Author: Gerhard Klußmeier
Publisher: tredition GmbH Hamburg
Hardbound, 116 pages
ISBN 978-3-8495-9958-4
With his “Knack-Bass” percussive bass Ladi Geisler gave the Bert-Kaempfert Orchestra its distinctive sound. The book “Ladi – Weltstar aus Hamburg” tells the story of the global star from Hamburg. But it also sheds light on his multi-faceted musical career as well as providing glimpses of the private life of this internationally renowned guitarist.
On Saturday Bert-Kaempfert-Platz in the Hamburg district of Barmbek turned into a fairground. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the fantastic atmosphere. And the weather was kind.
Following a varied family programme in the afternoon, a set played by the Shreveport Rhythm jazz band opened the evening’s entertainment. These four Hamburg musicians have been delighting audiences with their highly individual mixture of musical refinement, hot arrangements, rhythmic drive and entertainment since 2008. After them “Swingschmelze” provided a crash course in Lindy Hop for the dance fanatics among the visitors.
The high point of the Hoffest was the performance by the Berlin Jazz Orchestra with front man Marc Secara. This ensemble headed by Jiggs Whigham (USA) has been an established feature of the German big band scene for more than a decade. The big band’s repertoire includes originals from Count Basie to Thad Jones and the latest big band jazz from Harry Connick jr., Peter Herbolzheimer, Jörg Achim Keller and many more. Here are some impressions.
Saturday, 9 August 2014, from 2 to 9 p.m.
The Museum der Arbeit and its neighbours in the square will be holding the sixth joint Hoffest on Bert-Kaempfert-Platz on Saturday, 9 August 2014.
The musical highlight of the summer festival is scheduled for 7 p.m.: the Berlin Jazz Orchestra. They are preceded by Shreveport Rhythm, a Hamburg jazz combo, who will be playing from 5 o’clock onwards.
The Berlin Jazz Orchestra was founded by Marc Secara 14 years ago. Under the artistic direction of the American star trombonist and band leader Jiggs Whigham this orchestra has earned an awesome reputation and today is known for its first-class big band sound. Shreveport Rhythm is considered by many to be one of the best jazz and swing bands in North Germany.
Further Information: www.museum-der-arbeit.de
Herb Geller was born in Los Angeles and at the tender age of just fourteen he decided to learn to play the alto saxophone. A mere two years later he had his first professional engagement. He played with countless jazz greats and his talent was recognised around the globe. His career took him to Brazil, Portugal and France before he came to Germany in 1962.
Here he spent three years playing in the RIAS big band and then he moved to Hamburg. For 28 years he was one of the outstanding musicians who helped make the NDR dance orchestra into the avant-garde big band that it is today From 1968 onwards he was also a soloist in Bert Kaempfert’s orchestra on all studio recordings and tours. In addition to his own projects, from 1986 onwards he was a professor for saxophone at the Hochschule für Musik in Hamburg.
“When ten major concerts were given across Germany in 2006 and 2008, Herb Geller was one of the special guest soloists. This was the time when I really got to know Herb well. He was quite a reserved man with exemplary discipline when it came to work. He was always the first to arrive for rehearsals or sound checks. When it came to matters of musical taste, he made constructive suggestions in his own understated way. He was a gentleman and precisely because of this he often surprised me with his highly sophisticated sense of humour. I still have many fine memories of him and his outstanding musical creations!”
Doris Kaempfert
Release: November 22, 2013
Silver Spot Records # 1036003SSR
Order now: www.amazon.de
Herbert Rehbein (1922-1979) was a music producer and conductor, who wrote a variety of internationally known melodies and arrangements as well as being a virtuoso on his instrument, the violin.
The double CD “SOOTHING THE TIGER” consists of all three albums recorded by Herbert Rehbein in the sixties. The sounds produced by Herbert Rehbein and his orchestra represented the very best of musical escapism at the time they were released, but it is amazing how fresh they still sound today.
More information on the double CD can be found here
Bert Kaempfert’s 90th Anniversary was celebrated on 16 October 2013 with reminiscences and a wealth of music.
Associates from the world of music, friends and relations commemorated the composer and bandleader Bert Kaempfert at a ceremony held on 16 October 2013. To celebrate this event Kaempfert’s daughter Doris had invited guests to gather at the casino at Hamburg’s Stephansplatz, where Bert Kaempfert’s career began after the Second War War.
Release Date: May 3, 2013
Polydor/Universal: #373 342-6
Order now: www.amazon.de
The Dutch jazz-pop queen, Caro Emerald, appears on this album for the first time with large orchestra. For close on two years Caro and her team worked on their new material, which, recorded at London’s Abbey Road studios, resulted in truly great midnight cinema.
A successful encounter between Caro Emerald and Bert Kaempfert
The fourteen songs on the album include a sampling: I Belong To You is based on the composition by Bert Kaempfert and Herbert Rehbein entitled My Way Of Life. Through the use of the original recording by Kaempfert and his orchestra, this dramatic love song retains its original character.
Just two weeks after its release, Caro’s “The Shocking Miss Emerald” hit the number one spot in the British charts, the third spot in Germany, and on 7 June also topped the Jazz Top 30.