Bild © hr/Ben Knabe

Louis »Satchmo« Armstrong is one of the unmistakable figures in the American jazz history. His strikingly rough voice and his trumpet sound made him world famous. It was he who taught swinging and improvisation to musicians in the Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in New York in the 1920s. The first part of this program is dedicated to Louis Armstrong by the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. The other part is about the young Duke Ellington, who at almost the same time created his very own cosmos of raw jungle sound and orchestral sophistication, becoming another forerunner in big band jazz. The Frankfurt Radio Big Band breathes new life into the music of these two pioneers, with Axel Schlosser as the congenial soloist in the role of Louis Armstrong.

Axel Schlosser, trumpet
David Grottschreiber, conductor

Thurday, October 03rd 2019

20.00 h

Hanau

Comoedienhaus

German version

Bild © Wim van Eesbeek

American bassist Charles Mingus once called Philip Catherine »young Django« lovingly and full of respect for his skills. Sure, it was not just this adulation by a true jazz legend that made Belgian Catherine a great European jazz guitarist, but it shows the potential that Catherine had from the very begining.The conductor and arranger of the evening, Bert Joris, is also from Belgium and a welcome guest of the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, most recently with a homage to Chet Baker.The link between the two protagonists is the album »Meeting Colours«, which was created for big band and Philip Catherine as a soloist. Sure, this project calls for being played once with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band.

Philip Catherine, guitar
Bert Joris, conductor

Thurday, October 10th 2019

20.00 h

Gießen

Stadttheater

Friday, October 11th 2019

20.00 h

Frankfurt

hr-Sendesaal

German version and ticket link

Solveig Slettahjell, Gesang Bild © Jørn Stenersen

The hr2-kulturlunch invites you on nine Sunday mornings to different musical-literary matinees in the hr-Sendesaal. In October, trombonist Christian Jaksjø and singer Solveig Slettahjell will celebrate their homeland Norway, which is also the guest country of the Frankfurt Book Fair this year.

Solveig Slettahjell, voice
Christan Jaksjø Ensemble
Siemen Rühaak, recitation

Sunday, October 13th 2019

11.00 h

Frankfurt

hr-Sendesaal

German version and ticket link

Michael Formanek Bild © Eliseo Cardona

The opening concert of the 50th Deutsches Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2019 congratulates the Munich-based record company ECM on their 50th birthday. Managed by Manfred Eicher until today, the still independent label has probably moved the music business more than many majors in the history of jazz music. The Frankfurt Radio Big Band invited the bassist and composer Michael Formanek for this tribute concert. ECM has set new aesthetic standards, established European jazz worldwide and pushed the careers of many pillar saints of jazz at the crucial moment. In his tireless search for »a truth of expression,« Manfred Eicher repeatedly lands with musicians who listen inwards before expressing themselves. Among them is the American bassist Michael Formanek. He brings to the stage his vision of great orchestral jazz in the 21st century, along with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, with Jim McNeely as conductor and illustrious guests. Other guests of the evening are the Jakob Bro Quartet feat. Palle Mikkelborg and Elina Duni solo.

Mary Halvorson, guitar
Alexander Hawkins, piano
Patricia Brennan, vibraphone
Michael Formanek, bass
Jim McNeely, conductor

Wednesday, October 23rd 2019

20.00 h

Frankfurt

Alte Oper

German version and ticket link

Joachim Kühn Bild © hr / Sascha Rheker

Joachim Kühn has one hundred and seventy handwritten compositions of Ornette Coleman's from the years 1995 to 2000, when he worked with him in a duo. A true treasure, which Kühn shares with the world on his current solo album »Melodic Ornette«. For the 50th German Jazz Festival Frankfurt Joachim Kühn will orchestrate the compositions from Ornette Coleman together with Jim McNeely for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and their exquisite guests. In addition to Joachim Kühn on the piano, Michel Portal is another European jazz legend that brings the Colemanian melodies to life appropriately and independently.

Joachim Kühn, piano
Michel Portal, bass clarinet
Francois Moutin, bass
Joey Baron, drums
Jim McNeely, conductor

Saturday, October 26th 2019

20.00 h

Frankfurt

hr-Sendesaal

Saturday, November 2nd 2019

20.00 h

Berlin

Haus der Festspiele

German version and ticket link