Lionel Loueke / Ziv Ravitz & NDR Bigband / Pablo Martín Caminero

Loueke, who has been a member of Herbie Hancock’s band since 2005, got to know the Israeli drummer Ziv Ravitz many decades ago. As the favourite drummer of jazz legends such as Avishai Cohen and Shai Maestro, Ravitz is in similarly great demand. Only during the pandemic was their long-planned duo project finally realised. Both are masters of almost inconceivable metres and rhythms, but their sound is never strenuous or overly intellectual. When Loueke plays, scats or chirrups syncopated chords, and Ravitz improvises to that with pliant lightness, there emerges a lively sound that incorporates funk, Afrobeat and something completely new.

After the interval, the concert continues with an equally amazing union of talented musicians. Because one of the amazing things about the NDR Jazz Concerts are the stories that are written there. Omer Klein, Julia Hülsmann, Stefano Bollani, Omar Sosa and Nguyên Lê all developed special projects with the NDR Bigband after performing in the series.

It is now time for another exciting meeting: the Spanish bassist Pablo Martín Caminero, who was classically trained in Vienna, is one of Spain’s most successful and respected jazz soloists, band leaders and composers. Caminero writes music for film and dance – and he has a passion for blending flamenco and jazz. For his major new project, Caminero chose the NDR Bigband’s chief conductor Geir Lysne as the arranger. Their premiere together celebrates the fusion of cultures.