Jazz and world music in the Hofgarten
Jazz and world music for everyone!
Four open-air concerts at the bandstand between the Schauspielhaus and Jägerhof Castle. This long-standing series has been running since 1978, and even in its 49th year, the name of this event – known far beyond the city limits – says it all: once again, the line-up thrives on the exciting mix of contemporary jazz and musical forays into fascinating musical cultures.
Supported by the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Düsseldorf, and funded by the District Council of District 01 of the City of Düsseldorf
HrayBery
Traditional music from the Ukrainian-Polish border region
Hraybery breathes new life into the forgotten music of a bygone era: dance music from around 200 years ago. These are melodies that once resounded in the borderlands between Poland and Ukraine – in Galicia, at the cultural crossroads of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This music flourished in the taverns of villages, towns and shtetls, where Ruthenians and Ukrainians, Poles, Jews, travelling Roma and traders from distant lands came together. From this colourful mix of languages, dialects and cultures, something unique emerged: music played by musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds – often together in mixed ensembles. This multicultural interplay shaped the distinctive character of the music from regions such as Sanok, Przemyśl, Tomaszów, Sambor and Drohobych.
Hraybery’s repertoire consists mainly of dance pieces: Cossacks, kolomyikas, mazurkas, polkas and tsiurylos. The instruments used by the ensemble have been common in these areas since the late 16th century. The traditional melodies have been carefully collected by Polish and Ukrainian researchers and music lovers – some originate from the extensive monographs of the folklorist Oskar Kolberg.
The band was founded in the spring/summer of 2023 and has since been performing regularly at festivals of various sizes – both in Poland and abroad. In this short space of time, Hraybery has won an award from Polish Radio, released their first album and is already working on a second. The ensemble has quickly built up a loyal following, won over critics and established itself as a force to be reckoned with on the traditional music scene.
with the support of the Polish Institute in Düsseldorf
Tobias Hoffmann Trio
In recent years, Tobias Hoffmann has made a name for himself with original and highly distinctive interpretations of jazz, blues and pop classics. More recently, the bandleader’s own compositions have also found their way into the band’s repertoire, further refining the ensemble’s unique musical language.
Tobias Hoffmann’s guitar playing sounds as though one were looking through a kaleidoscope at the history of the electric guitar, seeing its connections, developments and overlaps. Frank Schönhofer and Jan Philipp are a compelling rhythm section, delivering a heavy groove whilst remaining flexible and creative.
The trio has played numerous club and festival gigs, including at the WDR Jazzfest, the Leipzig Jazz Days, Jazzfest Bonn, the INNtöne Festival, the Klaeng Festival in Cologne, the Long Night of Music in Cologne, the Jazz+ Festival in Munich, the Stuttgart Jazz Days, the Kim Festival in Berlin, the Rio Reiser tribute at the Admiralspalast in Berlin, and Porgy & Bess in Vienna. They have also made television and radio recordings for WDR, DLF, BR, RBB and Radio Bremen.
