Just right for the start of the new year, a first: Jürgen Heckel and René Decker settle as long companions an old bill - 'We'll do something we've always wanted to do!' What always meant - 'sometime'. That's why now! Sounds and grooves as if Route 66 was jazz. Short stop and then straight ahead. Music as a road movie, full of clichés to feel good. Craig Lees as band in the band! Anyone who has ever heard him knows what is meant. The sound of Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, George Duke, Al Jarreau, soul, jazz, pop - everything is in HECKELDECKER ....

the legendary Jam Session with Robin Draganic'

"The invariant is true beauty." Jazz Echo, 08.12.17 "This exquisite chamber jazz is at the height of its time, intelligently engineered and filled with vitality." Karl Lippegaus, Stereo, 13.01.17 "Their music is the classic of modernity." Andrea Weber, Merkur, 02.02.17 "Jahnel's music is very intelligent - but would only be worth half as much if it did not compensate for intellectual achievements with soulful melos, with lyrical and unconditional beauty." Ssirus W. Pakzad, Jazzthing, 01.04.18 "" The Invariant "begins to hold back and becomes a grooving gem of modern jazz, complex yet approachable ... his band has what it takes to become one of the grants-sized trios of contemporary jazz . " JP, Kulturnews, 01.02.17 "A preternaturally sympatico rhythm section and Jahnel's compositional leadership make The Invariant a delight from start to finish." Michael Toland, blurtonline (USA), 01.06.17 "Jahnel has a rich classical tone that is intimate and deep. Pastoral beauty." George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly (UK), 13.03.17 "Top 10 best new jazz recordings 2017: 6.BenediktJahnel Trio, The Invariant (ECM)." Top 10 new compositions from CDs released in 2017: BenediktJahnel, "The Circuit" from The Invariant (ECM) "Ken Franckling, (USA), 05.12.17.

The Smooth Jazz Band from Berlin plays a contemporary mix of jazz and elements
from soul, pop and funk.
Founded in 2013, inspired by the program of JazzRadio Berlin, the repertoire of the
Band own arrangements of Smooth Jazz classics, ie. Music from the
Crusaders, George Benson, JefLorber or David Benoît. Original compositions of the
Band members complete the program. As you can hear on the recently released CD "Women'sAdvice", we start ours
Concerts are mostly instrumental, to us then in the course of our singer a nudge
in the direction of soul and radio. Smoothbox fits in with its modern, warm yet groove-oriented music
Jazz club or at music festivals, but also enriches sophisticated private events and
Celebrate.

We experience live a harmony of the generations in the musical performance of the senior jazz lady Ruth Hohmann with the up-and-coming newcomers Lukas Natschinski, Alex Will and Jürgen Meyer. Anyone who knows evenings with the singer Ruth Hohmann knows that they are spiced with wit and their temperament is unbeatable! The young talented instrumentalists not only accompany in the classical sense, but communicate wonderfully with the amiable lady in a subtle way. It is an exciting interplay - inviting all generations.

ArcadiusDidavi Quartet
ArcadiusDidavi, composer, bassist and singer, fascinated by his way to make music from Benin fruitful for modern jazz and to transfer it into a new field of tension. He transfers the African polyrhythmics to his compositions, with the result that all four musicians simultaneously play different accentuated rhythms and the resulting cross-beats are interwoven with jazz harmonies. ArcadiusDidavi's creativity seems to know no bounds: In addition to the virtuoso and groovy and at times funky bass guitar, he plays Tanikka, Doppelkalimba and Gogba, which he himself built and developed for jazz to create refreshing tonal nuances. His charming way of engaging audiences, the poetic use of dramatic elements and African proverbs, and his warm-hearted singing create an overall rousing mood.

The quartet around the Berlin saxophonist Uli Kempendorff plays pieces from the pen of the bandleader, Jazz, which is innovative without being charged with the burden of free jazz, which can be catchy without flirting with the clichés of tradition. "(Südkurier). The four musicians combine in this band musical influences from their projects such as the Uli Gumpert Workshop Band, DRA, Christian Lillinger's GRUND and the Django Bates Trio. They transport the impetuous enthusiasm and energy that has made up Berlin's scene for many years. "The audience can feel the energy that emanates from the thrilling interplay of the quartet and that always hatches new sound games."

