Bands 2006
Matthias Schriefl and Shreefpunk > presented by Beluga Shipping
Hall 4.1 23 April 2009 / 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm It is not without good reason that Matthias Schriefl and his formation Shreefpunk are already appearing at jazzahead! for the second time: With Allgäu charm he inspires listeners on an international level with a music that is shrewd and of varied timbre. What may at first seem to be irreconcilable comes together in Schriefl’s compositions, for the textures are in constant change. Here, brilliant technique is combined with surprising ideas. Matthias Schriefl is not only one of the most phenomenal newcomers to German jazz but is also among the best entertainers in his genre: Shreefpunk – that means amusing entertainment on a high level! Line-up: Matthias Schriefl (tr, flh, melodica, celesta, toys & whistles) > Johannes Behr (g) > Robert Landfermann (b, effect pedals) > Jens Düppe (dr, perc, celesta) www.myspace.com/shreefpunk presented by
Defunkt > presented by Beluga Shipping
Hall 4.1 23 April 2009 / 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm Maceo Parker showed us how it’s done at jazzahead! 2008: funk und jazz get on fine together. And anyone who likes jazz-funk will love Defunkt. The band will be the big headliner at the opening night and visitors can already look forward to wild, rousing city sounds. The guys around frontman and trombonist Joe Bowie have been in the business for 25 years already and were not only among the first on the market to unite popular sounds with extreme music styles, or combine funk and jazz, but were in the early years also among the pioneers of “no wave”. After 20 years away from Bremen they are now back again and have lost none of their vitality. Their fusion-jazz in pure form and their intoxicating energy are a driving pulse that stimulates listeners – echoes of New York. Line-up: Joseph Bowie (voc, tb) > Kim Clarke (b) > Alex Harding (bars) > Adam Klipple (keys) > Tobias Ralph (dr) Agency Tsahara: www.tsahara.com presented by
Norwegian Jazz Night (Free entrance for visitors with a jazzahead!-pass and all professionals and exhibitors of jazzahead!; single tickets available at Kulturzentrum Schlachthof)
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 23 April 2009 / 10:30 pm - 1:30 am Showcase concerts with Arve Henriksen + Jan Bang, Ensemble Denada and Beady Belle www.myspace.com/arvehenriksen > www.myspace.com/ensembledenada > http://www.myspace.com/beadymusic presented and organised by Music Export Office Norway, East Norway Jazz Center, Kjell Kalleklev Management and Musikkprofil Booking & Management (Admission via jazzahead!-pass, participant registration or Kulturzentrum Schlachthof box office)
Bigband Classes in Concert – with students from Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Bremen, direction Friedhelm Temme (open public)
Hall 4.1 24 April 2009 / 11:15 am - 12:45 pm The bigbands “Willie’s Groove” (Hamburg), “Swing Kids” (Bremen) und “BigBaGS” (Schenefeld/Schlweswig-Holstein) charm their listeners with an extensive repertoire from jazz and rock to funk, swing and Latin. School pupils, parents and anyone who’s interested can look forward to a large number of classic hits such as Hit the Road Jack, Pink Panther, Eye of the Tiger, Birdland. The short concerts by the young musicians are living proof of the outstanding work carried out in music profile schools. The idea behind these schools is that through playing music together young people develop their capacity to work in a team while learning to respect and tolerate others. This greatly improves cognitive abilities such as concentration and attention in relation to other school subjects, too. Music isn’t just fun, it also makes you smart! Line-Up: Wilhelm-Gymnasium/Hamburg >Gymnasium Schenefeld/Schleswig-Holsteien > Schulzentrum Sebaldsbrück/Bremen
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück (IfM) > Moe Szyslak Trio(open public)
Focke Wulf Salon 24 April 2009 / 11:30 am - 12:00 pm Founded in spring 2008, the Moe Szyslak Trio is today already the prize winner of the StudyUp Award 2008. The group’s own compositions include elements of classical and pop music that are played with great feeling for lyrical melodies. Balkan rhythms intermixed with funky components make for the special groove and open up acoustic spaces with filigree interaction and picturesque improvisations. The result is a first-class atmosphere with constantly new and surprising moments. Line-up: Oskar Ogrodnik (p) > Arnold Ogrodnik (b) > Oliver Leggewie (dr)
Fachhochschule Osnabrück (IfM) > Ensemble RROM (Open Public)
