Latvian-born Agita Rando studied church music at the Latvian Music Academy in Riga. A scholarship brought her to Bremen in 2000, where she completed graduate studies in organ playing under the tuition of Hans-Ola Ericsson and Harald Vogel. Whilst working as a musician in the genres church music, classical music and jazz, Agita also studied jazz-piano under Joe Dinkelbach, Ed Kröger, Detlev Beier and Georg Rox. Since 2008, Agita Rando has been working in Berlin as a pianist, composer and organist.

As a popular sideman both on stage and in the studio, pianist and composer Simon Anke accompanies artists such as Jocelyn B. Smith, Keimzeit, Tina Tandler and the Babelsberg Film Orchestra. Since 2016 he has been working for the tv production ‚The Voice Of Germany‘ as an accompanist. In his solo piano concerts, he plays his own compositions and all-time favourites from Elvis to Tom Waits via Daft Punk to Billie Eilish. A journey from the down below to the surface, from the heart to the ear.

Johannes von Ballestrem is a German pianist living in Berlin. He is known for his diversity, being able to perform in a variety of traditional and modern jazz styles. With different bands he regularly performs in Germany and internationally. He has shared the bandstand with jazz greats like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Greg Cohen, Norma Winstone, Eric Harland, Kurt Elling, Jim Black and Till Brönner.

Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen is one of the best funk/soul bands in Europe. The band consists of international musicians, and plays original songs by singer/guitarist Mike Russell from Washington, D.C. Members of this "All Star Band" have played with The Michael Jackson Immortal Band, The Weather Girls, John Lee Hooker Jr, Eddie Harris, TM Stevens, Oneida James, and Joachim Germany. The latest CD from Mike Russell ´s Funky Soul Kitchen "The Quasimodo Sessions" is available on iTunes, Amazon and many others.

Es ist viel passiert um Stereofysh seit ihrem Debüt-Album „The Race“, das „auf der Tanzfläche ebenso seinen Zauber entfalten kann, wie beim Nichtstun am nächsten Flussufer“ [DasFilter].
Bereits zwei Jahre später veröffentlichte die Familienband ihr sehr persönliches Album „Ohana“, inspiriert von ihrer Tour durch die USA und nach Hawaii. „so mitreißend und vor allen Dingen herzerfrischend unverbraucht, dass man sich unweigerlich wünscht, es würde schlichtweg nie aufhören. Groove, Groove, Groove und klare Songstrukturen, die trotzdem nicht überproduziert wirken.“ [Soultrain].
Vor allem aber: „vom ersten Moment an extrem sympathisch.“ [DeBug]

Matthias Trippner, drummer and composer from Hamburg, living in Berlin, challenges himself in his latest project: He dissolves the classical rhythm section (keys, bass, drums) and plays all three instruments simultaneously. The beats are played with the feet and the hands provide the bass lines, harmonies and the unmistakable Leslie sound on Hammond organ and Fender Rhodes. Trippner has found a partner in guitarist Janko Lauenberger, who completes the duo with his expertise through the themes and solos played with heart and soul. In their program they mix groovy music from the genres of jazz and bossanova.For this evening they will be joined by Alfred Mehnert (Percussion) und Sören Fischer (Trombone).

The well-balanced combination of minimal music, complex rhythms, vocal melodies, and multidimensional harmonies characterize the play of Benedikt Jahnel. With his compositions, the Berlin-based pianist and composer creates delicate structures that create an almost enchanting attraction for the listener. His second passion, mathematics, flows into his music in the best sense of the word: crystal clear transparency and large forms design the framework for intense moods. Concert tours to nearly 50 countries, appearances at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Jazz Baltica, Carnegie Hall New York, as well as numerous sideman and soloist recordings at ECM and ACT show his boundless creativity and drive.

Eren began his professional training with a classical education at Badisches Konservatorium Karlsruhe and continued his studies in Jazz at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin with Reggie Moore and Jiggs Whigham. As a sought-after sideman, he works with artists from all over the world and performs concerts all over Europe. Collaborations and record releases with the duo Âme and his own project Pied Plat soon followed paying tribute to his roots in classical music and journey via jazz to techno. Eren is a wanderer, from various wind instruments to DJ-ing and producing, he has constantly expanded the dimensions of his work. But one love that has always remained is the grand piano and its versatility to provide melody, harmony and rhythm as a whole.

