Night Train (band)
| Night train | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Jazz , swing |
| founding | 1999 |
| Website | www.nighttrainjazz.de |
| Founding members | |
| Rurik van Heys | |
| Bernd Ratmeyer | |
| Bernd Kuchenbecker | |
| Current occupation | |
piano |
Rurik van Heys |
Drums |
Bernd Ratmeyer |
double bass |
Lars Gühlcke |
| Volker Fry | |
Night Train is a quartet from Berlin. They call themselves the “smallest big band in Berlin” and consist of Rurik van Heys ( piano ), Bernd Ratmeyer ( drums ), Lars Gühlcke ( double bass ) and Volker Fry ( vibraphone ).
history
The quartet, which was initially a trio around the pianist Rurik van Heys, was founded in 1999. It soon made a name for itself mainly in the Berlin jazz scene. This was reflected by winning the Jazz & Blues Awards Berlin 2001 (audience award), also known as "Ella". The trio expanded into a quartet in early 2008 after taking a year off from playing.
The four band members can also be seen and heard in other bands. They also have regular guest appearances.
style
The focus of their music is jazz . They draw their titles primarily from the repertoire of important big bands in jazz history such as B. the Count Basie Orchestra , Duke Ellington Orchestra , