Zootcase: THE ONLY ONE

Zootcase, also known as Case Schafrat, is making his mark on the international music scene with his unmistakable voice, emotional depth, and keen musical sensibility. In his album "THE ONLY ONE," he brings together his excellent European musicians to present eleven wonderful songs penned by Schafrat himself, meticulously arranged by Dimitar Bodurov into catchy tunes. However, these songs are never crude or predictable; they play with Schafrat's nickname "Zootcase," where "Zoot" is a colloquial term for stylish or trendy, but not in a slick manner, rather with the corresponding rough edges that pique curiosity and interest.

Schafrat's songs may initially appear to be pop-infused jazz or jazz-tinged pop, but above all, they are stories. They are tales of life, longing, love, loneliness, failure, and introspection. These narratives provide Schafrat with the perfect platform to musically balance nuances.

His international collaborators serve as the perfect counterbalance. While arranger and producer Dimitar Bodurov on keys, Mihail 'Misho' Ivanov on bass (both from Bulgaria), and Jens Düppe (Germany) on drums form the euphonic backbone, songs like "Running out of you" or "Conceiving" take on a unique hue with Slovenian cellist Kristijan Krajnčan. Jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Eric Vloeimans (Netherlands) on the title track "The only one" or vocalist Astrid Seriese (Netherlands) on "Love OD" add further musical accents, effortlessly bringing the stories of each piece to life—a feast for the ears and the soul.