Paul Heller invites… Groovin’ Affairs

feat. Jakob Manz, Bruno Müller, Christian Frentzen, Claus Fischer & Felix Lehrmann

Paul Heller is rapidly approaching a proud anniversary: for almost ten years now, the saxophonist and artistic director of the successful concert series "Paul Heller invites" soloists to memorable encounters. Heller has always had a strong personal relationship with his guests, all of whom have accompanied him along the way, inspiring and shaping him. The icing on the cake: at "Paul Heller invites" the guests meet each other for the first time. And whatever happens with Heller's current invitation, one thing is already certain: the invited sextet guarantees a grooving funk-jazz event of the very first order.

At Heller's woodwind side comes the just 21-year-old Jakob Manz, celebrated in many places as "the" rising star. With his Jakob Manz Project he (jazz-)rocks to fat electric bass and funky piano riffs, over which he lets his alto saxophone fly, sometimes hymn-like-expressive, sometimes soulful-melodic. They are joined by other seasoned personalities: experienced live and session musicians who stroll between pop, soul, funk and jazz with stylistic flexibility, without ever having lost their irrepressible joy of groove.

Bruno Müller, for example, is one of the most sought-after guitarists in Europe, a sovereign border crosser in the pop, pop and jazz worlds, sideman of big names like Till Brönner, Jeff Cascaro, Joe Sample, Nils Landgren, Wolfgang Haffner or Randy Brecker. No less versatile is pianist and keyboardist Christian Frentzen, who is no stranger to any style of modern jazz between powerful post bop and finely chiseled straight ahead. Claus Fischer also meanders through musical events as a live and studio musician, bandleader and sought-after sideman, live bassist and protagonist of countless CD recordings and television formats. Last but not least Felix Lehrmann, technically brilliant, highly flexible drummer, involved in pop acts as well as in the jazz scene (from Sarah Connor to Til Brönner).

Lehrmann, Heller, Manz, Müller, Frentzen, Fischer, that means summa summarum: What a Groovin' Affair!