jazz big band graz: ‘Urban Folktales … And A Rose!’ live at Jazzfest Berlin 2010

Horst-Michael Schaffer, vocals, trumpet, conductor
Heinrich von Kalnein, saxophones, flute, conductor
Christoph ‘Pepe’ Auer, saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet
Johannes Enders, saxophones, flute
Martin Harms, saxophones, bass clarinet
Bernhard Nolf, Axel Mayer, David Jarh, trumpet, flugelhorn
Johannes Herrlich, Robert Bachner, trombone
Wolfgang Tischhart, bass trombone
Uli Rennert, keyboards, lapsteel guitar
Matthias Loibner, electric hurdy-gurdy
Christof Dienz, e-zither, bassoon
Henning Sieverts, bass, cello
Gregor Hilbe, drums, programming
Barbara Buchholz, theremin
OchoReSotto, visuals

recorded live at Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage, November 4, 2010

1. Band Introduction
2. Urban Tribes - Introduction
3. Seelenbaumeln
4. Spacetrip (or the day we landed)
5. Reve africain
6. High voltage

Among European jazz orchestras the Jazz Bigband Graz has earned an exceptionally good reputation. The international cohort of soloists performs on a superior level. The two artistic directors Heinrich von Kalnein and Horst-Michael Schaffer have managed to mould this heterogeneous flock of individualists into a homogeneous team with a genuine musical language.

The notion of a “Big Band” almost seems too conventional for the reckless musical adventures of this group from Styria since with each new project they further depart from their normal frame work of large jazz ensembles. In 2008, the JBBG celebrated triumphs with their progressive programme Electric Poetry & Lo-Fi Cookies. This year’s edition of JazzFest Berlin stages their latest extravaganza, Urban Folktales … And A Rose!
The poetry of the newly refurbished orchestra –extended by electric zither, amplified wheel fiddle/hurdy-gurdy and a theremin, plus visual projections by artist group OchoReSotto – revolves around one of the most elementary of all human issues – love.

Ack van Rooyen All Stars live at JazzBaltica 2010

Ack van Rooyen, flh
Johannes Enders, ts
Chris Potter, ts
Don Friedman, p
Martin Wind, b
Matt Wilson, dr
recorded live at Konzertscheune Salzau, JazzBaltica July 3, 2010

1. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (Oscar Hammerstein)
2. Old Folks (Dedette Lee Hill, Willard Robison)
3. Almost Everything (Don Friedman)
4. For Clara (Don Friedman)
5. Darn that Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen, Eddie DeLange)
6. Short Cut (Paul Heller)

Ack van Rooyen's career in the jazz circuit and as a studio musician covers a broad spectrum. Born on New Year's day 1930, he graduated cum laude from the Royal Conservatory of the Hague in 1949. He subsequently joined the Arnhem Symphony Orchestra where he played until 1952. In the meantime his interests were turning more to jazz and improvistation.
On a student trip to the United States with his brother Jerry and Rob Pronk, they heard the new sounds being created on the New York's 52nd street and were among the first to introduce the New Music to Holland.
A period of interaction with leading musicians in larger and smaller formations throughout Europe followed. Returning to Holland he established himself in the Hilversum studio's. Than to France for three years playing with the Aimé Barelli Orchestra during which time he was also active on the Paris jazz scene.
Moving on to Germany, Ack joined the newly formed SFB Bigband in Berlin, and later the SDR Orchestra in Stuttgart. During this period he toured and recorded with the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra as a featured soloist. Together with Wolfgang Dauner and Albert Mangelsdorff he toured Asia and South America. He is a charter member of the United jazz and Rock Ensemble as well as Peter Herbolzheimer's Rhythm combination and brass. He has played with Clark Terry and the Gil Evans Orchestra on their European tours.
Prensently Ack is based in Holland where he works with his own quintet, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz orchestra of the Concertgebouw and in Duo with Joerg Reiter. He teaches the Royal Conservatory of the Hague and leads workshops and coaches Bigbands throughout Europe.

Together with pianist Joerg Reiter he released two duo albums on mood records called "Music for Piano and Flugelhorn".