Focke Wulf Salon 24 April 2009 / 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Contemporary jazz would be inconceivable without its involvement with uneven metres, complex overlay techniques and metrical modulations. These don’t simply develop from a mathematical metrical desire to experiment but often point the way to new subtle fields of expression – and that is where Rrom moves with playful ease. They play their own compositions but also make use of work by Terence Blanchard, Peter Apfelbaum and Thelonious Monk. Line-up: Matthias Schwengler (tp) > Markus Kröger (as) > Thomas König (g) > Martina Wild (p) > Maik Reishaus (eb) > Piet Wagner (dr)
Folkwang Hochschule Essen > Zodiak Trio(open public)
Focke Wulf Salon 24 April 2009 / 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Line-up: John-Dennis Renken (tr, electronics, comp) > Andreas Wahl (e-g, a-g) > Bernd Oezsevim (dr, perc)
Hélène Labarrière Quartet - "Les temps changent" > European Jazz Meeting > Frankreich
Borgward Salon 24 April 2009 / 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Female leads that play the double bass seem to be en vogue at present – which is a good thing, when you think of Joelle Léandre, Ulla Oster or Eva Kruse – and Hélène Labarrière, too. She has been in the scene for a long time already and for 15 years as a band leader. “Les temps changent” is her own latest project. “Times change“: that is true in both a philosophical and a musical sense. ”Music does not only have to do with sound but also with space and time“, writes Hélène Labarrière. “There isn’t just three-four or four-four time. Sometimes you don’t have a time at all and sometimes there are different times at the same time. What’s necessary is to build and rebuild again and again. To advance. We take delight in that.“ Line-up: Hélène Labarrière (b, comp) > François Corneloup (sax) > Christophe Marguet (dr) > Hasse Poulsen (git) www.helene-labarriere.com presented by
Yaron Herman Trio > European Jazz Meeting > France
Borgward Salon 24 April 2009 / 3:15 pm - 3:45 pm Yaron Herman is a phenomenon. The 27-year-old pianist from Israel did not start to play the piano until he was 16. He was taught in Tel Aviv by the legendary mentor, company consultant and talent developer Opher Brayer and is in the meantime considered to be one of the most creative and sought after pianists in France where he has now lived for seven years. Already last year he gave a solo performance in the jazzahead! late night programme. Now he’s back with his regular and much praised trio, and a new CD that will be launched in time for the European Jazz Meeting. Line-up: Yaron Herman (p) > Thomas Crane (dr) > Matt Brewer (b) www.yaron-herman.com presented by
Fredrika Stahl > European Jazz Meeting > France
Borgward Salon 24 April 2009 / 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Like Yaron Herman, the Swedish singer Fredrika Stahl is French by choice. However, she already moved to Paris at the age of four, spent a few years there and then after a short spell away returned immediately after finishing school at the age of 17 – to sing and dance. She met her producer GeeF in the pub where she worked. What follows is a story with a happy end: her first CD A Fraction of You immediately sold over 40,000 copies. For her second CD Tributaires she received the Gold Disc Award of Swing Journal in Japan in 2008. Her band is made up of international musicians from Italy, Brazil and Norway. Multicultural Paris – but still in the French jazz tradition. Line-up: Fredrika Stahl (voc) > Philippe Baden Powell (p) > Simone Prattico (dr) > Acelino de Paula (b) > Oyvind Nypan (git) www.myspace.com/fredrikastahl presented by
Giulia Valle Group > European Jazz Meeting > Katalonien
Borgward Salon 24 April 2009 / 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Giulia Valle is already the second female double bass player and band leader to take the stage at this year’s European Jazz Meeting. After studying in Barcelona, scholarships enabled her to continue her studies under Furio di Castri in Italy, Scott Colley in New York, and the French Guru of classical double bass, Francois Rabbath. Partly through her work for various theatres she has also made herself a name as a composer in Catalonia and with her fist album Colorista immediately won the composition prize of the Musicians’ Association of Catalonia. She does a lot of experimenting with asymmetrical metres and incorporates echoes of Catalonian music in an unconventional way. Giulia Valle’s second album Danza Imprevista appeared in 2006 and her third Enchanted House in 2008 under the reputed Indie-Label Fresh Sound New Talent. Line-up: Giulia Valle (double b) > Martí Serra (ss, ts) > Santi de la Rubia (ts) > Sergi Sirvent (p, fender rhodes, tp) > David Xirgu (dr, perc) www.giuliavalle.com presented by
Horacio Fumero & Albert Bover > European Jazz Meeting > Catalonia
