HEAVY TUBA & JON SASS
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION

Among the most misjudged instruments in jazz music, whose reputation, in the
last years, has more and more increased, we find the tuba.
Besides American legend Howard Armstrong and French-man Michel Godard,
Austrian based American Jon Sass has become an important influence on that
development.
Heimo Schmid, bandleader from upper-Austria, took that concept even one step
further. His band, the jazzensemble "Heavy tuba" formed in 1993 focused on the
tuba as the main instrument. Three tubas - three euphoniums and a "solid as a
rock" backup band give the music a big fat sound and a powerful drive. The band
took a lot of turns - from Richard Strauss' "Zarathustra" - that comes along in a
newly, original arrangement, Beatles - Songs, rarities by the almost forgotten
trumpet player Bill Chase to their own excellent compositions.
On the occasion of the band's 10th anniversary a new CD - "Pictures at an
Exhibition" - will be released. What you get? Modest Mussorgsky's popular
classic "hit" wrapped up in a jazzy, innovative arrangement done by the band's
pianist Helmar Hill.
Without any doubts, there's no need for Modest M. to turn in his grave.