Percussionist & composer Marilyn Mazur is like a magician. Through her imaginative playing and her rich palette of sounds she casts spells on the music, her bandmates and us as listeners. When I listen to her I feel transported into places that I didn’t know existed and that’s something I’m fascinated by. How does one … Continue reading Marilyn Mazur

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Marilyn Mazur

Kevin Hays is one of my absolute favorite piano players, period! The first time I saw him live was in 1996 on a concert of John Scofield‘s Quiet Band and this made a deep impression on me. I’ve been following Kevin’s playing very closely since then. Out of his own records “Andalucia”, “Seventh Sense”,“El Matador” … Continue reading Kevin Hays

Kevin Hays

Master drummer Peter Erskine is on so many of my all-time favorite recordings that it’s almost ridiculous! I love everything that he’s done with Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Joni Mitchell, John Abercrombie, Joe Henderson, Marc Johnson, Vince Mendoza, Kenny Wheeler, Michael Brecker and SO many more! Of course, let’s not forget his own records!! Especially … Continue reading Peter Erskine

Peter Erskine

Sam Amidon is one of the most open minded artists I know. Right away I was struck not only by his beautiful music, I was also amazed by the vast range of things he welcomes into his world. Every Sam Amidon album is a winner. They build on top of each other and yet each … Continue reading Sam Amidon

Sam Amidon

My dear friend and trio colleague Jonas Burgwinkel and I went into the studio to talk about the recording process of my first-ever album Forest Of Oblivion.  It was pure time-travel and I stayed in nostalgia-mode for the following days, reminiscing about the past and our journey as a trio. As I often tell, it’s … Continue reading Forest Of Oblivion (Audio Commentary)

Forest Of Oblivion (Audio Commentary)

I had been following Johanna’s playing for quite a while, ever since my buddy Robert Landfermann told me to check her out. – If you don’t know Johanna’s music yet, a great place to start is her album “Schumann Kaleidoskop” , where she interprets Robert Schumann’s music in her very own adventurous ways. To me … Continue reading Johanna Summer

Johanna Summer

This interview with bassist Doug Weiss took place after our first concert together in June 2020 at the Green Room in Köln. Such cool way to get to know each other: After a rehearsal and dinner, we played a concert and had this conversation in front of a live audience. Right from the start I … Continue reading Doug Weiss

Doug Weiss

Marcus Gilmore is one of the most influential drummers of our time. The first time I heard him was on Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s “Avatar” record and I was drawn to his rhythmical world right away. I got to play with Marcus in Chris Potter’s quartet back in 2015 and the feeling of playing with him is something … Continue reading Marcus Gilmore

Marcus Gilmore

I first heard Chris Potter’s music sometime in my teenage years. I immediately became a fan, trying to get all his records as a leader and as a sideman. There’s always something to learn from Chris’ playing… in a way I always feel encouraged to work on something after I’ve listened to him. Especially his … Continue reading Chris Potter

Chris Potter

I found out about Robert Stillman‘s unique musical world through my friend Kit Downes. (Whenever Kit recommends something I listen very closely) So when my first sitting with Robert’s debut “Horses” was over, I had to listen to it again right away. Everybody on the record played their butts off, but it was the songs … Continue reading Robert Stillman

Robert Stillman

As I tell Jeff Ballard in the beginning of our conversation, every time I hear him I’m amazed by the lively sound and feel he gets out of the drums. I think that’s something we as musicians all strive for: to have our sounds (and the music in general) be reflective of life itself, to … Continue reading Jeff Ballard

Jeff Ballard

Maria Schneider is one of the most important composers & arrangers of our time. A singular voice who is always recognizeable. To me, Maria is a pioneer, always finding new ways of ensemble writing that inspire her musicians to really engage with the music, and not just play their part. In the tradition of Duke … Continue reading Maria Schneider

Maria Schneider

(This episode is available only in German) Das etwas andere Interview mit Antoine Burtz eröffnete mir einen tiefen Einblick in den kreativen Geist dieses besonderen Künstlers. Antoine spracht mit mir über die Entwicklung seines Rap-Flows  von “Lohn Isch Da” bis hinzu “Deutschland Isch Stabil”, sein Unterrichtskonzept im Rahmen der Rapskill School, die Erwartungen an Mitmusiker*innen, … Continue reading Antoine Burtz (Teddy Teclebrhan)

Antoine Burtz (Teddy Teclebrhan)

My dear friend Jonas Burgwinkel was the one who told me about Blake Mills first, hipping me to his album “Heigh Ho”. I liked it right away. But it was Blake’s “Mutable Set” that completely turned me around. It really hit me and I somehow became addicted to it, listening to it all the time. … Continue reading BLAKE MILLS

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Pablo Held Investigates

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