Lady Constance is a German American soul singer. She is part of the soul and jazz scene in Berlin. A well-known singer with her warm velvety voice attracts the listener. "Not only because the girl can sing, but she can sing like a boss"!
Together with her band, Siech is composed of international musicians and mixes soul and jazz in a wonderful way. She truly sings with soul. The band has already played in reputable Berlin clubs and big events.
She has that "wow" effect!

"The" Vandojam "known from Paris and New York now also takes place in the B-Flat.
Supported by Vandoren / Paris. "
Under the direction of Robin Draganic and Reiner Witzel

The Berlin electro-acoustic jazz Trio Gray Paris consists of piano, bass, drums and various live electronics. The songs range from minimal, cinematic sounds through experimental beat structures to energetic, driving and danceable grooves.
Her music sees itself as a world of ideas, which is formed from melodies as well as from sound experiments into a mentally tangible landscape. The band is invented in the unusual: unexpected beats, breaking beats and everyday atmospheric samples merge into an aesthetic vision of experimental sound patterns. her emotional piano melodies touch our inner self and set our body imperceptibly in motion - they give us a home in complex rhythms and make them appear playful and easy. We are borne until the last sound fades away and left with a deep contentment.
Gray Paris arose spontaneously when pianist and composer YiorgosParisis brought a piano back into his life, after a long absence from the music composition. He called on piano maker and drummer Arian Stechert to inspect and repair the newly purchased instrument. It soon became apparent that musical chemistry was right and, within a short time, ideas were implemented that appeared a year later on their self-produced debut ep "nowisthemoment". Shortly thereafter, the creative and versatile bassist Mark Beumer completed the trio, which now features atmospheric live shows in the Berlin music scene
makes a name.

There’s a lot more to jazz than meets the eye with Anna and her band, who arrange, interpret and improvise. They take songs from all sorts of different genres and cultures, turn them around and give them a surprisingly fresh, new feel. The musicians, who came from all walks of life, joined forces in the creative city of Berlin and brought the project to life. Their repertoire embody jazz in its broadest sense: entertaining and moving – a real slice of life!


SOUNDS OF BRAZIL
In 2018 Lucia Fodde starts a collaboration with Daniel Marques and Amoy Ribas, for a new project called "Sounds of Brazil", wich is an exciting journey into the MPB (Musica Popular Brazileira). Jobim, Caymmi, de Moraes, Nascimento are just some of the composers Lucia has choosen to rapresent the marvelous Brazilian repertoire.
LUCIA FODDE


Sardinian jazz singer, song-writer and vocal teacher Lucia Fodde, belongs to the wave of Italian jazz artists bringing innovative sounds to the power of traditional rhythms.
With a voice that is sultry and unforgettable, just like the island that gave her birth, Lucia has an amazing sense of musicality and precision. 
Known for her violin-like timbre, uncanny sense of timing, melody and scatting, Lucia began her musical journey in Sardinia taking piano lessons and singing in the church choir as a young girl. Her father's extensive jazz vinyl collection sparked her interest in jazz - leading her to the prestigious Conservatorio di Musica of Cagliari where she studied Jazz Vocal Performance.


With INNER VOICE, the German jazz pianist Christian
Pabst introduces his third trio album. In international cast with his longtime
Companions Giuseppe Campisi (IT) on bass and Erik Kooger (NL) on drums
presents Pabst eight original compositions full of sound aesthetics, lyrical moods and
exciting improvisations. When reported in the press about him always fall
again names like "Poet am Piano" or "lyrical musician of the extra class". On
Reason for this may be that the foundation of his music is always a story, and
Although a very personal one: Pabst, who also writes a lot of film music, understands himself as
programmatic narrator and thinks both in composing and in the
Always make music in pictures. In a way, he creates soundtracks without
Get along film.
Thus, the trio, deeply rooted in the freedom of jazz, kidnaps the listener into a kind of music
"Cinematic" world of sound, in which imaginatively composed passages are elegant with
Sharing powerful interaction and improvisational magic. diverse
artistic and cultural influences merge under the hands of Pabst, Campisi
and Kooger to musical poetry. The result remains, with all virtuosity and
Complexity, always melodic and speaks, beyond the genre boundaries, heart and mind
from listeners of different music styles. His first steps as a performer were made by Christian Pabst as a pianist at BuJazzO, where he was
Experiences with artists like JiggsWigham, Ed Partyka, Mike Herting, Dennis Russell
Davies, Niels Klein and Julia Hülsmann. For over 10 years now
Pabst lives in Amsterdam and is on all major projects with different projects
to be found on international stages.

