4. Mai 2017
JORDAN RAKEI
19h30
LIDO
New Zealand born, London based artist/producer/songwriter Jordan Rakei has quickly become one of the most respected and sought-after musicians in modern music. Debuting in September 2013, with the self-released 6-track EP titled “Franklin’s Room”, he has gone on to establish himself as one of the forerunners of today’s new soul music movement, earning the respect of his peers Hiatus Kaiyote, Tom Misch, Questlove, Gilles Peterson, Disclosure, Annie Mac and Mary Anne Hobbs.
As well as now having three releases under his belt, Jordan has made a name for himself with some choice features throughout his tenure. Lending his vocals to upcoming and hip artists such as Tom Misch and REMI, to more established artists like Disclosure.
MAX GRAEF PRESENTS TORBEN UNIT & FRIENDS
23h00
LIDO
Max Graef’s Torben Unit is ranging from Distorted Jazz-Rock to Experimental Soul, Electronic Percussion Workouts to Free Sound Experiments and Psychedelic Rock.
Nachdem die Max Graef Band das gesamte letzte Jahr getourt ist, haben sie durchgehend an neuen Songs geschrieben. Und was passiert, wenn du ganz und gar nicht zufrieden bist mit dem Stuff den du so produziert hast dann? Klar: Du setzt dich hin und überarbeitest einen Großteil der Aufnahmen nochmal. Dadurch rückte die Band noch näher zusammen und der Sound wurde homogener.
Warm up und aftershow mit Glenn Astro & IMYRMIND featuring Ajnascent (Live), Kickflip Mike, Alex Seidel und Luds.
10 AM
21h00
MONARCH
10 AM haben im Jahr 2013 zueinander gefunden: Die junge Sängerin Aischa Parker und Pianist Gregor Heinze hatten sich als Nachbarn in einem Berliner Mietshaus kennen und hören gelernt. Nach erfolgreichem Beruferaten entstanden wenig später eigene Songs. Zusammen mit Drummer Laurids Richter haben sie 2014 ihre erste Single „Fantasy“ aufgenommen, die ihnen u.a. den Listen to Berlin Award einbrachte. Erweitert wird das Trio durch den fabulösen Gitarristen Werner Neumann.
Zwei Jahre und einige Studionächte später steht nun die Veröffentlichung des ersten Albums bevor. Entstanden ist ein Sound, dessen Herz irgendwo zwischen R’n’B, NeoSoul und Jazz hängt und der dabei seine Liebe für den HipHop der 90-er nicht verbergen kann.
ORLANDO JULIUS & THE HELIOCENTRICS
23h00
BI NUU
Few artists have been more crucial to the invention, development, and popularization of Afro-pop than Orlando Julius. At his club residency in Ibadan, Nigeria, Orlando was one of the very first to begin fusing US R&B with traditional highlife during the mid-‘60s with his Modern Aces band. His ‘Super Afro Soul’ album from ’66 set the blueprint for a whole generation of Afrobeat and Afro funk stars and, in an illustrious career, Julius met and played with Louis Armstrong, The Crusaders, Hugh Masekela and Lamont Dozier among others, famously co-composing the classic ‘Going Back To My Roots’ in 1979 whilst based in the USA.
Led by drummer Malcolm Catto, The Heliocentrics straddle hip-hop, funk, modern creative jazz, psychedelic electronica, and world musics. They acknowledge as influences James Brown, Elvin Jones, David Axelrod, Sun Ra, Ennio Morricone, Stark Reality, and Joyride. The Heliocentrics have backed DJ Shadow, Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke and American poet/activist Melvin Van Peebles. In 2010 the Heliocentrics issued Lloyd Miller & the Heliocentrics, their collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and Middle Eastern jazz innovator Dr. Lloyd Miller. They didn’t issue another recording until 2013, when they re-emerged with 13 Degrees of Reality and in 2014 they teamed up with Orlando Julius to release the album Jaiyede Afro.
