Through a chance meeting on a flight from Berlin to New York, actor Bill Murray and cellist Jan Vogler became fast friends, curious about each others’ artistic worlds and interests. The result of their collaboration is New Worlds, an unexpected and enchanting exploration of the intersection of music and literature. Both the recording and live events feature songs paired with literary readings brought to life with classical music.
 
New Worlds showcases American values in literature and music, and the bridges artists have built between America and Europe. Twain, Hemingway, Whitman, Cooper, Bernstein, Bach, Piazzolla, Mancini, Gershwin and Foster are some of the writers and composers represented on New Worlds – masters whose distinct voices have influenced generations in America and beyond.
 
The ensemble performing New Worlds consists of Bill Murray (vocals and narration), Jan Vogler (cello), Mira Wang (violin) and Vanessa Perez (piano) – four musicians whose origins span four different continents.

This endeavour between great music and great literature brings together an unexpected collective of creative forces, each at the top of their fields. Jan Vogler’s distinguished career has pushed the boundaries of classical music. He is known for his strong curatorial approach to his music making, combining history, classical tradition and a contemporary style of performance. Bill Murray, in his own right, has forged the most independent career in Hollywood, weaving comedy and depth into some of the most memorable roles in cinema.

Tracklisting:
1. Saint-Saëns - The Swan / Lucille Clifton “blessing the boats”
2. Walt Whitman from “Song of the Open Road” and “Song of Myself”
3. J.S. Bach - Prelude from Suite for Cello Solo no.1 in G major, BWV1007
4. Schubert - Andante un poco mosso from Trio no.1 in B flat major, D898 / James Fenimore Cooper from “The Deerslayer”
5. Gershwin - “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess
6. Piazzolla - Oblivion / Truman Capote from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
7. Piazzolla - Muerte del Ángel
8. Henry Mancini, arr. Grafe - Moon River / Mark Twain from “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
9. Stephen Foster - Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair
10. Ravel - Blues from Sonata for Violin and Piano / James Thurber “If Grant Had Been Drinking at Appomattox”
11. Van Morrison, arr. Stephen Buck - “When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God”
Leonard Bernstein, arr. Stephen Buck - Selections from West Side Story:
12. “Somewhere”
13. “I Feel Pretty”
14. “America”