Sonntag, 24. Mai 2015 ca. 17:20 Uhr
Piano & sax duets inspired by the American classic “Walden, or Life in the Woods”
After listening to the Benjamin Koppel/Miroslav Vitous recording, The Poetic Principle, the American jazz pianist Kenny Werner contacted Benjamin Koppel to let him know that the CD was one of “the best jazz recordings I have heard in a decade or two.” What followed was a collaboration between the American jazz icon and the young Danish sax player that led to packed concerts in Denmark.
Kenny Werner is a world-class pianist and composer. His prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continue to impact audiences around the world.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on November 19, 1951 and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Kenny began playing and performing at a young age, first recording on television at the age of 11.
Kenny has written many original compositions featuring trios and other small group configurations, but in the mid 1980’s, he became the pianist for the Mel Lewis Orchestra (currently known as the Village Vanguard Orchestra). Challenged by Mel and Bob Brookmeyer to write for the band, he produced his first compositions and arrangements for jazz orchestra, consequently leading him to write for the major bands in Europe including the Cologne, Danish, and Stockholm Jazz Orchestras, The Umo Jazz Orchestra of Finland and several times as the guest composer and soloist with the Metropole Orchestra of Holland.
He was recently awarded the 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship Award for his seminal work, No Beginning No End, which is a musical journey exploring tragedy and loss, death and transition, and the path from one lifetime to the next. Kenny Werner’s influence is unsurpassed. He has impacted an entire generation of musicians and artists. Despite his creative output, Kenny is still focused on the music.”I am still more and more aware of the true purpose of the music and the people who play it: to heal and unite the planet.
Benjamin Koppel (born 1974), Danish saxophonist and composer, is one of the most award-winning musicians of his generation, known for his versatility and virtuosity.
Koppel’s musical background is deeply rooted in his family and can be as well compared to the musical heritage from the famous Jacksons 5 or even the world known Bach family from Germany. He is the grandson of famous Danish classic composer Herman D. Koppel, and the son of musician and composer Anders Koppel, who had a great success worldwide with the band Savage Rose and is well known for being the greatest Danish beat musician of his generation. The music genre of the family spreads out from classical to jazz and pop genre and Benjamin Koppel masters all the genres with the outmost perfection.