Johannes Enders Quartet feat. Billy Hart live in Karlsruhe 2011

Johannes Enders (sax)
Jean-Paul Brodbeck (p)
Milan Nicolic (b)
Billy Hart (dm)
recorded live at Jazzclub Karlsruhe, May 23, 2011

1. Sonnentierchen (Johannes Enders)
2. Billy Rubin (Johannes Enders)
3. Zeitgeistmaschine (Johannes Enders)
4. Billy Rubin 2 (Johannes Enders)
5. Little Drummer (Johannes Enders)
6. So Ro (Rebecca Bakken)
7. X-March (Johannes Enders)

One of europes most important tenorsaxophone players with his new quartet feat. Billy Hart, Jean Paul Brodbeck and Milan Nicholic. Enders 2009 release "Billy Rubin" with Billy Hart has been awarded with the german “JazzEcho” , his collaboration with the famous Weilheim group NOTWIST and his own EndersRoom helped to establish a growing reputation amoung advanced listeners. 

Johannes Enders and JazzBaltica Ensemble live at Jazzclub Unterfahrt Munich 2010

Johannes Enders, Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Leader
Karin Hammar, Trombone
Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard, Alto Saxophone, Flute
Lutz Häfner, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Axel Schlosser, Trumpet, Flügelhorn
Michael Wollny, Piano
Eva Kruse, Bass
Bastian Jütte, Drums

recorded live at  Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Munich July 8, 2010

1. The Jones Suite Part 2: Hank (Johannes Enders)
2. Summer Night (Harry Warren)
3. Billy Rubin Part 2 & 1 (Johannes Enders)
4. Beginners Mind Part 2 (Johannes Enders)

"One for three - The Jones Suite", the recording of JazzBaltica Ensemble 2008 concert at Salzau, released on enja, was dedicated to the three great brothers of modern jazz history: Elvin, Thad and Hank Jones.
Enders, who has always emphasized that his overriding commitment was to the “overall” sound, had delivered his masterpiece. Returning to his influences, he translated his hommage to that great arranger of modern jazz, Thad Jones, into his own contemporary musical language and, while paying tribute to Elvin Jones, the musical companion of John Coltrane, he also honours the master of the modern tenor saxophone.
What really moved musicians and audience alike at this great Salzau concert was the second movement, dedicated to the living piano legend, Hank Jones. Before the start of that final part of the concert, Hank Jones came onstage in person and bowed to Enders and the Ensemble’s moving performance with a rendition of his own composition "We’re All Together”, as arranged by Enders for the Ensemble. The audience was treated to one of those magic moments in Jazz that remain legendary for generations to come.

Supporting the 2010 release on enja the Ensemble reunited for this concert to play the suite again.

Jazzbaltica-Ensemble 2010 directed by Martin Wind

Martin Wind - Bass, Composer, Arrangements
Johannes Enders, Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard - Saxophones
Axel Schlosser - Trumpet, Flügelhorn
Karin Hammar, Øyvind Brække - Trombone
Christopher Dell - Vibraphone
Michael Wollny - Piano
Andy Haberl -  Drums
Guests:
Donny McCaslin - Tenor Saxophone
Nils Wülker - Trumpet
Nils Landgren - Trombone
Don Friedman - Piano
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums
Lars Danielsson - Violoncello

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau, July 2, 2010

1. Out in Pennsylvania
Soloists: Dell, vib, Schlosser, tp
2. Cruise Blues
Soloists: Wülker, tp; Enders, ts
3. Remember October 13th
Soloists: Enders, ts, Brakke, tb, Hammar, tb, Wollny, p, Haffner, dr
4. Get It

Soloists: Dell, vib, Landgren, tb, McCaslin, ts, Enders, ts
5. Memories Of Scotty (Don Friedman)

6. Theresia
Soloists: Lars Danielsson, cello; Nils Landgren, tb; Donny McCaslin, ts
7. Rainy River
Soloists: Michael Wollny, p; Martin Wind, b; Axel Schlosser, flh

Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany in 1968 and moved to New York in 1996 to study at New York University (NYU) with a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service.
In 1995 he earned himself a diploma as Orchestra Musician at the Music Conservatory in Cologne, Germany while studying with Prof. Wolfgang Guettler, former bassist with the Berlin Philharmonics.
In 1998 he earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Performance and Composition studying with Mike Richmond, Jim McNeely, Tom Boras, Mike Holober and Kenny Werner.
Since his move to New York Martin has become a regular at all major jazz clubs and is also in demand as a session player; his credits include movies such as "The Alamo", "Intolerable Cruelty", " Mona Lisa Smiles", "Fur", "The Bounty Hunter", and "True Grit".
In 1995 Martin came in third at the International Thelonious Monk Bass Competition in Washington, D.C.
In 1996 Martin Wind won the first Cognac Hennessy/Blue Note Jazz Search in Germany with his trio "Dreiklang" and got to record an album for Blue Note Records.
Since 2007 he’s been leading his own quartet featuring the talents of Sott Robinson (reeds), Bill Cunliffe (piano) and Tim Horner (drums). They’ve released the albums "Salt’n Pepper!" (2008), and "Get it?" (2010).
After their performance at JazzBaltica 2009 (released on DVD), Martin Wind was asked to compose and arrange the programme for the 2010 edition of the JazzBaltica Ensemble.

 

Bobby Hutcherson/Joe Locke “Homage to Milt Jackson“ live at JazzBaltica 2007

Bobby Hutcherson - Vibraphone
Joe Locke - Vibraphone
Don Friedman - Piano
Martin Wind - Bass
Andi Haberl - Drums
Johannes Enders - Tenor Saxophone
Darren Barrett - Trumpet

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau, July 2007

1. I Love You
2. Mr. PC
3. Old Folks
4. Star Eyes
5. What Is This Thing Called Love?
6. My Foolish Heart
7. Bag´s Groove

Born on Jan. 1, 1923, in Detroit, Milt Jackson's musical beginnings were in the neighborhood gospel churches as a pianist, guitarist, violinist percussionist and singer. He took up the vibraphone in high school. He moved to New York, played with Earl Hines and in 1945, joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band rhythm section, which also included pianist John Lewis, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke. He worked with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis and in 1951 recorded with Gillespie bandmates Lewis, Clarke and Brown. Inspired by that recording, they reformed as the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1952 with Percy Heath replacing Ray Brown and Connie Kay taking the drum chair after the departure of Kenny Clarke in 1955. For the following 50 years the sound of Milton “Bags” Jackson's vibraphone would signature the Modern Jazz Quartet and inspire generations of followers. Jackson's impassioned improvisations and compositions, including “Bluesology” and “Bag's Groove,” helped define the MJQ sound. Jackson recorded many splendid dates as a leader, including, The Ballad Artistry Of Milt Jackson, Ballads And Blues and Big Band Bags, and worked with many jazz immortals, including John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. In '99 he fronted an exciting album date with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Explosive! (Qwest). He died in 1999.

"Bobby Hutcherson´s vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern. Hutcherson has influenced younger vibraphonists like Steve Nelson, Joe Locke and Stefon Harris" (Wikipedia)

”Joe Locke is a wonderful young man who's all about the music, all the time! You can hear it in every note he plays.” (Bobby Hutcherson)

Bobby Hutcherson´s latest recording "Wise One" was released in 2009 on Kind of Blue Records.

Joakim Milder & the Jazzbaltica-Ensemble 2009: Tribute to Esbjörn Svensson

Photo © by: Jörg Grosse-Geldermann / ACT

Joakim Milder, Johannes Enders, Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard - Saxophones
Axel Schlosser - Trumpet, Flügelhorn; Karin Hammar - Trombone
Michael Wollny - Piano; Christopher Dell - Vibraphone
Martin Wind - Bass; Andy Haberl - Drums
Special Guest: Nils Landgren - Trombone

Recorded live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau during Jazzbaltica, July 3, 2009

1. Face Value (Milder)
2. Take Away (Milder)
3. Mysterious Ways (Milder/Svensson)
4. Spine (Milder)
5. Unmutual (Milder)

Swedish saxophonist Joakim Milder and Esbjörn Svensson planned to record a duo album together. They did some rehearsals of the material, Milder had written especially for this duo collaboration, but they didn´t get a chance to record it because of Esbjörn´s all to soon passing in June 2008. Joakim Milder arranged these tunes for the JazzBaltica Ensemble 2009 and they played this program as a tribute to Esbjörn Svensson.

