Ambassadors of New Orleans // Bennie Wallace // Aki Takase

Ambassadors of New Orleans

In 1964 the Original Tuxedo Jass Band seemed not appropriate for the Philharmonie, the jazzband ball at the Prälat Schöneberg was a more suitable venue. Subsequently the situation eased off and the Young Tuxedo Brass Band – also from New Orleans - was allowed to enter the stage of the Philharmonie in 1980 with Grand Marshall at their forefront: “Focus on the South”.

The current ‘Ambassadors’ group around sousaphone-world-champion Matt Perrine is a kind of light overseas’ version of the New Orleans Nightcrawlers. They are the advance party of the 40th anniversary and are the icing on the musical birthday cake.

Bennie Wallace 'Coleman Hawkins Centennial Project'

The tenor saxophone fashion seems to be in decline, there are not many players left that fall in one category with Bennie Wallace. His expressive style of playing takes in Coltrane and Rollins, he also pays tribute to Lester Young, Charlie Parker and Eric Dolphy. Starting out in the seventies he has been in demand as leader and improviser at festivals all over the world, ever since the 90s he has been dedicating more and more time to cinematic scores. Wallace emphasises Coleman Hawkins’ exceptional position in his musical career, but only in the last few years this influence has been coming into full swing. Hawkins takes credit for liberating the tenor saxophone and dominating the field over several decades. On this year’s 21st of November he would celebrate his 100th birthday.

Aki Takase plays Fats Waller

Pianist Aki Takase puts on a light-hearted party with her Fats Waller project on the occasion of the musician’s 100th birthday. Waller, who did not even see to his 40th birthday, belonged to the most influential pianists in the era of the twenties to the forties. He was famous for his humour and unique imagination – and he managed to introduce the Hammond organ to jazz music.

Aki Takase follows Waller from a 21st century’s perspective flavouring his originals with her own compositions.

For her performance she has gathered long-time co-players from Berlin. Supplemented by “Doctor Demento of the guitar” - Eugene Chadbourne of Shockabilly and Camper van Chadbourne-fame the group performs their homage to Fats Waller in a humorous way reminiscent of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.