20:00 Fischermanns Orchestra feat. Bruno Spörri & D. Andrew Stewart (CA, CH)
Bruno Spörri (electr), D. Andrew Stewart (electr), Samuel Blättler (tp), Bodo Maier (tp), Simon Petermann (tb), Lino Blöchlinger (as), Sebastian Strinning (ts), Samuel Blatter (voc/keys), Dominic Landolt (g), Victor Hege (sousaphone), Urban Lienert (b), Reto Eisenring (snare drum), Thomas Reist (bass drum)
Fischermanns Orchestra of Luzern has existed since 2007 and has performed on stages in all of Europe. The ensemble’s music is characterized by its musicians, who have assimilated experiences from as far abroad as South American and Africa and have experimented with contemporary forms of improvisation. For Jazzwerkstatt 2018, Fischermanns Orchestra will fulfill a dream of theirs by joining forces with the electronic musicians Bruno Spörri from Zurich and D. Andrew Stewart from Lethbridge, Canada. Together they will explore improvisational concepts and fragments of compositions from the band’s 10 year history.
21:15 William Parker Small Band (USA, ZA, CH, DK)
Mette Rasmussen (as), Marc Stucki (ts), William Parker (b), Kesivan Naidoo (dr)
He’s been called “one of the most innovative bassists since Mingus” and “Time Out New York” called him “one of the 50 greatest New York musicians of all time.” The Bassist William Parker is nothing less than a living legend of American free jazz. The drummer Kesivan Naidoo, who has been involved with Jazzwerkstatt for numerous years, met Parker shortly after moving from Cape Town to New York and was invited to join one of his bands. Kesivan’s suggestion to bring William Parker to Jazzwerkstatt Bern was met with open arms.
22:30 Sha’s Feckel & Alexandru Arcus (CH, MD)
Sha (sax), Alexandru Arcus (sax), Urs Müller (g), Sarah Zaugg (b), Kaspar Rast (dr)
Jazz saxophonists are a dime a dozen in Bern, but Sha is one of a kind. He is one of the most original representatives of the local scene and has tinkered for years on his own very personal sound. He’s also toured world-wide with Ronin and Mobile, and now with Feckel he’s recorded two widely acclaimed albums, “Greatest Hits” and “Feckel for Lovers.” Coming at long last to Jazzwerkstatt Bern, Sha brings not only the film “100 Risings” (see Thu, 27 Feb, Kino Rex) but also the aforementioned band — Feckel — featuring the Moldovan saxophonist Alexandru Arcus, the protagonist of “100 Risings.” Sha’s Feckel is at home somewhere between jazz, prog rock, minimal and Liliput.