winterjazz 2016 bands / musicians

Arnie Bolden

Arnie Bolden


Arnie Bolden
Smooth transitions from improvised on the spot to accurately planed passages tell quiet and loud tales of pleasure, pain and in between. Arnie Bolden interlocks edgy jumping guitar sound with super alert drums and colourful trumpet. Sounds of the universe, a children’s xylophone, a hint of swing, crude hums, bel canto melodies , again changing into brief powerful solo bits weighed down by silence. The expressive spontaneity of jazz, those edgy complex beats of electronic music, the structural way of thinking in European modernism, that filthiness of rock music as well as elements taken from other musical styles, all of them fuse into an original vital sound beyond typical standards and norms. // Ralph Beerkircher (el-g), Christian Thomé (dr, elec), Stephan Meinberg (trp, euph, efx)

Clara Däubler

Clara Däubler

Däubler / Trumann

Dull gold, foggy grey or even rose red, this duo lives off the creation of and flirtation with sound. Dashes of colour used with intent, clean brush strokes and hidden insignificances reveal a way into the intimate and fragile construct of this duo. Hanover based double bass player Clara Däubler and Cologne based trombone player Janning Trumann create a colourful and layered sound. Their play with micro-tonality and low frequence moods as well as their preference for traditional jazz and improvisation allows the duo to shift and fathom boundaries. Freely intoning instruments such as double bass and trombone are ideal for this endeavour. There are moans, whimpers, stretches, caricatures and romantic notes. // Clara Däubler (cb), Janning Trumann (trb)

Gosto Delicado

Gosto Delicado

Gosto Delicado
From groomed Choro dance parlours to the hills of the Favelas, passing those bossa nova drunken nightclubs from Ipanema and great MPB venues. The group ‘Gosto Delicado’ (fine taste) manages to take its audience onto a musical journey to Brasil. Their brand new album ‘Alemanofônico’ is dedicated to the congeniality of the twin towns Rio de Janeiro and Cologne. Pía Miranda brings those catchy Brasilian samba and bossa nova tunes to life with her expressive voice. Well-known songs by composers from the Rhineland area are incorporated into the repertoire and presented by Gosto Delicado in a most surprising new fashion. // Olivier Lob (7-saitige-g, cavaquinho), Matthias Haffner (perc), Felix Hildenbrand (cb), Pía Miranda (voc, trb)

Sandra Hempel

Sandra Hempel

Hendrika Entzian Quartett feat. Sandra Hempel: „Turnus“
The music by this Cologne quartet with double bass player Hendrika Entzian entices with acoustic sounds, songlike structures and melodic arches. With great attention to detail, the band oscillates between composition, interaction and improvisation. Founded in 2012, the quartet released their lastest album ‘Turnus’ in April [2015]. Their multi-faceted tracks appear both modern and timeless. They consciously oppose following short lived trends. They unite unobtrusive elegance with subtle energy. Featured guest artist on the album and the release tour is guitarist Sandra Hempel from Hamburg. // Sandra Hempel (g), Maxi Jagow (sax), Simon Seidl (p), Hendrika Entzian (b), Fabian Arends (dr)

Hendrik Soll

Hendrik Soll

Hendrik Soll Trio – Nadolny/Berg/Soll: „Trialogue“
This trio’s musicians go back a long way with many joint music projects. They share an affinity for sets where musical interaction and creating moments in time are their primary goal. In the past, each of the three have worked in different duo-constellations, for example with piano players John Taylor or Bob Degen, or with organ player Johannes Quack. With their album ‘Trialogue’, they extend their musical conversation by a third person. They interpret their compositions quite similar to footballer Adi Preißler’s motto “All theory is grey, all that matters happens on the field”.. // Matthias Nadolny (ts), Henning Berg (trb), Hendrik Soll (p)

Klein / Kempendorff

Uli Kempendorff

Uli Kempendorff

Niels Klein

Niels Klein

With this duo, the two sax and clarinet players Niels Klein from Cologne and Uli Kempendorff from Berlin join forces for the first time. Both jazz musicians share a great open-mindedness towards contemporary and classical music, pop and art music. They share that ability to cross all boundaries between tradition and avantgarde, rethink, reassemble and reshuffle. Niels Klein and his sheer infinite pool of ideas, his profoundly unconventional attitude towards music, albeit completely involuntary, all that shapes his musical oevre. Uli Kempendorff’s performance is rebellious, crosses boundaries, ignores the divide between tradition and avantgarde with shocking ease // Uli Kempendorff (sax, cl), Niels Klein (sax, cl)

