Bert Kaempfert

On 27 August the Museum der Arbeit together with its neighbours in the square and friends held the 8th Hoffest on Bert-Kaempfert-Platz. The latest summer festival, “Barmbek swings 2016”, provided a varied family programme in the afternoon. The evening saw a performance by the “Landesjugendjazzorchester Hamburg” and the big bands “Danube’s Banks” and “Kalletti Klub”.

The LJJO HH offers Hamburg’s most talented jazz musicians the opportunity to be promoted in a musically homogeneous ensemble with social cohesion being particularly emphasised. This cohesion is achieved on the basis of project-based working phases on a variety of topics as well as creative and innovative ideas and concepts. In addition to work on content, consisting of teaching the essential musical and technical basics of big band jazz and stylistic variety, the LJJO HH also acts as a talent factory by offering special projects, concert tours and music-teaching programmes for German jazz in general and Hamburg jazz in particular.

During a break in their performance the LJJO HH was presented with the certificate of the Bert Kaempfert Foundation`s “Sponsorship Prize 2015”.

Horch House # MT14048
1 RMG SM468
Tape on Metal Reel

The Austrian music label Horch House specialises in high-resolution analogue and digital copies of master tapes. Since the beginning of September Bert Kaempfert’s album A SWINGIN’ SAFARI has also been available.

Further information: https://www.horchhouse.com

Saturday, 4 July, from 2 p.m.

Barmbek swings

On 4 July the Museum der Arbeit together with its neighbours in the square and friends is holding the 8th Hoffest on Bert-Kaempfert-Platz right at the museum. At this year’s “Barmbek swings” summer festival the musical highlights are provided by the youth jazz orchestra “Yo!Jazz”, a jazz’n soul big band from Hamburg, and “BuJazzO”, the Bundesjazzorchester and official youth jazz orchestra of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Silver Spot Records
# 1036004SSR
Release Date: April 10, 2015
Order now

Paul Kuhn and Bert Kaempfert are without doubt two of the leading lights in the music business. Both had their biggest successes at the same time although in fact they never met in person.

In 2001 they come together notionally in a studio: Bert Kaempfert provides his great compositions while Paul Kuhn acts as arranger, bandleader and interpreter.

For this production Paul Kuhn has put together a first-class orchestra formation with violinists and extraordinary instrumental soloists and singers. The arrangements of the Kaempfert songs sound true to his style, invigoratingly fresh and in keeping with the times. The result is an outstanding album, which is being re-released on Silver Spot Records in honour of these two great musicians.

For more information about the CD click here

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.

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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.

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