Borgward Salon 24 April 2009 / 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm The pianist Tete Montoliu who died in 1997 was undoubtedly Catalonia’s best-known jazz musician, and now the man who accompanied him for nearly 20 years, the bass player Horacio Fumero, is coming to Bremen. For quite some time now Fumero has played in a duo with the young pianist Albert Bover whom a lot of people in Catalonia see as Montoliu’s successor due to the stylistic similarities and his similar technical fluency on the piano. Like Montoliu, Bover has worked with a lot of American musicians, e.g. Art Farmer, Harold Land, Roy Hargrove or Eddie Henderson. With Caminhos Cruzados Fumero and Bover have now brought out their second joint album and will be bringing the Catalonian variant of American jazz tradition to jazzahead! Line-up: Horacio Fumero (double b), Albert Bover (p) presented by
Marc Ayza > European Jazz Meeting > Catalonia
Borgward Salon 24 April 2009 / 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm The drummer Marc Ayza is one of the most sought after session musicians in the Spanish scene. His own project Offering originated in New York in March, 2008. In it he investigates the influences that have affected him since his childhood, from Marvin Gaye and Cannonball Adderley to J Dilla. The result is a successful combination of jazz and hip-hop. “Today I really no longer see any stylistic gap between John Coltrane and J Dilla “, says Ayza. Making this connection is important to him and he will present it on stage in Bremen. So we can look forward to some empathic, but surprising jazz! Line-up: Marc Ayza (dr) > Roger Mas (p, keyb) > Tom Warburton (b) > Jordi Ruiz Garcia (turntables) > Mtume Grant(voc) www.myspace.com/marcayza presented by
Norma Winstone, Klaus Gesing & Glauco Venier
Hall 4.1 24 April 2009 / 7:45 pm - 8:45 pm After winning the BBC Award and being on the 2007 honours list of Queen Elizabeth, Norma Winstone is considered to be the best-known jazz voice in Europe. In fact, together with Marilyn Mazur she is one of the few big female names in European jazz. In the past she set up the successful trio Azimuth together with Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor. Now, with the German soprano saxophonist Klaus Gesing, and the Italian composer, pianist and university lecturer Glauco Venier, she has found two new partners for her current ECM album. Its programme is inspiring, in particular due to Venier’s empathic arrangements combined with the multifaceted voice of Norma Winstone. On this album the grande dame of international jazz vocals gives a more subtle but no less fascinating performance of both songs she wrote herself and lyrics by Cole Porter and Peter Gabriel. And to someone who has played with all the stars of European jazz there’s really only one thing you can say – Congratulations on receiving the jazzahead! Škoda Award! Line-up: Norma Winstone (voc) > Klaus Gesing (sax, b cl) > Glauco Venier (p) www.normawinstone.com > www.klausgesing.com > www.orpheusmanagement.it/artisti/venier
Farmers Market
Hall 4.1 24 April 2009 / 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm A Norwegian band with Bulgarian influences – strange? No, because Farmers Market succeeds in doing what at first sight may appear confusing: in their music the reputedly contradictory wild Eastern European rhythms and ice cold Scandinavian sounds become one. And the result is definitely convincing: an intoxicating mixture of Bulgarian folk music, pop, jazz standards and a lot of esprit! With that the band has not only contrived to unite the contrasting elements of the European continent but is already one of the best loved live bands in Norway. So: take your places on the dance floor! Line-up: Stian Carstensen (acc, g, pedal steel, bj, fl, voc) > Nils-Olav Johansen (g, voc) > Finn Guttormsen (b) > Jarle Vespestad (dr) > Trifon Trifonov (sax) www.myspace.com/farmersmarkettheband
Oktoposse
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 24 April 2009 / 10:30 pm - 11:30 pm Oktoposse doesn’t only stand out for its concentrated power but – and above all – for one thing: With them, music can still be fun! They give electrifying performances of contemporary jazz, whether highly complex or smoothly laid back – sometimes with guest performers, too, among whose illustrious circle are well-known German musicians like Nils Wogram, Frank Möbus, Florian Ross, Norbert Scholly, Juergen Friedrich, Hinrich Franck, Georg Ruby, Paolo Alvares, Claudius Valk, and Niels Klein whereby the latter can also be heard with Die Freundliche Übernahme in the Late Night Programme. And Oktoposse has already taken its first steps into the international business – in winter 2008 they toured through Estonia and Finland with the Goethe Institute. Line-up: Matthias Knoop (trp, flgh) > Achim Schröter (as, ss, cl, fl ,bcl) > Peter Ehwald (ts ,cl, fl) > Benjamin Degen (trb) > Martin Schulte (g) > Stefan Schultze (p, rhd) > Peter Schwebs (b) > Hermann Heidenreich (dr) www.myspace.com/oktoposse supported by Admission to the late-night programme via Schlachthof ticket, day ticket, jazzahead!-pass or professional participant registration.
