Judy Rafat und Thomas Rückert
Thomas Rückert and Judy Rafat are a duo that has come together perfectly. Rückert completed his jazz piano studies (cum laude + concert exam) at the Cologne University of Music with Rainer Brüninghaus and John Taylor, and was inspired by countless music styles on numerous trips to India, Africa and the USA. In addition to appearances on jazz festivals and tours with various artists have been released two CDs with his trio.
Das Judy Rafat Quintett
In 2005, the Judy Rafat quintet recorded a new CD. The title is program: Judy Rafat, a pure inspiration. Through the extremely harmonious cooperation, the great enthusiasm and passion with which each one stands on the stage, the five musicians stand out clearly from other groups.
Let yourself be carried away into a world of temperament, romance and pure goose bumps. The “Judy Rafat Quintet” is the best possible choice for all occasions, be it a round birthday, a company party or a festival.
Olaf Polziehn
In recent years, Olaf Polziehn has earned a reputation as one of Germany’s best and most sought-after pianists. The Frankfurter Rundschau recently described it as “[…] one of the most interesting pianistic discoveries of the last few years” and the Süddeutsche Zeitung judges: “Olaf Polziehn must simply be noted as one of the upcoming great German pianists”.
Henning Gailing
“Gailing is certainly one of the few modern bass players saturated with the sounds of Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers and Israel Crosby.”
John Goldsby
“…a beat like Charles Mingus ….marvellous arco-playing…”
John Ruocco
“The King of Swing in Cologne and probably the most solid bass player I have ever worked with.”
Steve Klink
Hendrik Smock
Studied at the Musikhochschule Köln with Keith Copland, Bill Dobbins and Jiggs Whigham.
Winner of international competitions in Brussels, Antwerp, Bilbao, Leipzig, Leverkusen, Cologne
Concerts, tours, radio and CD productions with Michael Brecker, David Liebman Martin Taylor, Peter Bernstein, Vincent Herring, Charlie Mariano, Ingrid Jensen, Bill Grimes, Lutz Häfner, Tony Lakatosh, Silvia Droste, Jean Shy, John Golsdby, John Marshall , Johannes Enders
Lothar Van Staa
All saxophones, flute, clarinet
1989-93 studied music at the Folkwang-Hochschule Essen
Since 1991 own quartet, hereby appearances on various jazz festivals (Leverkusen Jazztage, Hessen Jazz …)
1995 Nachtmusik WDR (Radio live recording) Participation in various big bands, show bands, soul and pop groups, etc. Peter Herbolzheimer, Paul Kuhn, “Soul Cats”, RTL “Saturday Night Allstars”, “Willi Ketzer Big Band”
