What makes Cityscape by Claus Ogerman notable?

Cityscape is significant for its ambitious fusion of jazz and orchestral music, showcasing Ogerman's unique compositional style. The album received critical acclaim for its intricate arrangements and was influential in shaping the genre's crossover appeal during the early 1980s. Released in 1982, Cityscape marked Claus Ogerman's continued exploration of blending classical and jazz elements, following his successful collaborations with notable jazz artists. At this point in his career, Ogerman was establishing himself as a prominent arranger and composer, known for his innovative orchestration techniques.

How many songs are on Cityscape?

Cityscape has 7 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

Cityscape

Claus Ogerman · 1982

53 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A lush orchestral landscape intertwines with intricate jazz motifs, creating a sweeping sonic journey through urban soundscapes.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Cityscape — The title track sets the tone for the album, combining rich orchestral textures with dynamic jazz rhythms that encapsulate the urban themes explored throughout.
→
Habanera — This piece showcases Ogerman's ability to blend classical influences with jazz sensibilities, featuring a compelling dialogue between strings and woodwinds.
→
In the Presence and Absence of Each Other, Part 1 — Opening with a haunting melody, this track exemplifies the album's exploration of emotional depth through elaborate orchestrations and subtle improvisation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Cityscape blends orchestral and jazz elements with intricate arrangements, creating a unique sonic landscape.

What we noticed

The first track sets a lush tone with sweeping strings, while subsequent pieces introduce varied jazz elements, maintaining an engaging dynamic throughout.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Cityscape 8:47
2 Habanera 8:09
3 Nightwings 7:45
4 In the Presence and Absence of Each Other, Part 1 8:57
5 In the Presence and Absence of Each Other, Part 2 6:49
6 In the Presence and Absence of Each Other, Part 3 6:41
7 In the Presence and Absence of Each Other, Part 3 (alternate mix) 6:38

What to play next

Go back to

Gate of Dreams

1977

Full Claus Ogerman discography Artists like Claus Ogerman

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata