Life of Guangzhou - Jazz Comes Back, Just Comes Back

When we mention jazz music, a singing scene of soul sister will easily come to mind, or even light or relaxed tone and raucously vocal. It is going to be a show of Schunke Band on October 5th in Chamber Hall of Xinghai Concert Hall, leading the return of jazz.

Sebastian Schunke, Rooted in Europe
Berlin Jazz Award from 2004-2008

Sebastian Schunke began learning classical piano when he was six. At the age of 12 he began studying Latin jazz as well, being influenced initially by Eddie Palmieri and later by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chick Corea and Danilo Perez.

After his move to New York, it was a special challenge for Schunke as a Europeean. To grip the rhythmic of Latin America but to avoid following them in a traditional manner, he let them transform into a new groove in irregular measures, with the influence of his European roots, native New Yorkers and European and Latin American musicians, something new and original to emerge.

His compositions caught the attention of renowned musicians like John Benitez, Antonio Sanchez, Richie Flores, Dafnis Prieto, Yosvany Terry and Peter Brainin, with whom he recorded his debut CD "Symbiosis".

He performed with his projects on several international Festivals and Clubs in Colombia, Venezuela, China, Laos, Malta, Turkey, Luxemburg, Germany and the USA. In 2004 he accompanied the German President Köhler to Africa as the official German Cultural Ambassador. In 2008 Schunke went back to New York recording his new CD "Back in New York" with 9 times Grammy Award Winner Paquito d'Rivera and an All Star Band – leading the music to a new hip expression.

Diego Pinera, A Real Latin Drummer
Jazz and Blues Award 2005 with Latin Jazz band "Clave Azul"

When Diego Pinera left Uruguay at 18, he went to the Universidad de arte y musica de la Havana, Cuba. He got the opportunity to deepen his afro Cuban influences on the drums and the timbales. He also got the chance to learn and play with famous Cuban musicians like Enrique Pla (drummer of Irakere) and with newcomer Joaquin Pozo (conga player). After his time in Cuba, Pinera got hired for one year in a salsa orchestra in Seattle.

Since 2003 he has lived in Berlin (Germany). He has been working continuously with musicians such as Wilson DeOliveira, Andreas Schmidt, Martin Auer, Christian Grabandt, Pepe Berns, Tino Derado, Sebastian Schunke, Daniel Stawinski, Robbie Gerken, Dan Freeman and many more. Pinera also directs two ensembles in the music school Berlin-Mitte along with teaching master classes in various different German institutions. In April 2006 he had 4 weeks of master classes in Cuba with Cuban greats Jose Luis Quintana "Changuito" and Amadito Valdez.

Daniel James Freeman, Saxophone Player
First Master Student at the Conservatory of Music "Hanns Eisler"

Born in 1981 in Australia, Freeman started playing saxophone when he was 10 years. In 18, he studied Jazz Music and graduated with a Bachelor in Music with Honours in 2002. He got several awards and was admitted to the Deans Roll of Excellence (2000-01) and also into the International Golden Key Honours Society. He became one of the leading young Australian Jazz Saxophone Talents. In 2003 he moved to Berlin, Germany where he studied at the prestigious Conservatory of Music "Hanns Eisler" and finished in 2006 with the Diploma. In 2006 he was admitted as the first Master Student at the Conservatory of Music "Hanns Eisler".

Freeman is one of the most interesting Saxophone Players of the new generation with a brilliant sound and a very new approach to improvisation. He had guest performances with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and various performances on "ABC Classic-FM"(Tasmania) as Soloist. He toured Europe with the "Derwent Valley Concert Band" (AUS). After his move to Berlin he became one of the most wanted Saxophone Players of the German capital playing with "Sabine Zlotos Quartet", "Clave Azul", "Sebastian Schunke Band", "Diego Pinera Band", "Clint Campisi Quartet", "Kattorna", etc.. He won Jazz Price Berlin and the Berlin Jazz and Blues Award several times.

Marcel Kroemker – Bass
One of the famous "Young German Jazz" Generation

Marcel Kroemker started playing the guitar at the age of 7. His parents' record collection set the ground stone for his love of Blues, soul and songwriters. When he was 15, he learnt to play the double bass as well – and with that instrument came his love of Jazz. He attended workshops with Herbie Hancock or Joe Henderson for 2 years. Only after three years of bass study, he became a member of the Bundesjugendjazzorchester under Peter Herbolzheimer (Germany's national youth Jazz Orchestra).

He won the first prize twice at national Jazz Competition "Jugend Jazzt" for solo playing and group playing and also the first prize of the German music youth competition "Jugend Musiziert". From the age of 18, he performed in the NRW Big-Band with Silvia Droste and Germany's most famous Jazz piano player Paul Kuhn (among others) for two years. With several bands he toured the whole world playing in Morocco, Korea, USA and 12 European countries already at this young stage of his career.

He nowadays is one of the famous "Young German Jazz" Generations – he is with the most prestigious German Jazz Label Act and one of the most interesting young Jazz bass players living and working in Germany.

Press Review:

...Schunke intentionally merges the boundaries of classical piano and Latin rhythms to create music that is structured but spontaneous, familiar yet exotic...Schunke ´s skills as a writer and musician deserve applause...
——All About Jazz; New York

...Schunke is superb in his virtuosity and blending of sounds... No lover of Latin Jazz would want to be without this in their collection!
——QuePasaMagazine, London

...Sebastian Schunke and his Euro Latin Progression have done a suberb job with Symbiosis...
——Vinilemania.net, Italy

...But all said and done, the Sebastian Schunke Group stole the show...
——That´s Shanghai, Shanghai, China

...Schunke´s sound is as eclectic as it is unpredictable...
——China Daily, Peking, China

Concert Information:
Time: October 5, 2008 (Sunday) 8pm
Venue: Chamber Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Ticket: ¥280/180/100 VIP ¥320 (Student: 30% off)
More Information on www.concerthall.com.cn