Always spontaneous, full of surprises, with great joy in playing and a fat groove. This duo performs 'all time favourites' and their own compositions. Matti Klein is a brilliant jazz pianist and was a founding member of the German jazzfunk cult band Mo' Blow. His passion for vintage instruments like Wurlitzer and Rhodes Bass are the main inspiration for his own current project Soul Trio. Since 2013, he has been the musical director and keyboardist for worldwide performances with Brazilian soul-jazz icon Ed Motta. Tayfun Schulzke uses a wide range of unusual percussion instruments. He learned African rhythms and expanded his skills especially with Indian tabla (Prof. Sankha Chatterjee / Calcutta), Cuban conga (rumba with J.A.Mehnert) and cajon. In addition to studio work, acting and television appearances, Tayfun Schulzke has also performed at various festivals.

Since the early 1970s Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric piano sounds had the most profound and sustainable impact on the music heritage of funk and soul jazz. For several years now Berlin-born pianist, composer, university lecturer & curator Matti Klein has played "Wurli" and "Rhodes", as he affectionately calls them, as an integral part of his music. Alongside the bass clarinet & tenor saxophone of Lars Zander & the tight grooves of ex-Mo' Blow drummer André Seidel. The debut album „Soul Trio“ was released in 2020. Soul Trio concerts & recordings have received the highest accolades from both critics & audiences alike. German music journal Jazzthetik praised the "epic beauty" of the music, "which is unparalleled" & radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk Kultur jubilated: "It grooves tremendously (...) just like it did in the finest days of soul under the Tamla/Motown roof." The follow-up album "Soul Trio Live On Tape", was released in April 2021.

Tal and Sophia recently met each other in Berlin’s vibrant Jazz scene. Now they’re coming together to praise their mutual love for the great Brazilian composers and performers just like Antônio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque, Elis Regina, João Gilberto and many more. On this night they’re accompanied by Amoy Ribas on percussion who’s a frequent musical guest in Café do Brasil.

Stir Fry is the new project of Berlin-based groove-addicts Benjamin Kreisel, Fico Jessen, Alex Will and Jürgen Meyer. Born during wild Boogaloo Sessions in Berlin basements, this band will supply you with all the groove you need. Funk, Blues, Boogaloo and Jazz are fused together to form a colorful mix of sounds.

Ludwig Hornung began his education at the age of six with classical pianolessons and drumlessons, during the following years he won several prizes at jazz and classic competitions. In 2006 he began to study Jazz-Piano in Stuttgart, in 2008 he transfered to the Jazz Institut Berlin, where he finished his studies with top grade, taking lessons with Prof. Hubert Nuss, Prof. David Friedman and Prof. Kurt Rosenwinkel. At the same time he took classical lessons with Prof. Susanne Grützmann. He appeared with the Dima Bondarev Quintet at the competition of the Festival „Jazz à Montauban“ in France, where the group won the first prize. Tours led this group to the Festival „Jazz Bez“ in L'viv (Ukraine) and to „Jazz nad Odra“ (Poland). Other Festivals, where Hornung appeared, were the Jazzopen Stuttgart, German Jazz Nights in Brussels (Belgium), Jazz Festival Lyons (France) and the Nachwuchs-Jazzfestival Leipzig. His musical activities led him to France, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Czechia, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Austria, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, Netherlands, Turkey and in the USA.

The music created by the Brazilian pianist Rossano Snel encompasses ethereal harmonies, ambient soundscapes and confrontational feelings, shifting through styles in a fluid, emotional way. In his own words: “I play simple melodies with a lot of heart”. Born and raised in the south of Brazil, Rossano played keys and synths in many different bands during his youth, being involved with composition, electronic and also classical music since he was a teenager. After a period of working in a studio, he soon started to produce and record the pieces he was composing. This path lead him to work with film music, composing for several films, documentaries and series, that were broadcasted by HBO, Netflix, arte, ZDF, ARD and Canal Brasil. He also writes and produces songs for other artists. His latest own releases are: ‚Healing Harmonies‘ and ‚Maria’s Waltz‘ and can be found in all the streaming services.

Declan Forde is a pianist from Scotland and has been living in Berlin since 2014. In these past five years Forde has become the pianist of choice in Berlin across a broad spectrum of musical situations. From Early Jazz like Igor Spallati’s Musicomaniacs, to performing the music of Duke Ellington with American bassist Greg Cohen (Ornette Coleman, John Zorn, Woody Allen, etc). Forde also performs solo and was invited by the Berliner Festspiele to perform as part of American artist Rashid Johnson’s installation Antoine’s Organ at Berlin’s Gropius Bau from July-December 2019. He curates a monthly series at the club Donau115, named ‘one of the best jazz clubs in Europe’ by The Guardian, with bassist James Banner. The duo released their first album ‘Circus’ featuring João Lopes Pereira in October 2018.

