Latest News

How truly delightful, if you have the time – and will - to take some time off now and then. That way you may climb up the stage, take a good look around and ponder how the artists may feel. On June the 1st during the Elbjazz at the Schiffbauhalle with a felt temperature of 30° degrees I had the chance to do exactly that. When the Nighthawks were entering the Schiffbauhallen-stage at 22:45 a mighty early summer thunderstorm had just passed. And the warm groovy sound of this great band provided the perfect conclusion for the first festival day in front of a swinging swaying crowd of 2000.

Every year the international jazz scene gets together in Bremen. Only a hop away from Hamburg, but almost half a world from Canada. We just have to load up our yellow van and whiz over to Bremen, full of enthusiasm. You will find us at the joined stand Jazzmoves 6D19. Come to us, we are open and happy to talk, be it business or pleasure. Open-mindedness is the common credo of this fair – a fair that also stands for an open society in general. The damage to the musical culture of Germany that has been done at the Echo Awards, will be at least partly mitigated here.

In late April Jeff Cascaro will go on tour with his new program Love and Blues in the City: April 26^th in Cologne, Erzengel Michaelkirche; April 27^th Herford, Schiller; April 28^th Greven, Kulturschmiede. He will be joined on stage by Christian von Kaphengst (b), Roberto Di Gioia (p) and Jörg Achim Keller (dr). Soul jazz connoisseurs will smack their lips at Cascaro´s congenial interpretations of songs like Ain´t no Love in the Heart of the City, Ode to Billy Joe, Inner City Blues and many more.

Lily Dahab has come a long way. She has found a new home in Berlin, where she - together with pianist Bene Aperdannier - is creating her musical visions, reaching an ever broader audience. Now her new album will be released in May. Truly enchanting and mesmerizing music! Lily Dahab has put a vocal intensity into these recordings, that is likely to take your breath away: voices, loud and proud, whispering, breathing. Deeply existential music, equally concerned with the personal and the general.

When the daffodils are only just poking their heads through the snow, the confirmations for the summer festivals are dropping in. The Nighthawks, as well as some of our other bands, will be playing the Jazz-Rally Düsseldorf on May 19^th. The Nighthawks will then rally on to the Elbjazz in Hamburg on June 1^st. You will have the chance to see Jeff Cascaro on June 1^st at the Hildener Jazztage, on the 22^th of June in Essen at the Lange Jazznacht and at Lörrach´s Stimmenfestival on July 17^th.

Let´s begin with last words of the evening: “Thank You Soul Town Kassel!” It was a low and heartfelt bow for Jeff Cascaro and his band at curtain call. On the one hand, because Markus Knierim, manager of Kassel´s Theaterstübchen, somehow manages to manage the impossible: hosting a Jazz festival lasting several days for ten years now. On the other hand, because the audience in Kassel is a truly appreciative and attentive one. People in Kassel still seem to know why there are ears on their heads. After a close listen communication begins, experiences are exchanged and emotions expressed.

There it is: a piece of printed paper. And You are looking at it, side by side with the artist. It is an already signed contract, the beginning of a contractual relation, to put it profanely. But more so, and especially in the music business, it is a statement of trust and commitment. In this case, the signing of Lisa Bassenge, it also is a very personal pleasure that the next production of such an exceptional artist will be released on our label.

“Jeff Cascaro sings since he can think … “. This PR statement marks the beginning of my liaison with Jeff Cascaro in 2005. And indeed this fabulous singer at the crossroads of jazz and soul has proven himself a master of sophisticated entertainment – as audiences at the Jazz Baltica, the Rheingau Musikfestival, or the Elbjazz, not to forget countless clubs all over Germany, had the pleasure to witness over the years.