Aki Takase's CD "Cherry-Sakura" has been awarded the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (2/2017).
Born in Osaka and studied music in Tokyo. From 1978 she gave concerts and made recordings in the US and in Japan with Lester Bowie, David Liebmann, John Zorn and others.1981 she made her first appearance in Germany at the Berliner Jazzfest in the Philharmonie. She played with David Murray, Maria Joao and Joe Henderson, as well as musicians of European New Jazz and others. Evan Parker, Paul Lovens and collaboration with the pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach with the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. from 1994 worked as a lecturer in the music department of the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin and had from 1997 to 2000 a visiting professorship at the "Hans Eisler Hochschule für Musik" in the subjects piano and ensemble playing. She was awarded the Critics' Prize of the Berliner Zeitung 1999 and the SWR Jazz Prize of the Year 2002. For her CD "Aki Takase playsFats Waller" 2004 she was awarded the annual prize of German record critics. She has received eight nominations for the Best List (1990-2009). She works in a duo with Alexander von Schlippenbach, David Murray, Rudi Mahall, Louis Sclavis, Han Bennink, Silke Eberhard and Ayumi Paul. Her projects are "La Planete" with Louis Sclavis, Dominique Pifarely and Vincent Courtois "TAMA" with Jan Roder and Oliver Steidle "LOK.03" with Alexander v. Schlippenbach and DJIIIVibe
Still in the duo "Klang und Texte" with the writer Yoko Tawada and "Die Stadt im Klavier" with the dancer YuiKawaguchi "SO LONG ERIC" Project: Alexander v. Schlippenbach with Axel Dörner, Henrik Walsdorff, Tobias Delius, Rudi Mahall, Nils Wogram, Antonio Bolghini, Wilbert de Joode, Heinrich Köbberling, Han Bennink, Karl Berger
Daniel Erdmann - tenorsax, sopranosax, baritonesax
Daniel Erdmann was born in 1973 in Wolfsburg. At the age of 10 he started to play the saxophone and studied from 1994 to 1999 at the Musikhochschule Hanns Eisler in Berlin with Gebhard Ullmann. He also took masterclasses from Michael Brecker, Steve Lacy, Ray Anderson, Lee Konitz and others. During this time, he began to participate in the Berlin jazz scene (including Rudi Mahall, Ed Schuller, Frank Moebus, John Schroeder, Aki Takase, Herb Robertson) and also recorded during a North American tour in New York his first CD for the labelTimescraper , This was followed by many recordings and concerts in Germany, and with his quartet Erdmann 3000 he recorded 4 CDs (including 2 for Enja Records) and played for the 100 concerts all over Europe.

"The utopia of the 'idea of ​​a language of music' - understandable and experienceable by all people without any social, ethical or other barriers - a deeply democratic utopia inspires the music ..." Hartmut Fladt 2012
"You also have to confront people with difficulties. It's like the first sip of Campari or coffee - bitter at first, but then you start loving it. "Gordon Matthew Sumner -" STING "2003
"Music should be enjoyed. Understanding undeniably offers man one of his most pleasurable pleasures. "Arnold Schönberg 1976

the legendary Jam Session with Robin Draganic'

The quartet plays original music by guitarist and composer Anastasios Savopoulos. The pieces are packed with energetic grooves on complex metric, as well as demanding and lyrical themes. From minimal textures to more complex linear fabrics, AUFTRIEB takes the listener on adventurous improvisations. Savvopoulos lives since 2008 in Berlin and acts as a guitarist and composer of contemporary music. He participated in the Stockhausen Courses Kürten as well as in the SWR Experimental Studio Freiburg MATRIX composition courses. His music is published under KONNEX 2012 and UNIT RECORDS 2015.
Press: John Fordham, The Guardian "thoughtful inventiveness, park-on-a-dime precision." It's the work of four accomplished and highly compatible performers, who list closely to each other. "

The Humboldt Bigband is the jazz ensemble of the Humboldt University in Berlin. She embodies a mix of different big band styles such as swing classics, Latin arrangements, jazz standards and soul & funk vocal music. The HU Bigband has several artists from the Berlin music scene and it is a great pleasure for us to welcome the double German Champion, European Champion and Vice World Champion in Tag Team Beatbox Daniel Mandolini on stage.