5. Mai 2017
CHRISTIAN PROMMER’S DRUMLESSON
19h45
WATERGATE
Christian Prommers Drumlesson hat in vergangenen 10 Jahren auf ziemlich jeder Bühne zwischen Jazz Clubs und Techno Festivals gespielt. Mit dabei immer hochkarätige Jazz Musiker mit denen der Musiker und Produzent im Spannungsfeld zwischen Clubmusik und Jazz experimentiert hat. Meist mit drei Drummern und mehreren Musikern. Zuletzt mit Bugge Wesseltoft, Henrik Schwarz, Johannes Brecht jeweils im Duo. Jetzt ist Christian Prommer mit einem Trio unterwegs. Mit den beiden US Jazz Musikern Kelvin Sholar und Charles Sammons spielt er Techno Stücke im Jazz Arrangement. Darunter Club Klassiker wie Strings Of Live und Sky Was Pink.
Zuletzt hatte Christian Prommer mit kammermusikalischen Ausflügen auf Diynamic Records auf sich aufmerksam gemacht. Für Xjazz wird er auch diese Kompositionen in seinem Konzert präsentieren. Als besonderer Gast wird die Sängerin Jeannel, mit der Christian Prommer gerade an einem Album arbeitet, das Trio für drei Stücke erweitern. The Trio Files.
Christian Prommer – Drums + Electronics
Kelvin Sholar – Piano
Charles Sammons – Bass
Special Guest:
Jeannel – Vocals
TONY ALLEN QUARTET
19h30
BI NUU
With his latest project, Tony Allen realizes a childhood dream: to play the music of the most african of the bebop fathers, Art Blakey. This same drummer who spend years in African, earning the nickname „Buhaina“, and a major influence on Tony. When he hear for the first time an Art Blakey record back in Lagos in the early 60s, he though he was listening to several percussionists playing at the same time, not imagining that a single drummer was playing his instrument..
From there on, year after year, he too developed a unique and personal way of playing the drums as if it was an orchestra. This tribute to one of the sources of inspirations that led Tony to create Afrobeat, is a way of rounding the circle, moreover with the project being released by Blue Note, home of so much of the modern jazz repertoire.
WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI QUINTET
21h30
PRIVATCLUB
Wojtek Mazolewski is a Polish jazzman of the premier kind – on the one hand drawing on the classic sound and recording techniques, a musical heir of the internationally appreciated classics of Polish jazz; on the other, an artist creating music which is fresh, comprehensible for the young audience who listen to new sounds, who know and taste jazz with such artists as Koop, Brad Mehldau, or Robert Glasper Experiment.
ARON OTTIGNON
23h15
PRIVATCLUB
The new-zealander dazzles through the uniqueness of his art. The music brings a sensation of captivating trance, from which arise wonderful jazz improvisations, piano, drum machine, modern synth and steel drums.
New Zealand-born, Paris- and Berlin-based pianist Aron Ottignon has been steadily expanding his instrumental craft as a jazz pianist – both on his own and in collaboration with artists such as Stromae and Woodkid. His technically brilliant yet imaginative approach has drawn attention beyond jazz, catapulting him into the pop, dance, world and rock spheres. After a world tour with Woodkid, and his piano was to be heard with Abd Al Malik now and then, and, as if further proof of his protean talents were necessary, his name appeared in the credits of Papaoutai, the hit that he wrote together with Stromae.
Even so, despite calls to go out on the road, or a summons to a studio session, Aron hasn’t deviated an inch from his priority: to compose, develop and spread his own music. In 2015, one after another, came two EPs „Starfish“ and „Waves“ for which Ottignon sought out the production talents of fellow-antipodean Rodi Kirk, and enlisted UK steel pan and percussion virtuoso Samuel Dubois. The resulting EPs are a kaleidoscopic ride through electronically-augmented, percussion-heavy 21st century jazz that also take the explosive jazz-fusion of Aron’s debut „Culture Tunnels“ to a new level: They combine his virtuosic playing and compelling compositions with percussive influences from Morocco, West Africa, Maloya and the Caribbean.
They were a foretaste of 2017, which is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Aron. It begins with a new EP „Nile“ released on Blue Note. It’s all there: the breathing melody and the power in the rhythm, loops of organic piano inherited from electro, the shimmer of steel drums…
SESSION VICTIM FEAT. EROBIQUE ALBUM RELEASE
23h00
PRINCE CHARLES
SESSION VICTIM & Carsten „Erobique“ Meyer (live)
Bradley Zero (Rhythm Section)
Session Victim (DJ set)
They did it again. Seit dem großen Erfolg ihres zweiten Longplayers „See You When You Get There“ haben sich Session Victim langsam daran gewöhnt, zwischen Clubbühnen, Hotelzimmern und Flughäfen hin- und her zu wanken und sich im letzten Jahr den grössten Teil Ihrer verbliebenen Zeit in Ihrem Studio in Hamburg verbarrikadiert.
Listen To Your Heart heißt das Ergebnis und ist ihr mittlerweile drittes 3xLP Album, das Ende Mai auf dem britischen Label Delusions Of Grandeur erscheinen wird.
Unter den musikalischen Gästen dieser Platte findet sich immer wieder Carsten „Erobique“ Meyer, der Hauke und Matthias für zwei besondere Liveshows zum Release in Hamburg’s PAL und Berlin’s Prince Charles am elektrischen Piano (und wer weiß, worauf sonst noch) begleiten wird.
6. Mai 2017
BITTY MCLEAN & THE MAGIC TOUCH
19h30
BI NUU
In 2004, Bitty Mclean released the superb „On Bond Street“, in which Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle instrumentals, arranged by the legendary Tommy McCook and The Supersonics formed the basis of the album. Bitty complemented these 35 year old tracks with such elegance it was hard to believe he was not there when the tracks were originally recorded. 13 years on and XJAZZ is presenting Bitty Mclean & The Magic Touch performing this classic album in full.
ANDREA BENINI & GIANLUCA PETRELLA
21h00
MONARCH
Andrea Benini (Mop Mop) & Gianluca Petrella create a psychedelic journey with the aim to build a sound spectrum which will bring the listener into a dimension where time and space are a continuous pulsation.
Gianluca Petrella – trombone, effects, electric piano, moog
Andrea Benini – drums, electronic percussions, drum machine
Berlin-based Italian multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer ANDREA BENINI and international Trombone virtuoso GIANLUCA PETRELLA join their forces to explore the complexity and multiplicity of modern rhythm. A psychedelic journey with the aim to build a sound spectrum which will bring the listener into a dimension where time and space are a continuous pulsation.
Andrea Benini (born March 14, 1977), better known by his stage name Mop Mop, is an Italian musician and producer. He performs with his band as well as a DJ Worldwide. He achieved international recognition when he was included in the soundtrack of Woody Allen’s “To Rome With Love” in 2012. Mop Mop’s single “Run Around”, featuring Funk legend Fred Wesley on trombone and Anthony Joseph on vocals, has been charted as best dancefloor Jazz track of 2013 according to Red Bull Music Academy Germany.
Gianluca Petrella (born March 14, 1975) is one of the most talented trombonist all around the World (winner for two times of the “Down Beat Critics Poll” award as best rising star trombonist), his international collaborations include among others: Steve Swallow, Greg Osby, Carla Bley, Steve Coleman, Lester Bowie, Pat Metheny, Enrico Rava and the Sun Ra Arkestra directed by Marshall Allen. In the “Electronic Area” he has collaborated with Nicola Conte and recently stands the collaboration with Moritz von Oswald and Ricardo Villalobos.
7. Mai 2017
ROLF & JOACHIM KÜHN
17h00
FUNKHAUS NALEPASTRASSE
Pianist Joachim Kühn is one of the few global German jazz stars. With his playing style, which transcends all categories, he has made his mark as a world-class musician, and on contemporary jazz, blazing entirely new trails. The musical cosmopolitan Kühn sees himself in the tradition of jazz, and also in a close relationship with European concert music. But despite all this he is committed to a contemporary sound. He reveals vehemence and sensitivity, masterly craftsmanship and imagination, an unmistakable touch and an unerring sense of dynamics.
