Results for "Berlin"

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Richard Maegraith

Born: August, 1973

by Matt McMahon

Richard Maegraith, like the musicians he has assembled for this recording, is one of the most respected musicians in the city in which he spends most of his time in Sydney. It is always tempting to list the great achievements of a musicians career and the great players with whom he has worked over years of performances and recordings. But improvising is always about being in the moment, making real time decisions and looking ahead - which is something all of the musicians on this recording manifest again and again throughout these series of pieces.

Richard and I played together a lot when we first met as students at the Sydney Conservatorium in 1993

Svetlana Marinchenko

Svetlana Marinchenko is originally from Russia, Moscow. She  started to play music when she was 17, after hearing Coltrain's Love Supreme. After 3 years of experience in music, she managed to get enrolled in the Musorgsky Colledge of Music. Svetlana studied with the famous Russian jazz pianist Andrey Kondakov. During the first year of study, Svetlana discovered herself as a composer  and organized her own combo, Svetamuzika. Svetamuzika has participated in many international jazz festivals, such as "Close Encounters" Helsinki, Rajation Jazz Festival Helsinki and "Petrojazz" Sankt-Peterburg. They also played concerts in renowned jazz clubs in Russia and Finland, such as Igor Butman Club, Kozlov Club, JFC, Jazz Philharmonic. In 2015 Svetamuzika released their first album Present Simple on the Lable Art-Beat. The recording was attended by well-known and modern musicians from Russia and Germany, such as Anton Davidyants, Martin Miller, Peter Ivshin. After successful release in Moscow and Sankt-Peterburg, Svetamuzika went on a big tour of Russia.

Lucia Fodde

Born: December 4

Lucia Fodde was born in Sardinia, and from a young age, she had an unrestrained passion for music, taking piano lessons and participating in the church choir, showcasing her extraordinary ability to handle time and melody. She was significantly influenced by her jazz-loving father's vinyl record collection.
After a stint as a vocalist in the pop scene, Lucia wholeheartedly embraced jazz. As a leader, she embarked on projects in jazz trios and quartets, collaborating with various Italian and international artists. Lucia pursued a Jazz course at the prestigious Conservatorio di Musica in Cagliari, earning a diploma in "Vocal Jazz."

Over the years, Lucia has participated in masterclasses with luminaries such as Sheila Jordan and Rachel Gould, to name a few.

After a careful exploration of her musical journey, Lucia Fodde decided to move to Berlin in 2013, driven by a personal and artistic need for new stimuli. This relocation aimed to optimize her skills as a singer-songwriter and vocalist. In Berlin, she promptly became part of the local jazz scene, performing not only in the best jazz clubs in Berlin but also throughout Germany and internationally.

So far, Lucia has graced numerous prominent venues and festivals globally, including the SummerJazz Festival 2023 in Pinneberg, where she emerged victorious with her ensemble comprising Yuriy Seredin on piano, Giacomo Tagliavia on bass, and Jesus Vega on drums.

In 2012, Lucia Fodde released her debut album, "Just One Of Those Things," paying tribute to Cole Porter with the Lov'n Jazz Quartet of Cagliari (Paolo Carrus on piano, Massimo Tore on bass, Roberto Migoni on drums). The album developed a style that brought traditional arrangements into a modern jazz context, curated by Maestro Carrus.

After her move to Berlin, in 2018, Lucia presented the album "Freedom" at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Recorded at Greve Studio in Berlin, the album featured Davide Incorvaia (piano/synth), Giuseppe Bottiglieri (bass), Jesus Vega (drums), and Regis Molina (sax). "Freedom" is an exciting journey through Lucia's original compositions and some jazz standards, seamlessly weaving together swing, smooth jazz, ballads, and electronic elements with the virtuosity that characterizes Fodde's style.

In 2020, she released two new singles: "Colors," her first collaboration with Loomis Connell Green (guitar, arrangements) and Carmelo Leotta (bass), and "Inútil Paisagem," featuring Davide Incorvaia (piano synth). The latter revisited Jobim's beautiful piece, paying homage to Brazilian popular tradition in an electronic interpretation.

In June 2022, Lucia released the single "Dentro Questo Vento," a preview of the album "Traces of You," released in July 2022. The album was recorded at UFO Sound Studios in Berlin, featuring Davide Incorvaia (piano), Carmelo Leotta (bass, who also curated most of the arrangements), and Jesus Vega (drums).

Scheduled for release in 2024 is the new album "Harlem Beats," featuring an electric ensemble with Davide Incorvaia on piano/synth, Francesco Beccaro on bass, and Australians Aidan Lowe on drums and Greg Ambroisine on trumpet, completing the quintet. 'Harlem Beats' is proudly published by Timezone Records.

Lucia has been honored by the international magazine "All About Jazz" with the following accolades: On September 11, the song "Atras da porta" was chosen as "Song Of The Day"; on October 10, the song "Dentro questo vento" was selected as "Song Of The Day"; additionally, "Dentro questo vento" is among the top ten songs of October 2022, while "Atras da porta" is among the top 10 most listened to songs of 2022.

Sofia Borges

Sofia Borges is a percussionist, composer and improviser who has gained prominence through a wide range of international projects. As a solo performer, and in collaboration with the most diverse international artists in the fields of contemporary music, improvised music, free jazz and world music, she has performed in a variety of international festivals in Europe, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Macau and Taiwan. For her compositions and performances, she brings together traditional and custom-made instruments and electronics configurations. As an improviser, Borges is active in the Berlin scene and has toured throughout Europe for solo performances and collaborations with the most prominent musicians in the field, receiving critical praise for her performances

Sebastian Studnitzky

Live From Berlin: Kammerer OrKöster, A Night Of Turkish Free Improvisation & Objects To Be Destroyed

by Martin Longley
April 20, 2022

Kammerer OrKöster b-flat Acoustic Music & Jazzclub November 2, 2021 In the central Mitte area of Berlin lies b-flat, one of the city's chief jazz clubs, conveniently a basement den, although with more space than many such joints. Tables and side-seats are comfortably scattered without crowding-out, and the bar area ...

Ariel Bart

Born: 1998

Ariel Bart is a harmonica player and composer born in Israel. Currently based in Berlin.

Her debut album, “In Between”, was released in May 2021 on “Ropeadope Records”. In the album, Ariel presents a unique approach to the harmonica and her composed melodies which are inspired by the European jazz tradition and the middle-eastern world.

Ariel began playing the chromatic harmonica at the age of 7 and since then it's been her primary instrument. Over the years she recorded and performed with top musicians around New York and Israel including William Parker, Andrew Cyrille, Steve Swell, Achinoam Noa Nini, MikiGavrielov, Davis D’aor, and as a solo performer with The Jerusalem Orchestra East and West.

Ariel graduated from the New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC in May 2020

2021: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 31, 2021

The jazz world continued grappling and adjusting in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Jazz Day again went virtual for the most part. Singer Tony Bennett put the final stamp on his touring--and likely recording--career after his Alzheimer's disclosure. Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield was headed to federal prison. The National Endowment for the Arts welcomed four ...

Ernst Bier

Born: January 12, 1951

Ernst Bier studied drums with Billy Brooks, Charlie Persip, Vernell Fournier, and Elvin Jones. He lived and worked in New York City from 1982 through 1987. After his return to Germany he lived first in Cologne, and later in Berlin, where he leads a continually running series of jazz workshops. The list of musicians with whom he has worked reads like a "Who's Who" of jazz. With his dedication, his sensitive playing style, and his constructive approach, he is a highly valued drummer who is continually in demand.

"The way I see it musicians are a lot like doctors - people come to a concert to be treated by the music."