"When I play Latin Jazz, the violin becomes easy instrument. It's because of the flow of rhythm and the often easy going thats latin music implies ... "
says the Berlin jazz violinist, known for his passionate and rousing Style. Gregor - who has made in the last few years in Berlin's live clubs rather rare, Since he is involved in other musical projects (Celtic Rock Music) and especially extra-musical Activities as a communication coach and mediator - grouped for the occasion a trio peppered with his selected "favorite musician" with whom he already in other projects has worked, but now for the first time in this formation. "Hope to get you on the edge of your seat ..."

Wanja Slavin, Oliver Steidle and Ludwig Hornung form the "engine Hornung" with the unique combination of saxophone, Fender Rhodes and drums, whose endeavor is always to achieve a high level of energy, variety and density, which is supported by the intimate occupation , or is forced. Exuberant, sweeping passages have as much justification as lyrical and fragile moments; the communication with each other is above everything. Stylistically dedicated to jazz, elements of rock, drum and bass as well as free music are combined to form a homogenous mixture that sometimes challenges, lulls, but never bores the listener.
In Oliver Steidle, a lively drummer on the national and international scene, and Wanja Slavin, echo prize winner, innovator and integral part of the German jazz scene, initiator and Spiritus rektor Ludwig Hornung, a scholarship holder of the Berlin Senate, found the suitable companions to realize his sound requirements.
"Sharp detail, lively interaction instead of affirmative entertainment." - FAZ
"Here, not only full of energy and pleasure is left free improvised, but communication in all facets operated. (...) Grandios!" - Jazz thing
"A surprising, suspenseful music between retro and modern, with highlights always being the dialogues between Ludwig Hornung and his congenial partners." - Jazz Podium

Marc Doffey Jazz Orchestra
The saxophonist Marc Doffey has earned a first-class reputation not only throughout Germany but also internationally due to his versatile and creative creativity. In addition to countless successful projects and collaborations, not least the debut album of his MarcDoffey QuintettsTakingDirection caused a stir. Following on from the successes, the March 2009 edition of the Senate Chancellery for Culture and Europe will be celebrated by theMarc Doffey Jazz OrchestraPremiere. In designing the program, the young musician draws not only from his own many years of experience as a big band player, but also very personal impressions, passions and experiences serve as the basis for the incomparable individual compositions. Filigree sound contours, which nevertheless respect the strong character of a classical jazz orchestra at the same time, create a lasting, inspiring effect: in this heart project, Marc Doffey unmistakably shows a part of himself and his musical personality. The carefully selected band line-up convinces with a perfect interplay of exploding energy and fine, demanding implementation. Incidentally, Doffey was also able to incorporate some arrangements of his guests' favorite pieces - including MartinaBarta (vocals), Ralf Hesse (trumpet) and Peter Weniger (saxophone) - into the program. It is an exciting evening with varied, expressive music and sophisticated improvisations to expect!

the legendary Jam Session with Robin Draganic'