In the interplay with musical partners of many years‘ standing, in ever new and often unusually challenging constellations or on his own and his solo concerts, Joachim Kühn makes music an event. All his life Kühn has demonstrated curiosity, open-mindedness and a love of experimentation like few others. It was this intellectual flexibility that led the young East German classical pianist to jazz. After fleeing to the West in 1966, he quickly became one of the most important representatives of the jazz avant-garde in the scenes of Paris, Los Angeles, New York and Hamburg, constantly seeking encounters with the most diverse of musicians, from Michel Portal to Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, Jean-François Jenny-Clark, Daniel Humair, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker and Rabih-Abou Khalil and the Germans Heinz Sauer and Michael Wollny. In June 2011, Kühn was awarded the Echo Jazz for his extraordinary life’s work.
His brother Rolf Kühn is also a world-class jazz musician. The Clarinettist has always played in the champions league, and is an artist of distinction in several other respects, alongside his accomplishments as a performer. The sound he coaxes from his instrument is inimitable. Stylistically diverse, warm, full bodied, immaculate. His playing could be described as vintage, for it incoroporates the entire history of jazz. As early as the 1950s , he was accorded the recognition befitting his status as a preeminent German jazz musician in the USA, the birthplace of jazz . Appearing with Benny Goodman, and on occasion leading his orchestra. Inspired by Buddy DeFranco he developed his uniquely expressive modern voice.
Rolf Kühn has played with the crème de la crème of jazz rock, not only such figures as Chick Corea, Dave Liebman, Michael and Randy Brecker, but also free spirits like Lee Konitz, Albert Mangelsdorff, and Ornette Coleman. Despite this extensive experience he remains open for musical adventures. In this respect he is similar to his brother, pianist Joachim Kühn. The siblings frequently jam together in various line-ups. Most recently with a reminiscence on the 1967 cult record „Impressions of New York“ which they recorded with John Coltrane’s bass player Jimmy Garrison.
MATTHEW HALSALL & DWIGHT TRIBLE
21h00
FUNKHAUS NALEPASTRASSE
Manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall is one of the rising stars of European Jazz. His eastern-influenced sound draws on the modal jazz of Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane alongside contemporary dance music and his uniquely life-affirming music has been championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge. His latest project finds him working with legendary LA vocalist Dwight Trible whose deeply soulful voice has seen him compared to the likes of Leon Thomas and Andy Bey and who brings a vibrant energy to everything he sings. Expect deep spiritual jazz, funky soul-jazz classics and beautiful ballads from John Coltrane and Nina Simone to Donny Hathaway and beyond as heard on their forthcoming Gondwana Records release, ‘Inspiration’.
„Kind Of Blue’ meets The Cinematic Orchestra … With hypnotic grooves, and a meditative slow-build to his solos, Halsall’s music is saturated in a life-affirming glow“. – Time Out
„Grooving through time on the spiritual sunship“ – Mojo Magazine
Vom 5. bis 8. Mai 2016 werden auf dem XJAZZ Festival in Berlin insgesamt über 80 Bands in 11 Clubs am Start sein. Gleich zu Beginn wird es dieses Jahr Konzerte bei freiem Eintritt rund um das Schlesische Tor geben. Nach Island und Israel ist die Türkei 2016 das nächste Partnerland des XJazz Festivals. Die Wahl liegt auf der Hand, ist in Berlin doch die größte türkische Gemeinde außerhalb der Türkei ansässig.