Mischa Schumann Trio
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 24 April 2009 / 11:30 pm - 12:30 am Mischa Schumann comes from Hamburg, and his musical focus is European jazz. But together with Pepe Berns (b) and Heinz Lichius (dr) he takes his audience across borders to other music styles, and he adds contemporary sound extensions to musical tradition – that’s “The logical turn” that is the name of his programme. In it, the classic piano trio is united with pop, always taking care to maintain the balance between composition and improvisation, between rhythm and lyrical melodies. And they deserve our congratulations – their balancing act is more than successful! Line-up: Mischa Schumann (p, comp) > Pepe Berns (b) > Heinz Lichius (dr) www.myspace.com/mischaschumann supported by Admission to the late-night programme via Schlachthof ticket, day ticket, jazzahead!-pass or professional participant registration.
La KaffeehausAvantgarde with Kalle Kalima
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 25 April 2009 / 12:30 am - 1:30 am La Kaffeehaus Avantgarde – a synonym for the very diverse impacts of a colourful mix of players. Whether gypsy folk, tango, Slavic rhythms, classical or new music, the musicians around the NDR Big Band and the Hamburg Jazz Orchestra combine their roots in a wonderful way. Hamburg meets Allgäu, Russia meets Switzerland, Cuba, Italy or France in ever new variations and with ever changing line-ups: in addition to the main line-up La Kaffeehaus Avantgarde constantly invites new guests to join their lively circle – so it will be interesting to see who is among those performing in the jazzahead! Late Night Programme. Line-up: Jana Mishenina (v, voc) > Edgar Herzog (fl, bcl, bars, ss) > Uwe Granitza(tb, tu) > Henry Altmann (double b, melodica, comp, direction) > Dirk-Achim Donau (perc) > Kalle Kalima (git) www.kaffeehausavantgarde.de supported by Admission to the late-night programme via Schlachthof ticket, day ticket, jazzahead!-pass or professional participant registration.
University of the Arts Bremen > Big Band and Jazzensemble (open public)
Focke Wulf Salon 25 April 2009 / 11:00 am - 12:00 pm In 2009, jazzahead! again welcomes the Bremen College of Arts in a 2-part concert programme. First on the home game agenda is the Big Band with a performance of the current term’s programme: compositions and arrangements by Bill Holman, Bob Mintzer, Gordon Goodwin, Woody Herman, Basie/Nestico etc. The second part of the programme presents the College’s jazz ensemble led by Professor Detlev Beier. Anyone interested in obtaining more information on the course and the college lecturers can do so at the jazzahead! exhibition. Furthermore the College for Arts (HFK)arranges sessions in the HFK Jazzclub (Dechanatstr. 13-15). Dates: 24/04/09, from 9:30 p.m.; 25/04/09, from 9:30 p.m.. Opened by students of the HFK
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg > Heiko Fischer Quartet (open public)
Focke Wulf Salon 25 April 2009 / 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Hamburg College of Music and Theatre With the Heiko Fischer Quartett Hamburg is sending an ensemble to jazzahead! that already in its early years received much praise and numerous awards: Heiko Fischer (git), Christoph Spangenberg (p), Daniel Stritzke (b) and Nikolai Petersen (dr) were together awarded the “Jugend jazzt” prize in Hamburg, the special prize of the German state of Sachsen-Anhalt, and also already performed at Jazz Baltica in Salzau. From a musical point of view the four see themselves as the link between various different elements of music. A purely acoustic sound without effects or artificial influences stands in contrast to modern compositions, sophisticated compositional themes in contrast to freely emerging solo parts. And loans from the rock/ pop segment coupled with a very communicative performance leave a lot of room for surprises!