With her project Sakina & Friends, which was founded in Vienna two years ago, the Kurdish singer Sakina joins B-Flat. Sakina & Friends come from Iran, Turkey, Catalonia, Kurdistan and Austria and met each other in Vienna. They have brought a live album, which bears the multilingual title Longing / Bendewarî / Intizar and want to introduce it to the Berlin audience. For Sakina & Friends, music is a space in which people can come together, who are driven away a little bit more each day using ethnic and cultural dividing lines. Five different musicians with five different languages ​​meet in a music that speaks as a common language of a peaceful world that is worth living for all people. We too can attend this meeting.
SAKINA & FRIENDS
The Kurdish singer Sakîna Teyna (Trio Mara, Anadolou Quartet, etc.) embodies the musical traditions of Anatolia as different flowers of a common tree. Full of tenderness and eruptive power, she sings Turkish, Armenian, Persian and her own songs as well as songs of all Kurdish languages, discreetly offset by Western harmonies and hints of jazz and Latin. In doing so, she invades layers of the soul that know neither the Occident nor the Orient - in new territory, therefore. In her adopted home of Vienna, she has a select band around him, each a master and afficionado of his craft: the Persian jazz wizard Mahan Mirarab on guitars and Setar, the Turkish violinist Efe Turumtay, the Catalan clarinetist Oscar Antoli and the always orientaffinen percussionist Jörg Mikula.
As a political Kurdish activist of the first hour, Sakîna Teyna, with her timeless chansons and traditionals, embodies a Kurdish awareness of the times, feminine, urbane and antinationalist, defying all obstacles to save a common Anatolian past for a more human future, a future that we could all share.

Ben Kraef and Larry Porter have been playing together for many years. The two are known for their thrilling and creative style and imaginative compositions. In 2015, the first cooperation with the Italian drummer Paolo Orlandi, who lives in Geneva, came. The harmonious connection was immediately felt and since then the quartet has existed. Paolo brings not only his incredible power, but also his strong sensitivity into the action. For 35 years Thomas Stabenow and Larry Porter have been playing together in various projects. Thomas plays on Larry's first trio CD on Enja Records, March Blues. He is known not only for his solid and highly musical playing, but also as a bass professor, who has trained many bass players of the younger generation at the Mannheim University. Together, the four form a remarkable and first-class ensemble. This evening, the quartet will present new compositions by Ben and Larry. We are very excited about the results!

Three musician luminaries from Benin and Burkina Faso meet in the melting pot Berlin. They combine their West African roots with afrobeat, salsa, funk, blues and jazz. The resulting fiery dance music with a pinch of Desert Blues baptizes her with a wink "Afrikadelle". Sung in Yorouba, Fon, Dioula, French and German, with penetrating power voice of Moussa Coulibaly - which does not require autotunes - iridescent with the gentle voices of ArcadiusDidavi and TundeAlibaba. The rhythmically pulsating melody instruments Balafon, Ngoni and Tanikka with calabashes as acoustic sound bodies are arranged with bass guitar, percussion and drums to funky ballads. The trio will be accompanied by jazz guitarist Mauro Pandelfino from Italy and trumpeter Donath Kubrinski from Poland. A virtuoso ensemble full of élan, wit and ingenious musicality!

A Fender Telecaster, bass and drums; That's all it takes to make the brand new songs of Marcus Klossek sound great!
Marcus Klossek is an established member of the Berlin jazz scene, who knows how to get to the point with his Electric Trio. His current album "TakenFrom The Skies" (unit records), this time reinforced by the saxophonist Finn Wiesner, is inviting and open, energetic and cool pointed. A set Heist-Movie that describes the planning, preparation and execution of the musical coup.
Glicka, Concerto 05/18: "Tele-Jazz at its best!"
PirminBossart, Jazz 'n' More 05/18: "Dry Telecaster guitar sound, elegant-relaxed compositions, a band with ease ... The trio sets in motion stories that bloom with gentle swinging wings, lyrically and can also go off impetuously ( "Loaded"). Melodious jazz without academic caprices, for the heart and the rocking groove feeling. "
Ralf Dombrowski, Jazzthing 111: "... vitality statement. Conclusion: This music belongs on the stage ... "

