Tania Giannouli »Hemera« & NDR Bigband / Frederik Köster
NDR Jazz at the Rolf-Liebermann-Studio
New beginnings
»Improvisation is a way to compose«, says Tania Giannouli. The Greek pianist studied classical piano and agriculture. In 2022 she launched a new project for the Enjoy Jazz Festival: »Hemera«. Just as the Ancient Greek goddess personifying day rose up from Hades every morning, the group Hemera leaves typical jazz-trio structures behind time after time. The second half of this NDR jazz concert features the NDR Bigband under Frederik Köster.
Trumpeter, composer and arranger Frederik Köster (b. 1977) is one of the outstanding figures on the German jazz scene. He is distinguished in particular by his open ear for the rhythms, melodies and structure of narrative literature. For his suite »Kafka on the Shore« he borrows ideas from various novels and short stories by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, author of such internationally successful books as »Dance Dance Dance«, »1Q84« and »Kafka on the Shore«. As a jazz fan and a writer who bridges the gap between Japanese and Western culture, Murakami has long been of a focus of Köster’s interest. He already composed several pieces related to the Japanese writer back in 2006. Looking back, he says: »I wanted to get in closer«. »Kafka on the Shore« offers Frederik Köster the opportunity to pick up the thread again and weave it into an intense musical narrative, using the immense range of colour supplied by the NDR Bigband.
Performers
Set I
»Hemera«
Tania Giannouli piano
bass Daniele Roccato
Michele Rabbia drums
Set II
»Kafka on the Shore – A Murakami Suite«
NDR Bigband
Frederik Köster trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
Jonas Burgwinkel drums
director Geir Lysne
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