Pascal Schumacher Quartet > European Jazz Meeting > Luxembourg
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Probably for the first time in an international setting there will be a spotlight on the Luxembourgian scene at this year’s jazzahead! One reason for this is the highly talented 30-year-old vibraphonist Pascal Schumacher, who has admittedly extended his activities beyond the borders of his home country for a long time already, for he has toured and given guest performances at festivals in both Europe and overseas. Apart from that he has received prizes in France, and his album Silbergrau was acclaimed jazz record of the year 2007in Belgium. His band is made up of international musicians, too, with German pianist Franz von Chossy who lives in Amsterdam, the Cologne drummer Jens Düppe, and the Belgian bass player Christophe Devisscher. The quartet’s performance at the European Jazz Meeting is at the same time a release concert for Schumacher’s first album with the Munich company Enja Records. His music: pure energy, consisting of clear melodious motifs that are sometimes melancholic, sometimes gentle, and sometimes stormy. Line-up: Pascal Schumacher (vb), Franz von Chossy (p), Christophe Devisscher (double b), Jens Düppe (dr) www.pascalschumacher.com presented by
Maxime Bender Group > European Jazz Meeting > Luxembourg
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 3:15 pm - 3:45 pm The junior among the Luxembourgian acts at the European Jazz Meeting is the saxophonist Maxime Bender (born 1982) who sometimes also plays with Pascal Schumacher in a quartet named Collectiv. After studying in Luxembourg, Strasbourg and Brussels Bender went to the Cologne College of Music which has since been the musical focus in his life. And accordingly, he will be coming to jazzahead! with what he calls his “Cologne Group”. Already as a young man Maxime Bender composed elegant, atmospheric pieces which won him the Composition Award at Tremplin Jazz Festival in Avignon/ France in 2008. Line-up: Maxime Bender (ss, ts, comp) > Christoph Möckel (as) > Kathrin Scheer (voc) > Riaz Khabirpour (g) > Sebastian Sternal (p) > Markus Braun (b) > Silvio Morger (dr) www.maximebender.com presented by
David Laborier > European Jazz Meeting > Luxembourg
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm The guitarist David Laborier, a graduate of Berklee College in Boston, has performed with his own trio for 15 years. The trio already attracted attention particularly in the Benelux countries and France. Beyond that, Laborier is also a member of the Largo Project of trumpet player Gast Waltzing, a central figure in the Luxembourgian scene who set up a special jazz course at the Conservatory of Luxembourg City where David Laborier has taught since 2006. With his jazz-rock oriented band he captivates listeners with a mixture of fusion, cool and modern jazz as well as a variety of his own compositions plus newly mixed jazz standards of the 50s and 60s – as can be heard on the CD Ye Ole Truckstop, which he produced on Waltzing’s Label WPR. Line-up: David Laborier (g) > Michel Mootz (dr) > Boris Schmit (b) www.labojazz.com presented by
Brass Jaw > European Jazz Meeting > United Kingdom
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 5:00 pm - 5:20 pm There can be rhythm without a rhythm section. And this is demonstrated by the powerful band Brass Jaw, a pure brass quartet from Scotland. The trumpet player Ryan Quigley and the saxophonists Paul Towndrow, Konrad Wiszniewski and Allon Beauvoisin all came from the pioneering school of Tommy Smith who with his Scottish National Jazz Orchestra is of such fundamental importance for the Scottish scene. They still work in other bands, too, but after a very successful tour through Great Britain in 2005 these meticulous free thinkers treat themselves to the fun of Brass Jaw more and more often now. This fun ranges from their own swinging compositions to their own bizarre versions of standards. Line-up: Ryan Quigley (tp) > Paul Towndrow (as) > Konrad Wiszniewski (ts) > Allon Beauvoisin (bars) www.brassjaw.co.uk presented by
Huw Warren Trio > European Jazz Meeting > United Kingdom
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 5:35 pm - 5:55 pm Huw Warren comes from Wales. He is one of the most distinguished pianists and composers of Great Britain’s younger generation. And he covers an amazingly wide musical spectrum, following a jazz interpretation that is anything but narrow: in addition to co-operations with baroque musicians like Andrew Manze and the Orlando Consort he has accompanied June Tabor, one of the most important English folk singers, for 20 years. He is also at home in experimental music. For this high-standard versatility Huw Warren received the reputed BBC Jazz Award for Innovation in 2005. His trio with the Austrian bass player Peter Herbert and drummer Martin France is one of his current, but also enduring, groups. Line-up: Huw Warren (p, electronics) > Dudley Philips (b) > Tim Giles (dr) www.myspace.com/huwwarrenmusic presented by
Arun Ghosh Sextet > European Jazz Meeting > United Kingdom