Wolfgang Puschnig presents Postharmonic Orchestra
There are things that you can calculate and there are moments you have to feel: Jan-Andrea Bard (Janto) - composer of the postharmonic orchestra and head of the ensemble - can do both. At the same time. No wonder that the legendary Austrian jazz musician Wolfgang Puschnig immediately gave the Swiss piano player and mathematician Janto a pledge for the planned European Tour 2019 of the Postharmonic Orchestra.
It's about the flow
Wolfgang Puschnig, official cultural ambassador of Austria and jazz saxophonist, has recorded the big international stages, lived in the most special places and experienced something important: Whether in music or in life "It's always about the flow."
Puschnig's individuality is reflected not only in a wide variety of jazz ensembles on a world-class level: his mission is to share experiences and inspirations - whether live on stage or as a professor of saxophone at the Vienna University of Music To develop potential, especially among young jazz talents. The goal is to capture the magic of the moment and to touch the listeners, via the eardrum directly into the heart.
An international project
That's why the paths of Janto and Puschnig should intersect: Janto's 8-piece ensemble Postharmonic Orchestra - one of Europe's top-class jazz young talents - 7 exceptional musicians from Switzerland, Germany, Austria and France. Supplemented by the Austrian Wolfgang Puschnig now creates the tri-border region in the musical dress of the octahedron. Janto studied mathematics in Zurich as well as jazz in Basel.
Excellent cast
Immerse yourself in the timbres and playing worlds of the Postharmonic Orchestra and be enchanted by the flow of the inner and outer worlds.
A new and refreshing jazz journey for laymen and professionals in excellent line-up: Wolfgang Puschnig (alto saxophone), Janto (piano), Jonas Winterhalter (trumpet / flugelhorn), Sebastian von Keler (tenor saxophone), Lou Lecadey (trombone) , Lucas Wirz (bass trombone), Raphael Preuschl (electric bass), Florian Krause (drums).
The European Tour 2019 will start in late January in Basel / Switzerland via Germany, Poland and Austria. You can find out all about tour dates, locations and actions at: post-harmonic-orchestra.com

As a singer, Dahlgren has rarely performed, only eight years ago he accepted to be able to actually work with his voice. And that was certainly not due to the old knowledge that it is always the singers who get the girls? "No, certainly not," laughs Dahlgren. "Maybe there's something in it, but for me that was no reason to sing. I do not want to be 'fancy', after all the great singers I worked with, I had no faith in even getting anywhere near them. I just wanted to be myself. "And when he himself creates atmospheres that are so rarely found, that's the biggest fascination of the album. "Atmosphere is hugely important, it's probably the most important thing," Dahlgren says. "It creates the magic of music, if it did not exist, it would all be in vain. It can not be summed up in any formula, it has to do with honesty. When I step onto a stage, she is either there or never will be there. But when she's there, the evening will be special. "Especially the singer has to be present," he can not hide behind anything. If he is not ready to offer something extraordinary, such an evening makes no sense. "
His evenings make sense. And it will not be long before Dahlgren will have to face tough comparisons with Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits. Did he actually have these two in mind when producing his album? "Extremely good and extremely difficult question," he says. "You can not just ignore these two musicians, but just do not emulate them. Although I can not deny their influence, I still do not strive to do the same. I would like to see my songs as my own children. "
And sometimes even have a jolt of joke. When Dahlgren caricatures his adoptive home as "thecitythatneverworks" in his Frank Sinatra "New York, New York" version "Berlin, Berlin", it becomes one of the most beautiful homages to the Spree metropolis. "When I came to Berlin," says Dahlgren, "I had the impression of being on vacation. It never was like that in NYC. Berlin is so relaxed, I can hardly believe it today. "But that has its good as well as bad points. "One of the good things is that you do not have to be a slave to your own survival all the time.

the legendary Jam Session with Robin Draganic'

Drawing inspiration from everyday life is almost a cliché in jazz. Fee Stracke has now proceeded radically and has explored the sound of furniture of classical modernity. Concepts of designers, from Max Bill, Arne Jacobsen to Wera Meyer-Waldeck, and dimensions, materials, forms and uses of iconic and lesser-known objects become rhythms, melodies and structures of compositions and frames for improvisation. The Instrumental Chairs cycle sounds industrial and lyrical, modern and popular, cafes and offices, living rooms and waiting rooms, Europe and the Americas. On returning from the jazz workshop in Banff (Canada), Fee Stracke had to wait a few years for a late connecting flight. Exhausted at the gate, she began to recognize rhythms and melodies in the rows of chairs. Later she remembered this idea and spun it on, reading about Erik Satie's Musiqued'ameublement. She visited museums and archives to study objects and to understand the concepts of the designers. Fee Stracke's new pieces are inspired by the dimensions, materials and shapes of the waiting room trusses from the airport, the Ulmer stool, the tubular steel cantilever chair and the bentwood coffee house chair. They sound like European jazz, folk songs and minimal music and combine composed elements with free improvisation.