JAZZ & BLUES

Free jazz has not produced many notable guitarists. Experimental musicians drawn to the guitar have had few jazz role models; consequently, they've typically looked to rock-based players for inspiration. James "Blood" Ulmer is one of the few exceptions -- an outside guitarist who has forged a style based largely on the traditions of African-American vernacular music. 

"Gwotet", the third album instalment of the Creole Project, represents the saxophonist’s  quintessential exploration of his roots. The Jes Grew spirit is ever present: the ghost  of the runaway slave, the vehement force of the ka drums; the glowing saxophone weaving  the Havana tones of the brass section into the virtuoso guitar work.  David Murray’s tenor saxophone ignites the atmosphere with free blasts while the  Guadeloupean boulagyel, the traditional, tropical version of the beat box,  throws out a line to hip hop.

Was Sir Yehudi Menuhin’s very first scholarship and it was as a small boy at the Menuhin school that Nigel Kennedy first played with, and became a close friend of, Stephane Grappelli. Even whilst still a teenager at New York’s Juilliard School Kennedy was also playing jazz at Carnegie Hall with Stephane. Since then Nigel Kennedy has won virtually every major international classical award, his recordings topping sales charts ahead of every international pop star, he is in the Guinness Book of Records for the most sales of a concerto, he has won the Golden Rose of Montreux for his TV performance – even his autobiography become one of the Top 5 Sunday Times Best Sellers.

The goddaughter of Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington, has become one of the most popular singers of our time With her latest album, »For Ella«, Patti Austin writes a musical love letter to the great Ella Fitzgerald and provides an outstanding Tribute to the first lady of Jazz. This can only be done by a special kind of artist, one who has the instinct, the timing and the talent. The record was nominated for »Best Vocal Jazzalbum« in 2003.

The great lady of Soul is already an institutionl. Dionne Warwick won 6 Grammies and all major music awards. She also sold more than 12 million records and is the first black female singer with a dozen singles in the top 100 in USA .

For almost 30 years, the quartet of Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul and Cheryl Bentyne has combined its voices into an incomparable four–part harmony that has set new standards for vocal music. Spanning over 22 albums, they have earned a total of 8 Grammy awards and worldwide sales in the millions. 2003 will mark The Manhattan Transfer‘s 30th Anniversary. They are currently in pre–production for their next CD release, due in 2004.

Multi award winners Randy Brecker and Bill Evans joined forces in 2003 to form a new group they billed as THE SOULBOP BAND. Co-led by trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Bill Evans, this superband can easily shift gears from swinging uptempo burners to slamming funk, from soulful R&B to soothing ballads and scintillating rock-tinged jams.
Featuring an all-star cast of stellar sidemen in bassist Victor Bailey (Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Madonna, Zawinul Syndicate), pianist Dave Kikoski (Roy Haynes, Mingus Big Band, Randy Brecker Quintet), and the ubiquitous session man and in-demand guitarist Hiram Bullock (David Sanborn, Brecker Brothers, Gil Evans Big Band, Jaco Pastorius, Carla Bley, Marcus Miller), the exhilarating Soul Bop Band »Live« captures the group in full stride during a whirlwind summer tour in 2005

Two–times Grammy winner Diane Schuur (in 1987 she won although competing with Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen Mc Rae and Sarah Vaughan!!) is equipped with one of the best jazz voices ever heard. She fascinates both, jazz– and pop–fans with her overwhelming voice.

The voice of Janis Siegel–a nine–time Grammy winner with the Manhattan Transfer–has been an undeniable force in the groups musical catalogue. Alongside her career as a member of this musical institution, Janis has also sustained a high acclaimed international solo career with a half dozen excellent solo albums and numerous collaborative projects

The world famous pianist and founder of the unique »Play bach« – Sound sold more than 6 millions of records with his first trio. Today with André Arpino d. and Vincent Charbonnier b. is he on the road in the whole world and the succes continues.

The exceptional trumpeter, with his unbelievably »High–Notes,« is known as a follower of Dizzy Gillespie. His tribute to Dizzy is celebrated world–wide .