Thoughtfulness with a wink. Feelgood vibes with depth. A cup of jazz, a pinch of soul and a teaspoon of singer-songwriter.Inviting songs to dance and reflect to. Singer & songwriter Björn Missal creates lightness but also touches on the depths of life. His voice is not easily eludible - and you may let yourself fall and be caught. He is an artist strolling on the sunny side of the street - with a pocket full of truth. He is accompanied by his co-writer Simon Anke on keys, Anders Grop on bass and Aine Fujioka on drums.

„A new talent from Berlin leaps compellingly from a stationary position into the class of Hozier and Jonathan Jeremiah" (RadioEins). As artist of the month, with a debut single that immediately became a radio hit in Greece, the year 2020 began promisingly. For years Maxim Vaga has traveled the world, made a name for himself as a street musician in Paris, is highly regarded in Greece, has performed on stages in New York, Montreal, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, but has always returned to his native Berlin, where he transforms his experiences into songs with his outstanding guitarist Neta Velli Shimoni. The two have meanwhile developed an close friendship, which can also be heard in Maxim Vaga's songs.

After many concerts in the memorable Covid year 2020, among others at the Jazzfest Aalen, Palatia Jazzfest, at Aachen's Burg Wilhelmstein and numerous livestreams, Christoph Titz's trio Frobeat presents some songs from the current album Frobeat. You will also have the chance to catch some of the new compositions for the upcoming album, which will be released in autumn 2021. Volker Meitz, keyboarder and Hammond organist, and Matthias Trippner on drums have been playing in his larger band (quintet/sextet) for many years and can be heard on the albums 'Live @ A-Trane', 'Live @ Burg Wilhelmstein' (feat. Astrid North) and last year's studio CD Frobeat (feat.Pat Appleton). Volker normally plays all the keyboards the analogue world has to offer, now he also acts as bassist on the Hammond organ. Matthias is a surprisingly great drummer, who cover many styles with ease.

Johannes von Ballestrem is a German pianist living in Berlin. He is known for his diversity, being able to perform in a variety of traditional and modern jazz styles. With different bands he regularly performs in Germany and internationally. He has shared the bandstand with jazz greats like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Greg Cohen, Norma Winstone, Eric Harland, Kurt Elling, Jim Black and Till Brönner.

Lionel Haas was born in Bonn on 27 December 1971. He took his first piano lessons at the age of nine and developed an early interest in jazz, blues and rock. At the end of 1999 he moved to Berlin, where he began to make a name for himself by performing in Berlin's jazz venues. In spring 2002 he founded the Lionel Haas Quintet. This evolved into the sextet formation BLOWING FRONT in 2007, which features three-horn arrangements of his original compositions in the style of straight-ahead jazz and groove music. Blowing Front won the 'Jazz and Blues Award' in 2007. In addition, Lionel Haas works as a supporting artist in various notable band projects in Berlin and continues to develop his musical versatility.

Latvian-born Agita Rando studied church music at the Latvian Music Academy in Riga. A scholarship brought her to Bremen in 2000, where she completed graduate studies in organ playing under the tuition of Hans-Ola Ericsson and Harald Vogel. Whilst working as a musician in the genres church music, classical music and jazz, Agita also studied jazz-piano under Joe Dinkelbach, Ed Kröger, Detlev Beier and Georg Rox. Since 2008, Agita Rando has been working in Berlin as a pianist, composer and organist.

Daniel Dodd-Ellis studied Theater and Music at Southwestern University's Sarofim School of Fine Arts in Texas. After moving to Europe, he sang with artists such as Marius Müller-Westernhagen and Stefan Gwildis in Germany. Ultimately, he formed his own soul quartet, the Upper East Side Band, in 2003. Daniel teamed up with soul music DJ, Daniel Dombrowe (a.k.a. DJ Dan D) for events in northern Germany. This led to him becoming Emcee of the Baltic Soul Weekender, one of Europe’s leading soul music festivals. Daniel released his first EP, Steppin' To You in 2009 and completed his second solo project, Souls Electrified, with Quinn McCarthy in New York. Daniel collaborated with electronic pioneer Burnt Friedman on 5 albums and EPs, which include First Night Forever, Secret Rhythms (No. 5) and their trilogy Cease To Matter, released on Groove Attack label. He recently worked with Sebastian Demarius (a.k.a. ComixXx) and Alexander Barck of the international collective, Jazzanova on music for their upcoming album.