Lars Duppler

Lars Duppler

Lars Duppler – naked
“I wasn’t really naked. I simply didn’t have any clothes on.” Josephine Baker is purported to have said once. Piano player Lars Duppler, familiar from ensembles with Niels Klein, Jens Düppe or Nils Wülker, now reverses Baker’s witty phrase with his first solo set. He presents himself clothed, yet ‘naked’ all the same. He has to fully rely on his own performance without any feedback from colleagues, without solos from co-artists or the rhythmic lead by bass and drums. The music on ‘Naked’ reveals impressive depth and enormous concentration, equally thrilling and soothing. Recorded with much room to breathe, unfolding a diverse universe of sound, closely affiliated to late romanticism as well as to the type of jazz by a Paul Bley or John Taylor. // Lars Duppler (p)

David Andres & Laura Totenhagen

David Andres & Laura Totenhagen

Laura Totenhagen / David Andres
With this duo, reduction and complex musical ideas both have room to develop. Singer Laura Totenhagen and double bass player David Andres leave that comfort zone which a band can be for its members. In a double bass & vocals duo musical roles shift. It opens up new possibilities. Laura Totenhagen and David Andres always find spontaneous creative twists. They let their music radiate in many musical facets. Quiet, chamber-music-like passages meet energetic outbursts and develop into enchanting sounds. Arranged pieces meet brief sketches which then fully take shape on stage. // Laura Totenhagen (voc), David Andres (cb)

Magnolia

Magnolia

Magnolia
Within the European jazz scene, Magnolia is undoubtedly one of the most unusual guitar/vocals duos. The playful way in which they swap roles of vocalist and guitarist is worth listening to. Ann Hartkamp’s expressive, versatile, enchanting voice and Philipp von Endert’s unusually warm and intense guitar sound, the guitar’s tonal scope extended by custom designed effects and loops. Vocals and guitar merge into cheerful virtuosity, tender affection and powerful presence. Their exciting compositions and arrangements pave the way for that special and irresistible liveliness that brings on the magic of Magnolia’s music: Passionate communication. Inspired dialogue with surprising, thrilling twists and turns, for the audience and the musicians alike. // Anne Hartkamp (voc), Philipp van Endert (g)

winterjazz_2016_Martin Sasse Trio

Martin Sasse Trio

Martin Sasse – Trio Classics
Martin Sasse is one of the most wanted jazz piano players in Germany. His trio is deeply rooted in jazz traditions. Their intuitive feel for melodic themes is combined with groovy swing. The trio received the German Record Critics’ Award for their last CD release, and in summer 2011 Martin Sasse toured with pop icon Sting. The international press nicknamed him ‘Wunderkind of Europe’. The Sasse Trio with Henning Gailing on double bass and Joost van Schaik on drums was called ‘an articulate tight knit group’. At the Winterjazz Festival Cologne they will present their current project ‘Trio Classics’, a stroll through the history of trios with jazz pianos. // Martin Sasse (p), Henning, Gailing (b), Joost van Schaik (dr)

Michael Schiefel / Klaus Mages – Meeting Spontan

Klaus Schiefel

Klaus Schiefel

Michael Schiefel combines his strikingly virtuous voice with sounds generated by loop machines and other electronic devices. This unique combination evokes feelings of passion as well as alienation. This versatile singer will join forces with Klaus Mages at the Winter Jazz Festival Cologne. The diplomatic drummer moves around in genres like jazz, ethno, rock and pop, has played with David Friedman, Richie Beirach and Dave Holland. Having those two versatile music personalities Michael Schiefel and Klaus Mages meet up is exciting news. Both are famous for their ingenuity and individuality. // Michael Schiefel (voc, looper), Klaus Mages (perc, b-pedal, saw)

Sebastian Sternal

Sebastian Sternal

Dieter Manderscheid

Dieter Manderscheid

Dominik Mahnig

Dominik Mahnig

Mingus Mingus Mingus
Three award-winning jazz musicians from different generations, all internationally in demand in their scene, devote themselves to the music of the great Charlie Mingus. Double bass player Dieter Manderscheid and piano player Sebastian Sternal are an experienced duo. For the Winterjazz Festival Cologne they added drummer Dominik Mahnig to form a classical trio. Mahnig had quickly earned himself a reputation as ‘artist to watch’. All three share that sound scope which spans from jazz traditions to classical new music, which does neither shy away from free improvisation nor from the good old concept of a melody’s strength. Just like it would have been in Mingus’ interest, Mingus’ powerful compositions are the base to be redrawn by these three musicians with at least three colours. // Sebastian Sternal (p), Dieter Manderscheid (b), Dominik Mahnig (dr)

Monsters for Breakfast

Monsters for Breakfast

Monsters for Breakfast – freie Improvisationen für 3 Stimmen
Language, text and voice meets sound, plates, cutlery and an especially prepared saxophone. ‘Monsters for Breakfast’ is an ensemble of fine sounds and loud smacking. The ensemble consists of the singers Mascha Corman and Thea Soti (both curators of ‘Stimmungen’ at Loft) and the Czech-Pakistani sax player Salim Javaid. Three voices researching together, taking the liberty to move around beyond familiar sound structures and rhythmic constructions. The music by ‘Monsters for Breakfast’ is inspired by contemporary poetry, jazz, new music and noise. It changes continuously, and is served up for dinner.. // Salim Javaid (prep-sax), Mascha Corman (voc), Thea Soti (voc)