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 6:10 pm - 6:30 pm In Great Britain it is becoming increasingly difficult to overhear the influence of the music from the earlier colonies and it has long been a vital component of the scene. In the meantime it is second and third generation musicians who are seeking, discovering and interpreting their cultural roots. The family of the clarinettist Arun Ghosh comes from Calcutta but he himself was born in England, grew up in Manchester and today lives in London. His musical vocabulary, which breathes the spirit of jazz just as much as urban hip-hop sounds, Indian Ragas and psychedelic ambient music matches the wealth of his roots. Since the appearance of his debut CD Northern Namaste and a much acclaimed performance at the Indo-Jazz Festival which the magazine jazzwise organized in London in the spring of 2008 Arun Ghosh has been considered a rising star of the English scene. Line-up: Arun Ghosh (cl) > Shabaka Hutchings (ts) > Liran Donin (double b) > Nilesh Gulhane (tabla) > Kishon Khan (p) > Rastko Rasic (dr) www.myspace.com/arunghosh presented by
Portico Quartet European Jazz Meeting > United Kingdom
Borgward Salon 25 April 2009 / 6:40 pm - 7:00 pm Characteristic of the Portico Quartet from London is the “hanghang”, a current Swiss further development of Caribbean steel drums that are played with the hand (Swiss German: hang) and were presented for the first time at the Frankfurt Music Fair in 2001. With Duncan Bellamy and Nick Mulvey the band has two hang players. They form the basis for the trance-like sounds of the Portico Quartet which is just as reminiscent of Indonesian gamelan music as the pattern music of Steve Reich. Like their music, the quartet’s own history is remarkable: after spending two years playing regularly as street musicians – for example in front of the London National Theatre – the small independent Babel Label gave them a contract. With their own special sound the Portico Quartet is in the meantime well-known far beyond the jazz scene and is valued by popular DJs like Gilles Peterson. The magazine Time Out chose their debut album Knee-deep in the North Sea as the Jazz, Folk and World music album of the year 2007. It was also nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize 2008. Line-up: Jack Wyllie (sax) > Duncan Bellamy (dr, hang, marimba) > Milo Fitzpatrick (double b) > Nick Mulvey (hang, marimba, glockenspiel) www.myspace.com/porticoquartet presented by
radio.string.quartet.vienna & Klaus Paier
Hall 4.1 25 April 2009 / 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm The string quartet around Klaus Paier surprises listeners already on account of the instrumentation: four string players and an accordionist prove that it doesn’t always have to be piano trios. A combination of their own compositions and pieces by the recently deceased Old Master Joe Zawinul takes listeners to the musical roots of Klaus Paier, Bernd Mallinger, Johannes Dickbauer, Cynthia Liao and Asja Valcic. Through the strings and the accordion, folklore from southern and southeast Europe fuses with classic and jazz, and elements of rock meet the charm of the Alps. And so the quartet is always pleased to hear a visitor say: “I’ve never heard anything like that before!” Line-up: Klaus Paier (acc, bandoneon) > Bernie Mallinger (v) > Johannes Dickbauer (v) > Cynthia Liao (va) > Asja Valcic (vc) www.radiostringquartet.com
Abercrombie / Versace / Nussbaum > presented by Beck's
Hall 4.1 25 April 2009 / 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm Together with McLaughlin and Scofield, John Abercrombie is among the absolute stars of guitar jazz. He combines new technologies with classic jazz standards in a unique way, always making sure that the bridge from the present to the past does not degenerate into pure repetition and that the roots are still unmistakable. With the pianist, organist and accordionist Gary Versace, and one of the big jazz drummers Adam Nussbaum he has two American musicians at his side who have already given guest performances on international stages with big names like Sonny Rollins, Gary Burton, Randy Brecker, Toots Thielemans, David Liebmann – and John Scofield. Line-up: John Abercrombie (g) > Gary Versace (org) > Adam Nussbaum (dr) www.johnabercrombie.com > www.garyversace.com > www.adamnussbaum.net presented by
A.Tronic
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 25 April 2009 / 10:30 pm - 11:30 pm Electronic meets songlike jazz – at first sight this seems to be the most apt description of the new programme of André Nendza's A. Tronic "Spectacles". But as befits musicians of Nendza’s format, in addition to catchy, poppy sounds there is much more for the listener to discover: beautiful classic brass solos or flamboyant big band sounds, backed by female vocals that range from melodious motifs to complicated improvisations. And towering above it all is the pleasure in electronic experimenting of the band’s mastermind, André Nendza. Line-up: Anne Hartkamp (voc) > John-Dennis Renken (tp) > Sven Decker (sax) > Markus Segschneider (g) > Christoph Hillmann (dr) > André Nendza (b) www.andre-nendza.de supported by Admission to the late-night programme via Schlachthof ticket, day ticket, jazzahead!-pass or professional participant registration.
