Rolf Kühn & TRI-O feat. Joachim Kühn live at JazzBaltica 2011

Rolf Kühn - Clarinet
Joachim Kühn - Piano
Ronny Graupe - Guitar, Electronics
Johannes Fink - Bass
Christian Lillinger - Drums
Jazzbaltica Salzau, July 3, 2011

1. Mamarazzi (Rolf Kühn)
2. Lifeline (Rolf Kühn)
3. Auf Tauris (Ronny Graupe)
4. Changing The Umbrella (Joachim Kühn)
5. Spacerunner (Rolf Kühn)

Blättert man in der von Maxi Sickert vorgelegten und im Rahmenprogramm von Enjoy Jazz 2009 auch vorgestellten Kühn-Biografie „Clarinet Bird“, dann staunt man nicht schlecht, hat dieser Musiker doch eine – zumal für deutsche Verhältnisse – ganz exzeptionelle internationale Karriere hingelegt. Entdeckt wurde der in Köln geborene Rolf Kühn Ende der 1940er Jahre in Leipzig, ging dann erst in den Westen und bereits 1956 in die USA, wo er mit Oscar Pettiford, im Benny Goodman Orchestra, aber auch mit Ornette Coleman spielte. Es folgten Free Jazz- und Fusion-Experimente, Filmmusiken, Engagements beim NDR und als Musicaldirigent und immer wieder Aufnahmen mit seinem viel jüngeren Bruder Joachim. Dass Rolf Kühn am 29. September 2009 seinen 80. Geburtstag feierte, wird zudem kaum glauben können, wer die sehr dynamische, swingende, melodiöse und auch ins Freie drängende Musik hört, die der Klarinettist an der Seite ganz junger Musiker der Berliner Szene wie Christian Lillinger, Ronny Graupe, Johannes Fink spielt. Die kristalline Klarheit seines Tones auf dem gemeinsam eingespielten und beim Berliner Jazzwerkstatt-Label erschienenen Album „Close Up“ zeugt von ungebrochener Abenteuerlust und zeigt keinerlei Berührungsängste gegenüber jugendlichem Sturm und Drang.

Rolf Kühn & TRI-O live at Jazzclub "Unterfahrt", Munich 2011

Rolf Kühn (Clarinet)

Ronny Graupe (Guitar)

Johannes Fink (Bass)

Christian Lillinger (Drums and Percussion)

recorded live at Jazzclub "Unterfahrt", Munich, March 2, 2011

Lifeline (Rolf Kühn)

Changing the Umbrella (Joachim Kühn)

Mamarazzi (Rolf Kühn)

Positive Reflections (Rolf Kühn)

Canaveral (Ronny Graupe)

Since the death of Albert Mangelsdorff, clarinetist Rolf Kühn, born in Köln and turning 82 this September, is Germany's elder statesman in jazz. He has played with such diverse figures as Jack Sheldon and Tony Oxley and his voluminous output has included trad, free and fusion, all featuring his quirkily modern compositions. Rollercoaster, Kühn's first disc for Jazzwerkstatt, finds him leading a trio whose combined age barely exceeds his. But Kühn doesn't look and certainly doesn't play old, presenting a fresh program of nine tunes written by himself, brother Joachim, group guitarist Ronny Graupe and Ornette Coleman. It is often said that the best avant-garde players are those thoroughly steeped in the classics; Kühn embodies this and his band responds with both respect and urging. 

Marc Schmolling Trio live at Bavarian Broadcast 2010

Photo © Johanna Diehl

Marc Schmolling (Piano)
Jonas Westergaard (Bass)
Christian Lillinger (Drums)

recorded live at Bavarian Broadcast, Munich, April 28, 2010

1. "April Serenade Teil 1" (Schmolling, Westergaard, Lillinger)
2. "April Serenade Teil 2" (Schmolling, Westergaard, Lillinger)

   

In this group Marc Schmolling’s musical ideas are put into practice in the traditional piano trio with bass and drums. Influenced by the acoustic aesthetics of Bill Evans or Thelonious Monk, as well as the tonal and harmonic language of Paul Bley or Cecil Taylor, the Marc Schmolling Trio unveils with playful ease and a delicate instinct for dramaturgy surprising images of bizarre acoustic worlds.
The latest edition of the trio featuring Danish bassist Jonas Westergaard and "Hyperactive Kid" Christian Lillinger from Berlin on drums released the live album "live in Berlin - vol.1" on Wizmar-Records in May 2010.

Wanja Slavin Sextet at moers festival 2009

1. Salvation/ TOWK & Salsatanic

2. Hortkinder/ Brossa

Wanja Slavin, sax
ophones, clarinet
Ibadet Ramadani, voc
als
Karsten Hochapfel, guitar, cello

Ronny Graupe, g
uitar
Robert Landfermann, bass
Christian Lillinger, drums
Special Guest: Samuel Glaser, trombone

recorded live at mores festival, Mai 30, 2009

Wanja Slavin, born 1982, is a well crafted saxophonist and composer. He has studied in Munich with Leszek Zadlo and has played with Kenny Wheeler, Paulo Cardoso, Joachim Kühn, Rudi Mahall, John Schröder, Kalle Kalima, just to name a few.
Wanja Slavin belongs to the generation of (European) musicians who decided to make their base Berlin. The gifted saxophonist from Munich currently lives in a stable in the German capital. He is a member of the newly established JazzkollektivBerlin, whose participants read like a Who’s Who of the capital’s young jazz scene. Slavin comes to Moers in a constellation that includes the “Hyperactive Kid” Christian Lillinger.
Together with Marc Schmolling Wanja recorded a wonderful duo album in 2003 called "offminor"