Jazz

The Ladies. The world of jazz is characterized by fascinating and unique voices that have not only written music history, but have also shaped and changed the genre itself. Female jazz singers in particular have made a decisive contribution to giving the genre emotional depth, versatility and an unmistakable personality. Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James, Dinah Washington, Abbey Lincoln, Anita O'Day, Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee, Blossom Dearie, Helen Humes,...

Maestro of Swing. Count Basie is considered an outstanding figure in the world of jazz. Born William James Basie in New Jersey in 1904, he rose to become a titan of the genre. His legendary Count Basie Orchestra, with its incisive rhythm section and minimalist piano style, set new standards. He led the group for almost 50 years and created innovations such as the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, the emphasis on the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, the use of arrangers, always to...

The Duke. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz, transcended the boundaries of time with his incomparable contributions to music. His career spanned more than five decades, during which he not only left a lasting mark on jazz, but also became a cultural icon. As a pianist, he was one of the most important inventors of the stride piano. As a composer, he wrote almost 2000 compositions (songs and suites), 100 of which soon became jazz...

This Night Belongs To Jazz. The virtuoso instrumentalists and the great voices light up the dark night with a piece of genius and jazz. Like stars in the night sky, they make the essentials of jazz music shine. One side is devoted exclusively to instrumental arrangements featuring Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, Miles Davis and James Clay. The other side sparkles with sung standards by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Doris Day, Rosemary...

We Love The West Coast. What would jazz be today without the musicians and clubs of mid-20th century California? It‘s hard to imagine. Typical of the West Coast Jazz is a light, lyrical melody and a relaxed, loose rhythm, often characterized by intricate, polyrhythmic drumming. The style was a reaction to the bebop style that had emerged on the East Coast of the United States. West Coast musicians were influenced by the big bands and swing music of the 1930s and 1940s and wanted to create a...

The Jazz and the Broadway. Popular songs have always served jazz as improvisational material. Especially the great Broadway tunes up to the 1960s were a good source and inspired the jazz musicians of that time. In addition, around Broadway jazz clubs and theaters were door to door for many years, composers and musicians appreciated each other and had friends in crossing genre boundaries. This resulted in unique jazz versions of important and timeless Broadway compositions from West Side Story,...

Let‘s Jazz. Dixieland jazz, also known as traditional jazz, originated in New Orleans, Louisiana in the early 20th century. Its roots lie in the music of African-American communities in the South, particularly the brass bands that played at funerals and other community events. Louis Armstrong was a pioneer and key figure in the development of Dixieland jazz. With his virtuoso trumpet playing, innovative improvisations, and soulful vocals, he brought a new level of musicality to the genre. His...

The Queen Of Jazz. Ella Fitzgerald is one of the most defining voices of jazz ever. Her pure tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and „horn-like“ improvisational ability, especially in her scat singing, remain unmatched to this day. After a turbulent youth, Fitzgerald found stable musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra. She performed all over the country, but was most often associated with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Later, Norman Granz, founder of the Verve...

Satchmo. Growing up in extremely precarious circumstances, only music and trumpet gave Louis Daniel „Satchmo“ Armstrong stability in his childhood and youth. At the age of 26, together with Kid Orys, he had his first hit, Muskrat Ramble, in the Billboard charts. Until 1966, another 78 hits were to follow. Concert tours worldwide, plus appearances in Hollywood films such as High Society or Hello Dolly and legendary collaborations with Ella Fitzgerald, among others, make him the figurehead of...

Unrivaled. Ella And Louis is the collaboration of two of the greatest jazz legends of all time - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. First released in 1956, the record is still considered one of the most outstanding jazz albums of all time and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015. The connection between Fitzgerald and Armstrong on this album is unique. Their voices complement each other perfectly, and their interpretations of the songs are full of emotion and passion. Having...