Jazz Big Band Graz "Electric Poetry & Lo-Fi Cookies" live at JazzBaltica 2009

Horst-Michael Schaffer, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
Bernhard Nolf, Axel Mayer, David Jarh, trumpets
Reinhard Summerer, Robert Bachner, Philip Yaeger, Wolfgang Tischhart, trombones
Heinrich von Kalnein, Robert Friedl, Johannes Enders, Herb Berger, Martin Harms, reeds
Uli Rennert, keys, lapsteel g, sampling; Oliver Kent, piano
Henning Sieverts, bass, cello; Gregor Hilbe, drums, electronics, programming
special guest: Barbara Buchholz, theremin

recorded live at Jazzbaltica Salzau, July 3, 2009

1. Trancefactor (Schaffer)
2. The Smile Of Smiles (Schaffer)
3. Meshell's Dreamland (Schaffer)
4. Some Days Ago In The Future (Schaffer/Buchholz)
5. Shades Of Tango (Schaffer)
6. The Magic Of Silence (Schaffer/ Simon & Garfunkel)

In its seventh year of existence the JBBG - jazz bigband graz under leadership of German saxophonist Heinrich von Kalnein and Austrian trumpeter Horst-Michael Schaffer is definitely a strong and unique voice on the European bigband map. With their newest album 'Electric Poetry & Lo-Fi Cookies' the band makes a huge leap forward. Composed by Horst-Michael Schaffer and produced by both of the bandleaders 'Electric Poetry & Lo-Fi Cookies' combines the cool electronic sounds of today’s clubscene with the power and sophistication of the 17–piece jazz bigband graz. High-virtuoso and energetic solos are framed by strong melodies and counterpoint, which lead to musical excursions to Minimal Music as well as to Argentina and Africa. As a special guest they invited Berlin-based Theremin artist Barbara Buchholz providing a few very special sounds with her ancient electronic instrument. On top of this leader Horst-Michael Schaffer himself surprises as a superb and convincing vocalist.

Johannes Enders and the JazzBaltica Ensemble 2008

Johannes Enders (Tenor & Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Leader)
Axel Schlosser (Trumpet)
Karin Hammar (Trombone)
Nils Lyhne Løkkegard (Alto Saxophone)
Lutz Häfner (Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet)
Marcin Wasilewski (Piano)
Eva Kruse (Bass)
Michal Miskiewicz (Drums)
On track 4:
Hank Jones (Piano)
Matt Wilson (Drums)

recorded live at JazzBaltica 2008, Salzau, Germany, July 4, 2008

Tracklist:
The Jones Suite (Johannes Enders)
1. Part I: Elvin
2. Part II: Hank
3. Part III: Thad

4. We Are All Together (Hank Jones)
5. Beginner´s Mind (Johannes Enders)
6. Unknown Trails (Johannes Enders)

enders room live in Mainz 2003

Johannes Enders, tenor saxophone, electronics
Ulli Wangenheim, bass clarinet, electronics
Jan Eschke, keyboards
Andy Kurz, bass
Andi Haberl, drums

SWR-Landesfunkhaus Mainz, October 23, 2003

Tracklist:
1. Stereo 133
2. Impressionist/ UKCM
3. Euphrat

More music by enders room:

Wolfgang Haffner: Zooming live in Viersen 2005

Wolfgang Haffner, drums, electronics, samples
Johannes Enders, saxophons, flute
Sebastian Studnitzky, trumpet, keyboards
Frank Kuruc, guitar
Christian Diener, bass

recorded at Jazzfestival Viersen, Germany, September 23, 2005

Tracklist:
1. Metropolis
2. The Day Before Yesterday
3. Facing West
4. Trip
5. Momo´s Dance
6. Free Filter

buy also the very innovative CD "Zooming"