Jazz and world music in the Hofgarten
Jazz and world music for everyone!
Four open-air concerts at the music pavilion between the theatre and Schloss Jägerhof. The traditional series has been running since 1978 and in the 48th year of the format, which is known far beyond the city limits, the name still says it all: the selection of bands once again thrives on the exciting variety between contemporary jazz and musical excursions into exciting musical cultures.
Supported by the Cultural Office of the City of Düsseldorf, supported by the District Council District 01 of the City of Düsseldorf, supported by the One World Advisory Board of the City of Düsseldorf
Karolina Strassmayer & Drori Mondlak – Klaro!
"Speak your Truth"
contemporary jazz
KLARO! combines the lyricism of European classical music and folklore with the rhythmic power of American jazz and the harmonic sophistication of contemporary music. The musical spectrum ranges from powerful, lively grooves to poetic ballads and explosive swing. No matter what genre the musicians of KLARO! play, their music is always full of passion, curiosity and joie de vivre.
Readers of the American jazz magazine Downbeat have voted the exceptional musician Karolina Strassmayer one of the world's top five alto saxophonists several times. She has earned an excellent reputation on the New York jazz scene and has been the first woman to play in the Grammy-winning WDR Big Band Cologne since 2004. Doug Ramsey writes, "one of the most interesting alto saxophonists of her generation, Strassmayer has absorbed, internalised and personalised what John Coltrane gave to jazz and often evokes him purely on the power of her tone and inflection."
Drori Mondlak is one of the outstanding jazz drummers and bandleaders. His eclectic work over more than twenty years in New York has brought Mondlak together with jazz greats such as Frank Foster, Joe Williams, Chris Potter and Ernestine Anderson. Mondlak has also arrived on the European jazz scene and has played with Lee Konitz, Sonny Fortune, Barbara Dennerlein, David Friedman, Lynne Arriale and Nicolas Simion. "A drummer of extreme subtlety and melodic refinement that reminds me of Roy Haynes in his best moments." - Arnaldo Desouterio . "The precision, speed and reserved strength of Mondlak's drumming are reminiscent of Joe Morello in his early years with Dave Brubeck". Doug Ramsey
The young American pianist Billy Test is celebrated not only as the newest member of the WDR Big Band, but also as an imaginative composer, soloist and accompanist. His impressive CV includes numerous awards and jazz greats such as Dave Liebman, the Village Vanguard Orchestra and many more.
The American bassist Cliff Schmitt has recently been travelling between New York and Germany. He tours with Curtis Stigers, Rick Margitza and many others. His own project with guitarist/harmonica player Noé Socha is called Likho Duo.
Together, the four irrepressible sound painters present Strassmayer's new compositions and improvisations, always characterised by lyrical beauty, almost telepathic communication and rhythmic drive."This international quartet's blend of consistent quality and adventurousness give it staying power. It is one of the most interesting small groups at work today." -Doug Ramsey - Rifftides, Arts Journal
Cacha Mundinho
"catch a small world"
modern fado
Cacha Mundinho breathes new life into practically forgotten musical routes: from songs that exude Iberian ambience and Portuguese troubadour tradition, Cacha Mundinho travels across North Africa and the Middle East to India and Brazil.
"Cacha" comes from the Cape Verdean Creole and is a corruption of "catch",
"Mundinho" comes from "mundo" and means "small world".
The old, historical stories she tells and the paths she follows, as well as the musical encounters she has along the way, are brought to life through the music of singer-songwriter Joana Almeida. She arrived in Amsterdam from Porto in March 2020 and founded Cacha Mundinho with percussionist Sjahin During, Maripepa Contreras on oboe/duduk and Pedro Ivo Ferreira on double bass to weave the sounds of the Lusophone world into a new horizon.
Lusophony is the set of regions and cultures that share the Portuguese language, in this particular case: Portugal, the Middle East, Africa, Brazil and India.
Almeida has dedicated her life to a unique path: she is one of the first female classical fado guitarists in Portugal. She composes original pieces in Portuguese, inspired by fado and traditional Portuguese troubadour songs, but with her own unique and contemporary interpretation of the tradition. Elements from Portugal, the Middle East, Africa, Brazil and Indian music are combined with the improvisational agility of first-class jazz. The Cacha Mundinho Quartet has its own sound to honour the lusophone world.