XJAZZ Festival 2016 vom 5. bis zum 8. Mai in Berlin
Mit seinem Debüt im Mai 2014 hat sich das XJAZZ Festival aus dem Stand als Berlins größtes Jazzfestival etabliert – mit 48 Bands und knapp 10.000 Zuschauern. XJAZZ integriert bereits bestehende Strukturen und Orte und bringt Musiker zusammen, welche gemeinsame Auftritte erarbeiten und präsentieren. Mit seiner internationalen Strahlkraft ist Berlin prädestiniert für eine selbstbewusste Programmgestaltung. Daher liegt der Fokus von XJAZZ vor allem auf der Berliner Musikerszene. 75% des Line-Ups sind lokale Künstler. Das ist in dieser Form in Deutschland einmalig. Das zeitgenössische Verständnis von Jazzmusik umfasst ebenso elektronisch improvisierte Musik, neue klassische Musik, als auch Singer-/Songwriter. Auch seitens der Medien wurde das Festivaldebüt mit viel Beachtung gewürdigt. „XJAZZ scheint sogar geeignet, ein Publikum für Jazz zu begeistern, das sonst wenig damit in Berührung kommt“, schrieb die Tageszeitung taz und „ […] das wunderbare Konzept von XJAZZ, das unbedingt neu aufgelegt werden sollte: Musik für Models und Freaks gleichzeitig, nur einen Katzensprung entfernt“, die BZ.
XJAZZ gibt es aber nicht nur als jährliche Jazzparty in Kreuzberger Clubs sondern ab Oktober 2015 auch in Form von ausgewählten Clubkonzerten . XJAZZ live heißt das neue Format welches junge Berliner Künstler und etablierte Größen aus Jazz, Electronica und Klassik zusammenbringt.
Alle Konzerte werden von Berliner Künstlern supported und mit einem DJ-Set komplettiert.
6.5.2016
MOP MOP feat. ANTHONY JOSEPH & WAYNE SNOW
Record Release Show & Afterparty w/ Osúnlade!
20h30
Mop Mop continue their journey through musically wide open spaces and places. Refining their sound even more, creating an unique and deep atmosphere based on the idea of traditional Gnawa rhythms mixed with a heavy Dub-Jazz-Funk pulse. They left the „Isle Of Magic“ – but the magical experience of their music and vibe gets even more exciting . . . … as ANDREA BENINI and MOP MOP once again take a wonderful imaginary trip to a place which echoes and results in another deep musical trip. From the „Isle Of Magic“ to „Lunar Love“ which will be released on May 6th on Agogo Records.
6.5.2016
ELECTRONICS & IMPROVISATION – THE PACIFIC EDITION
22h30
We are back with Electronics & Improvisation. Again proving that the idea of Jazz is not confined to traditional instruments. So here we go with 3 amazing performances on one night:
Mark de Clive-Lowe
Aron Ottignon
Jordan Rakei
6.5.2016
JOSA PEIT
22h30
Josa Peit sings, writes and sculpts soundscapes. She combines influences from electronica with disco, psych, krautrock and soul elements. The singer and producers‘ Debut EP „Constellation“ is out since September 2015 on the Berlin label The Gym, run by Brandt Brauer Frick and body building associates. Josa Peit is based in Berlin, the city of her family roots, where she started creating her own eclectic musical universe.
7.5.2016
CYMANDE
19h00
All the founding members of Cymande are back to play together again for a special concert celebrating the work of this seminal British funk group. Cymande were simply one of the biggest bands to come out of the British black music scene in the 1970s. Blending a range of African-Caribbean and African-American styles, with a British flavour, they were particularly successful in the US. Legendary producer John Schroeder produced their debut single „The Message“, which hit the top 20 in the US and, like their other tracks such as „Bra“ and „Dove“, has been sampled by many pop and rap acts, including The Fugees, Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, etc.
7.5.2016
SHOBALEADER ONE – The brand new project from SQUAREPUSHER
20h30
Squarepusher announces a live show with his new band project Shobaleader One. Hear seminal Squarepusher classics brought to life by a smoking hot band of virtuosic, funky-as-hell musicians, including Mr. Tom Jenkinson himself.
7.5.2016
MATTHEW HALSALL & THE GONDWANA ORCHESTRA
21h00
EMMAUSKIRCHE
Lausitzer Platz 8 A, 10997 Berlin
Manchester based, DJ, bandleader and trumpeter Matthew Halsall is one of the UKʼs brightest talents. A gifted trumpeter with a beautiful, expressive tone, his music draws on his love of the transcendental, spiritual and modal jazz of Alice and John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, as well as the glories of 60s British jazz.