Die freundliche Übernahme
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 25 April 2009 / 11:30 pm - 12:30 am Robert Landfermann, Niels Klein and Jonas Burgwinkel – none of them newcomers to jazz, for they are all recognized experts in the German scene and they all follow their own path in the international arena, too: Landfermann works with John Taylor and Charlie Mariano, for example, Klein with Nils Wogram, Albert Mangelsdorf and Jeff Hamilton, Burgwinkel with the EBU Big Band, Lee Konitz and Ack van Rooyen. So it’s not surprising that the three musicians together develop their full abilities in Die Freundlichen Übernahme: high-level interaction, spontaneous changes in musical direction, powerful clarity based on intuitive improvisation. Line-up: Robert Landfermann (b) > Niels Klein (ts, bcl) > Jonas Burgwinkel (dr) www.myspace.com/drittefreundlicheuebernahme supported by Admission to the late-night programme via Schlachthof ticket, day ticket, jazzahead!-pass or professional participant registration.
SIMIN feat. Eric Vloeimans
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 26 April 2009 / 12:30 am - 1:30 am The voice of the German-Afghan singer Simin Tander invites her listeners to dip into stories full of Oriental mysticism and emotionality without necessarily having to rely on words. Tander – a singer who is Dutch by choice – combines free improvisations with singer songwriter elements. She recently started working with the well-known trumpet player Eric Vloeimans from the north of Holland. Vloeimans will also be appearing as a special guest in the Late Night Programme. In Germany the name Simin Tander is perhaps still not known to everybody but despite that a lot of people have already heard her – for example in the TV crime series “Tatort / In eigener Sache”. Line-up: Simin Tander (voc, comp) > Pablo Held (p) > Cord Heineking (double b) > Etienne Nillesen (dr) > Eric Vloeimans (tr) www.simintander.com supported by Admission to the late-night programme via Schlachthof ticket, day ticket, jazzahead!-pass or professional participant registration.
Vocal Matinee > Vokalensemble Hannover under direction of Romy Camerun > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (open public)
Hall 4.1 26 April 2009 / 10:30 am - 11:00 am Under the direction of Romy Camerun, the vocal group of the Hannover Conservatory presents its repertoire of most diverse styles of music with popular songs from pop, jazz, rhythm’n’blues as well as some own compositions. Line-up: Romy Camerun (direction) > Karin Grabein > Agnes Hapsari > Lara Lübbe > Joel Besmehn > Vera Mohrs > Kristina Müller > Julian Nicolaus > Christian Hoffmeister > Frieder Schmidt presented by
"Jazz for Kids" - Interactive programme of the Musikschule Bremen > followed by Try & Touch > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (open public)
Borgward Salon 26 April 2009 / 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Jazz for Kids – that means jazz close-up to touch and try. Children and their parents can look forward to a concert in which they can join in as an introduction to playful handling of the jazz kit. The event is being organised by the Bremen Music School under the direction of Eckhard Petri. presented by
Vocal Matinee > Pop Choir Findorff under direction of Daniel Akkermann > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (open public)
Hall 4.1 26 April 2009 / 11:00 am - 11:30 am Daniel Akkermann is a music teacher at the Findorff School Centre, Bremen but he is also highly in demand as a choirmaster. At the Findorff Centre he founded a school choir for children attending classes 6 to 10 – a pop choir which meets the needs of this age group exactly. The boys and girls work on well-known pieces as well as their own arrangements. At the same time they have the possibility to receive professional support in voice training. In the meantime the pop choir does not only regularly give convincing performances at school events but also at concerts in various venues in Bremen. Line-up: school choir of the Schulzentrums Findorff, Leitung: Daniel Akkermann presented by
Vocal Matinee > Vokalensemble Osnabrück under direction of Romy Camerun > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (open public)
