Carl Fischer

Whenever Carl Fischer blows his trumpet, kudos seem to follow. Billy Joel, in whose band Fischer has performed for the past several years, called Fischer a “gifted musician” while the late jazz legend Maynard Ferguson, who also employed Carl, called him “one of the best jazz trumpeters today.” The popular website AllAboutJazz.com caught one of Fischer’s concert performances with his own band The Organic Groove Ensemble and raved, “They will excite you, move you and leave you breathless as they individually and collectively explore new jazz-funk improvisational vistas. The spirit, rapport and drive are fresh and very high-octane, the musicianship first class.”
 
For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure, the release of Adverse Times, the new CD by Carl Fischer & his Organic Groove Ensemble on his own FischMusic label, will be a revelation. As the esteemed Mr. Joel again commented, “From pop melodies to hard-driving funk, from world flavors to renditions of some of my own compositions, the album will appeal to a wide range of listeners and definitely should not be missed.”
 
The development of Carl Fischer’s unique style of playing is the result of a lifetime in music. Fischer first picked up the trumpet at age 5, inspired by his father and grandfather, who were talented trumpet players themselves. He began his professional music career nearly 20 years ago with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, led by the highly acclaimed trumpet player Wynton Marsalis, then joined Ferguson’s outfit. Listening to Ferguson play and learning his unique style, Fischer found a mentor. Ferguson eventually asked Fischer to open performances for him, the first time in Ferguson's 40 years of touring that he had a trumpet player open a show for him.”
 
As for his work with hitmaker Joel, with whom he’s played everywhere from Shea Stadium to a rally for then-Presidential candidate Obama, Fischer—who also works as a top call New York freelance musician—says that the Joel band is “a very tight-knit group. Everyone who works on the show, from the headliner himself to the last roadie, is a class act.”
 
Adverse Times, Carl’s third solo album, proves that Fischer is equally confident in his role as a leader—his powerful, sturdy trumpet work covers a wide emotional range that crosses boundary lines as he seamlessly fuses several different genres into one that can only be described as Carl Fischer. From the steamy opening track “Wienhiem Blues” through such highlights as “Freeport to Fire Island,” the exquisite title track and Carl’s own cover of Joel’s “Downeaster Alexa,” Adverse Times reveals new riches with each listening.
 
“We just want to play some music and have a good time,” said Fischer, adding that he feels blessed to have made a living making music. “I don’t go to work, I go to play.”

www.fischmusic.com