Breathtaking swing trio of the American Jazzstar. Hailed by critics as one of the most accomplished interpreters of the Great American Songbook, John Pizzarelli is known for his brilliant guitar work and smooth vocals.

Pee Wee is the master of the groovy and funky Jazz– Saxophon. He was a member of James Brown‘ s band and created the world famous Sound of the JB Horns. As well he wrote a lot of arrangements and compositions for this band. With his own band »Assembly« he guarentees for an energetic and groovy concert.

Ray Gelato has been described as a cross between Louis Prima, Dean Martin, and Sam Butera, with a touch of Robert De Niro. His powerful, energetic combination of hot vocals and roaring tenor sax makes everyone goes wild! The Ray Gelato Giants have been described as »an absolutely world class unit

This is the best Big Band in the British Jazz Awards (‘92, ‘94, ‘97 and ‘99) and no doubt UK`s, or even Europe‘s, leading Big Band. It has a long history in jazz and has roots dating back to the »post war« era. The BBC Big Band brilliantly continues the tradition of Big Band music and reaches worldwide audiences via the BBC World Service, satellite radio and Internet on its regular Radio 2 show for Monday night listeners.

This seven–time Grammy Award–winning group broke new ground in the 80‘s, paving the way for the popular revival of R&B vocal groups. Their spiritual foundation, jazz harmonies, original songs and vocal pyrotechnics represent some of the best a cappella ever recorded. The latest CD, Beautiful world, produced by Marcus Miller was released in 2002 and reprises some of the greatest music of the 20th century.

The Three Ladies of Blues are a total knock out! They sing the same way they look: powerful, swinging and sexy! Power and range, vocal and emotional virtuosity, intense–, simply grand! Three different, but outstanding voices, Eye– and earcatching, a real trip!

This strong voiced ladies, Cynthia Utterbach, Joan Faulkner and Vanda Guzman, promise an outstanding Gospel program. They re–tell the history of black church music from the beginnings to the contemporary gospel.

The winner of 17 Grammy Awards, 2 Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and 9 Downbeat Readers and Critics Poll Awards is that rarest of all jazz ensembles today: a full–time touring jazz orchestra. Night after night, they let audiences throughout the world experience that miraculous »Basie Swing« and keep the music of their unforgettable leader alive with fresh and expiring new elements.In the year of 2004 the band celebrates worldwide the 100th birthday of Count Basie.

Freddy Cole has an impeccable sense of swing...he is, overall, the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive. - The New York Times

Freddy Cole, singer, pianist and younger brother of Legend Nat King Cole and uncle of Natalie is one of the last great male jazz singers of his generation and a true legend.

Rhoda Scott is known as the »barefoot lady of the Hammond organ« and considered the worlds greatest jazz organist. Performing on a »prehistoric« organ (the Hammond B3), she »cooks« with her hands and feet also using her beautiful voice, raised in the best church and soulful tradition in the USA.

Scott Hamilton is one of the leading saxophonist in today‘s jazzworld. His playing is a breathy swing–to–pop tenor recalling the musical tradition of Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Illinois Jacquet. The worldwide high acclaimed tenorist has recorded over 30 albums and is touring Europe successfully with his Trio.

They‘re singin‘ and they‘re swingin‘! New York Voices is the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for its excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. The four singers live up to their reputation as the most exciting vocal ensemble in current jazz. The album »Brazlian Dreams« with Paquito D‘Rivera won the Latin Grammy in 2003.

For more than 30 years, the —David Harrington and John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola) and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)—has pursued a singular artistic vision, combining a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to expanding the range and context of the string quartet. In the process, Kronos has become one of the most celebrated and influential ensembles of our time, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, releasing more than 40 recordings of extraordinary breadth and creativity, collaborating with many of the world's most eclectic composers and performers, and commissioning hundreds of works and arrangements for string quartet. Kronos' work has also garnered numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance (2004) and "Musicians of the Year" (2003) from Musical America.