Torsten Goods is one of Germany’s leading jazz guitarists and jazz pop/RnB singers. He is the winner of the prestigious German ‚Musikautorenpreis‘ of the GEMA and was nominated twice for the Echo Jazz. He has released six solo albums up until today. We're looking forward to an evening of groovy 60ies Organ Jazz with lots of virtuosity and enthusiasm.

As a popular sideman both on stage and in the studio, pianist and composer Simon Anke accompanies artists such as Jocelyn B. Smith, Keimzeit, Tina Tandler and the Babelsberg Film Orchestra. Since 2016 he has been working for the tv production ‚The Voice Of Germany‘ as an accompanist. In his solo piano concerts, he plays his own compositions and all-time favourites from Elvis to Tom Waits via Daft Punk to Billie Eilish. A journey from the down below to the surface, from the heart to the ear.

After learning classical music for 10 years Marque caught the jazz "bug" and has been trying to understand and perform this art form for some 40 odd years. “I've been lucky enough to play with some phenomenal musicians such as Tony Scott, Bireli Lagrene, Ira Sullivan, Ernie Watts, the cult group Embryo, Paramashivam, as well as my best friends Chris Hirson and Geoff Goodman. I've played with many accomplished and enthusiastic musicians in Freiburg and Berlin, Germany, as well as in the USA, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, etc. For the past 13 years I've been primarily working with and accompanying Lyambiko, who has developed into one of Germany's premier jazz singers.” At solo piano concerts Marque plays primarily his own arrangements of old "classics" and standards, or bossa nova and blues-oriented pieces, as well as his own compositions.

Studied jazz at the Berlin University of the Arts. Freelance musician, pianist and keyboardist. Collaborations with Lily Dahab, Ed Sheeran, Joy Denalane, Till Brönner, Max Herre, Freundeskreis, Die Fantastischen Vier, Katie Melua, James Morrison, Ellie Goulding, James Blunt, Jazzkantine, Jazzanova, Jocelyn B. Smith, Lisa Bassenge, Micatone. 2020 solo piano recordings with and for Howard Shore (film music composer, a.o. Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Gangs of New York, Aviator, Silence of the Lambs, The Irish Man...) and the Netflix production "Pieces of a woman" (Executive Producer : Martin Scorsese). Since 2011 keyboarder and pianist for "The Voice Of Germany" (PRO 7/Sat1). Support shows for John Legend, Elton John's "Stadium Tour" in Australia and Lionel Richie in Paris. On tour with Lily Dahab, Lisa Bassenge, Joy Denalane, Freundeskreis, Laura Lopez-Castro, Jocelyn B.Smith, jazzIndeed, Flexkögel, Sarah Connor, Jessica Gall, Maren Kroymann, Schmidt. Film music for Detlev Buck ("Liebe deine Nächste"), Margarethe von Trotta ("Die abhandene Welt"), Howard Shore ("Pieces of a woman").

Micatone started at the turn of the millennium as one of the early groups combining a live band with electronic breakbeats and club sounds. In conjunction with the voice of Lisa Bassenge the exceptional mixture of pop, jazz and electronics led to a number of record releases on Jazzanova ´s label Sonarkollektiv. Among the fans and supporters of the band were people like French House Dj Bob Sinclar or BBC radio presenter Gilles Peterson. Featured artists on Micatone tracks include Stuart Staples of the Tindersticks, Seeed ´s Demba “Ear” Nabé or jazz musicians like David Friedman or Gerald Presencer. At the Orania Micatone will play songs from their long and diverse band history.

United by their passion for improvised music, a German, a Uruguayan and a Brazilian meet in Berlin to draw on all the influences of a city that bursts with energy. Jazz, contemporary harmony and oriental sounds are fused with the rhythmic sensuousness of South America. With their musical thirst, creativity and enthusiasm the artists declare their love for the vitality of multi-cultural Berlin. Rolf Zielke has won many jazz awards. He has played at many international cultural events as a renowned artists of the jazz or World Music scene. This project is further proof of Zielke’s own particular style – his soulful, lyrical and expressive playing. Guilherme Castro and Rolo Rodriguez form an internationally famed rhythm duo. After long and intensive co-operation in many first-rate bands, their names stand for breath-taking groove and intuitive ensemble playing.