Prof. Mario Würzebesser
[drums, percussion]
wuerzebesser-jib@online.de
Prof. John Hollenbeck
[drums, percussion, ensemble]
flexatone@verizon.net
John Hollenbecks versatility as a percussionist and composer is revealed in a body of work that challenges countless boundaries. Performances with Fred Hersh, Achim Kaufmann and Tony Malaby have showcased Hollenbecks melodic and sensitive small group drumming. His unique approach to big band work is evident as a member of Bob Brookmeyers New Art Orchestra and Jim McNeelys Tentet. Johns rock-infused drumming can be heard on recordings with the Cuong Vu Trio.
As a composer, Hollenbeck combines elements of his experiences in jazz and world music. The recipient of a B.M. in Percussion (1990) and a M.M. in Jazz Composition (1991) from the Eastman School of Music. John continues to create a passionate new musical language based on world rhythms, lyricism, and spirituality: In1999, John composed Processional and Desiderata for wind ensemble and orator (Bob Brookmeyer) which was released on Challenge Records. The Cloud of Unknowing, commissioned by the Bamberg Choir in Germany was released in September 2001on the Edel Classics. In January 2002, Johns IAJE Gil Evans Fellowship Commission piece, A Blessing, was performed to critical acclaim at the IAJE Conference; and in January 2003 his IAJE/ASCAP Commission, Folkmoot, was premiered. John composed and performed the percussion score to Meredith Monks Mercy, which was released on the ECM label in October 2002. Hollenbecks most recent chamber piece Demütig Bitten, was commissioned by the Windsbacher Knabenchor (Germany) and released in December 2004 on the Rondeau label. He is currently writing a new commission for the Bang On a Can All-Stars.
His first album, "no images" presents an eclectic composers statement was voted one of "the best jazz records of 2001" by Gary Giddins of the Village Voice; Quartet Lucy offers a union of spacious, understated, ethereal, and spiritual moods. The Claudia Quintet release showcases tremendous wit, tasteful improvisation, strong melodies and equally strong grooves and was voted one of the "ten best releases of 2002" by JazzTimes magazine. In 2004, the Claudia Quintet released its second recording, I, Claudia, on Cuneiform Records to rave reviews. In June 2005, John released his first large ensemble recording, A Blessing, on Omnitone Records, which received 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) from DownBeat Magazine. His 2nd large ensemble recording, Joys&Desires, will be released in October 2005 on Intuition Records with Jazz Big Band Graz and the Claudia Quintet will release Semi-formal, its 3rd recording (2nd on Cuneiform Records) in September 2005. |
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Topo Gioia
[percussion]
daniel.gioia@freenet.de
Born in Rosario, Argentina, Daniel "Topo" Gioia began teaching himself percussion at the age of 15, giving his first performance at 17 in Argentina. In 1973 he moved to Spain and performed with various Argentinian and South American groups in Madrid and Spain over a period of two years. He has lived in Berlin since 1977. He founded the group "Ipanema" and played in numerous salsa and jazz groups. In 1979 he performed with "Salsanco", one of the first salsa orchestras in Europe. In 1981 he took up a contract with the composer and " Chapmann Stick" player Hans Hartmann, with whom he toured the whole of Europe in eleven years. Alongside this project he worked with the accordionist Lydie Auvray. In 1984 he founded the band "Camalote", which won first prize in the WDR competition.
From 1985 to 1990 he played fort he Brazilian dancer Ismael Ivo, with whom he performed in Japan and almost all European countries. With his project "Pa Que" Daniel "Topo" Gioia won the prize for best fusion group in the 1988 competition of the Berlin Senate and was best percussion player in the "Latin Percussion Competition" in Germany (main juror: Alex Acuna). Since 1991 he has been consistently in demand for TV and radio recordings of both classical and non-classical music. He has played for over 100 CDs and records. Since 1992 he has played in Jocelyn B. Smith’s successful band and with the accordionist Cathrin Pfeifer, with whom he recorded 3 CDs and composed the music for the film "Nachtgestalten" by Andreas Dressen. Since 1997 he has played with the saxophone legend Steve Lacy, with whom he recorded a live CD and toured in the USA and Europe.
He currently plays for Yvonne Catterfeld, including many TV and live appearances.
Other live performances and recordings with John Newton, Giora Feidmann, Lalo Schifrin, Oreste Vilato and Raoul Rekow of "Santana", Ray Anderson, Anny Whithead, Hendrik Meurkens, Mikis Theodorakis, Maria Farandouri and many others. |
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Wolfram Blechner
[ensemble, percussion]
wolframblechner@ginko.de
Wolfram Blechner was born in 1961. At 17 he began to learn to play the drums. He has been studying and performing West African rhythms since 1986. He developed his knowledge through study trips to Africa, workshops und many years of working with African musicians. His most influential teachers are the players in the Ballets Africains, some of the most talented musicians from Guinea such as Famadou Konate, Mamadi Keita, Koumbana Konde, Mohamed Sylla and others.
The main focus of his work and his teaching over the last twenty years has been the accompaniment of (African) dance, for Norma Claire (Paris), Elsa Wolliaston(Paris), Carmen Issler, Brigitte Rumpf and others.
Since last year he has performed with the Oasis Dance Ensemble throughout Germany.
From 1994 the music of the Gnawa, who live mainly in Morocco, was added to his field of research and performance. Both in 1995 and 1997 he travelled for two months to his teacher Mahmoud Gania, a well-known master of the gembri, an instrument similar to the bass lute Gembri.
From 1991-2001 he taught African rhythm at the music school in Neukölln. He has taught at the Academy of Music "Hanns Eisler" Berlin since 1995.
During his career Wolfram worked in and with many different band projects and artists throughout Germany and abroad, e.g. Kamalesh Maitra, Sankar Chatterjee, Michael Clifton, Ali Keita in the English Garden (Berlin), Dudu Tucci, 5th Schöneberg Dance Night, Bobby McFerrin, Famadou Konate and others.
CD production with Christoph Griese, Pulz, DVD production with Oasis. |
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Johannes Bockholt
[ensemble for students of school music and classical music, extra subject drums]
bockholt@udk-berlin.de
Jazz diploma at the UDK 1994, 1992 - 1995 programme coordinator at the A-trane jazz club, sideman for Aki Takase, Jane Ira Bloom (WDR production), Antonio Arnedo. Own CD productions with Sam Rivers (FMP), Alexander von Schlippenbach (FMP), Out of Print and Céline Rudolph (Nabel, Konnex) Niloas Simeon and Javier Colina& Tico Arnedo.
1994 tour of Rumania for the German Foreign Office with Out Of Print.
1995 Goethe Institute tour with the Linear Ensemble in Asia, East African tour with Out Of Print.
1996 tour for the German Foreign Office in Central America with Linear Ensemble.
2000 Columbian tour with the trio Out of Print.
2002 Goethe Institute tour with the Peter Materna Quartet in Bolivia.
2004 Goethe Institute tour with the Peter Materna Quartet in Bolivia and Peru.
Since 1994 full-time member of the teaching staff at the UdK Berlin. From 1999 guest tutor at the Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá. |
Javier Reyes
[Percussion, Ensemble]
javidrum@hotmail.com
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