter and Al Foster. Based on a simple two-bar descending bass line, the band gets to stretch out to the max with plenty of musical pyrotechnics from both Blom and Hong. Jasper Blom’s “Behind a Myth” is inspired by the early 20th century composer and musical theorist Paul Hindemith. Of the piece, Blom says: “This is the most atonal piece I have ever written, but the tonal qualities never seem to be too far away.” “The Loose End”, is another contribution from Jasper Blom. “I wanted to write an “empty” tune. One in which space was as important as the composed parts and where trumpet and tenor would alternate in playing the lead. To add to the suspense, I added a musical “cliffhanger” at the end, hence the title.” Lober’s composition “Vignette” puts the group in more familiar territory albeit with a polytonal twist. The piece is inspired by the 1960’s Wayne Shorter composition ETC from the album of the same name. “Wayne’s writing on that album is especially minimalistic and geared for stretching out. That whole album was very important to me during my formative years.” The album continues with the recording’s most intimate and personal moment, the solo bass medley of Lober’s composition “Dad, ” a tribute to his late father coupled with the timeless classic “Besame Mucho”, his father and stepmother’s wedding song. That piece is followed by two more Blom compositions “Landscape”, a groovy tune exploring the two horns and bass within a rhythmic frame and “Feathered Head” inspired by a classic Dave Holland composition from the seventies, “Conference of the Birds“. The album’s closing number and namesake is Lober’s “So We Could Live” a meditative piece that leads to a powerful emotional climax featuring drummer Sun-Mi Hong in a beautifully framed solo. Personnel: Zack Lober - Bass Jasper Blom - Tenor Sax Suzan Veneman - Trumpet Sun-Mi Hong - Drums Out on Zennez Records on October 3, 2025. www.zennezrecords.com |
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