Hall 4.1 26 April 2009 / 11:30 am - 12:00 pm The a cappella group’s performance of the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück under the direction of Romy Camerun incorporates compositions of modern jazz with popular titles like “So Cool” and “Quiet Place” from TAKE 6 as well as jazz standard compositions “Dat Dere” and “I Remember Clifford” penned by double bassist Alex Morsey and trumpeter Torsten Maas. Line-up: Romy Camerun (direction) > Lena Geue > Tossia Corman > Gianna Jatho > Theresa Eicker > Marion Gutzeit > Kuntaek Hong > Simao Capitao > Jochachim Klück presented by
Musikerinitiative Bremen e.V. > Jens Schöwings Blue-Note-Bach > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (open public)
Focke Wulf Salon 26 April 2009 / 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Johann Sebastian Bach composed the 13-part "Musikalische Opfer" [The Musical Offering] based on a theme by the Prussian King. The “Royal Theme” is seen as Bach’s musical legacy to posterity. As a jazz musician the Bremen pianist Jens Schöwing was inspired by the Bach fugues. He created a work that is as composed as it is improvised – a contemporary piece of music with both acoustic and electronic elements. Line-up: Jens Schöwing (p) > Matthias Entrup (vb) > Christian Frank (double b) > Marc Prietzel (dr) presented by
Musikerinitiative Bremen e.V. > Ciel d`or > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (Open Public)
Focke-Wulf Saal 26 April 2009 / 1:10 pm - 1:40 pm “Soubassobeat” is what “Ciel d`or” calls its deeper remix of their own individual experience and current necessity. Founded in 2005, the trio plays a music that lives from animating harmonies and inspired melodies. Pumping sousaphone bass sounds combined with ambitious lyrics, sung and recited, united by driving saxophone lines. That is Ciel d`or, their own kind of shine and sound! Line-up: Günther Orendi (sous) > Peter Dahm (sax) > Uli Sobotta (euphonium, voc, git) presented by
Jazz meets Hip Hop feat. Wedda & Sinatic > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung (Open Public / Jugendticket)
Foyer Hall 4 26 April 2009 / 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Two categories that couldn’t be more different … ? Two different social groups… ? It’s not only the music that divides their interests but also their understanding of dance… ? Jazz meets Hip Hop becomes an experiment: What happens when the two groups and the two music styles meet? This show with an integrated workshop is not only about the love of music and dance but also about the parallels between two such different forms of expression as jazz and hip hop. The show and workshop are being presented by the local heroes Sinatic and Wedda. This special event addresses all juniors (10-16 years) and interested adults. Coordination: Wedda & Sinatic (Dance instructors at ATSV-Habenhausen e. V.) ATSV-Habenhausen e. V. presented by
NDR Bigband / feat. Gwilym Simcock / feat. Susi Hyldgaard > presented by Sparda-Bank & Sparda-Bank Stiftung
Hall 4.1 26 April 2009 / 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm The NDR Big Band will be giving guest performances with two young and aspiring stars from the European scene at jazzahead! 2009: the English pianist and export hit Gwilym Simcock and the new Danish voice of Susi Hyldgaard. When Simcock meets the big formation gentle piano tones mix with intoxicating sound carpets. His style, influenced by his mentor John Taylor, is harmoniously flowing and so wonderfully characteristic that he is considered to be one of the most promising pianists of his day. In the second set the voice of Susi Hyldgaard works magic on the stage – something that does not happen very often: a combination of the catchy without drifting into the naïve or unsophisticated. And throughout, her music is just as pragmatic as it is emotional. This is the result of her attitude: Susi Hyldgaard hardly listens to any music, she prefers to make it herself, and if it isn’t inspiring she doesn’t play it. Direction: Jörg Achim Keller Solists: Gwilym Simcock (p) > Susi Hyldgaard (voc) Line-up: Thorsten Benkenstein, Ingolf Burkhardt, Claus Stötter, Reiner Winterschladen (tp) > Fiete Felsch, Peter Bolte, Christof Lauer, Lutz Büchner, Frank Delle (sax) > Dan Gottshall, Klaus Heidenreich, Stefan Lottermann (tb) > Ingo Lahme (btb) > Stephan Diez (g) > Ingmar Heller (b) > Martin France (dr) > Marcio Doctor (perc) www.gwilymsimcock.com > www.susihyldgaard.dk > www.ndr.de/bigband presented by