Hubert Nuss

Hubert Nuss

Peter Weniger / Hubert Nuss
Today, sax player Peter Weniger and piano player Hubert Nuss can look back on 30 years of friendship and musical collaboration. As sidemen they are among the most wanted musicians of their generation. Their joint projects are well documented on seven record productions which received several awards. Even at times when they both successfully embarked on solo projects, they happily returned to their duo constellation which is both starting point and centre of their joint development. Peter Weniger is one of the great masters of jazz saxophones of our time. Since 2005, he is artistic director of the internationally renowned Jazz Institute Berlin. Hubert Nuss has collaborated on more than 50 CDs as jazz piano player. // Peter Weniger (sax), Hubert Nuss (p)

Sebastian Gramss´ FOSSILE 3

Sebastian Gramss FOSSILE 3

Sebastian Gramss FOSSILE 3

Don’t let the band’s name deceive you. What awaits you is in no way a ‘fossilized’, antiquated or dated. On the contrary: Rudi Mahall, Sebastion Gramss and Etienne Nillesen take honoured jazz traditions on board and transport them to the here and now. Short and good. Powerful and intense. Very lively and certainly anything but fossilised. In a world of ring tone charts and on hold jingles this perfect trio keeps in direct contact with the infinite energy reserves of jazz traditions, and gives these old forces a new cunning framework. Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Sebastian Gramss (double bass, compositions), Etienne Nillesen (drums). // Rudi Mahall (bcl), Sebastian Gramss (db, comp), Etienne Nillesen (dr)

Stefan Karl Schmid / Philipp Brämswig 4tett

Stefan Karl Schmid, Philipp Brämswig 4tett

Stefan Karl Schmid, Philipp Brämswig 4tett

Great jazz bands thrive on the magic of unique instances of fortune. What matters most for the sound is that chemistry between the personalities involved which then transports the musical message. This chemistry just works perfectly between Stefan Schmid (sax) and Philipp Brämswig (gui). With a background in contemporary jazz, their performance is characterised by masterful technique, incredible sensibility and sensual delicacy alike. With those rhythmically surprising moves, the clear cut themes in their compositions act as an compass for their improvisation. This music with its enticing vibrant interaction makes the audience become part of the magic. // Stefan Karl Schmid (sax), Philipp Brämswig (g), Robert Landfermann (b), Oliver Rehmann (dr)

Sunna Gunnlaugs

Sunna Gunnlaugs

Sunna Gunnlaugs / Ryan Carniaux
Icelandic piano player Sunna Gunnlaugs meets Cologne based trumpeter Ryan Carnieux (originally from New York) for the first time at Winterjazz Festival Cologne. Sunna Gunnlaugs has studied in New Jersey for quite some time before returning to Iceland. That driving New York energy is very audible in her performance. Both musicians love strong clearly defined melodies and mystical harmonies. Gunnlaugh’s piano play is fine tuned and deliberate. She chooses each sound with care and hits the keys thoughtfully, celebrating each note. Ryan Carnieux has the same approach. It will be exciting to witness the first joint concert by this duo. // Sunna Gunnlaugs (p), Ryan Carniaux (trp)

Sven Decker ́s TRANSPARENCY

Sven Deckers TRANSPARENCY

Sven Deckers TRANSPARENCY

Closely linked to the idea of transparency and reduction is the music of TRANSPARANCY, the new trio by Cologne sax player and composer Sven Decker. Reduction of sound density while simultaneously maximising intensity and transparency in order to develop melodic and compository styles. Those eleven compositions on the current CD ‘Sepia’ are very autobiographic, intense. Complete stories in themselves, sometimes dream-like and melancholic, they sometimes come across eruptive and demanding. Co-musicians Matthias Akeo Nowak and Etienne Nillesen, both firmly established in the Cologne scene, understand how to bring out the essential elements within each composition by the means of a reduced and intense performance. // Matthias Akeo Nowak (cb), Etienne Nillesen (dr), Sven Decker (ts, cl, bcl, mel)

Terrence Ngassa Band

Terrence Ngassa

Terrence Ngassa

The exceptional trumpet player, composer and band leader Terrence Ngassa and his refreshing international and superbly assembled band present a musical oevre full of temperament. A flaming mix of Afro jazz, funk and world music. However, influences from bebop are also audible, that style of bebop Dizzy Gillespie demonstrated with his Cuba projects. // Terrence Ngassa (trp, voc, comp), Tobias Link (trb), Jura Wajda (p), Andreas Relnhard (b), Christian Fehre (perc), Benedikt Hesse (dr)

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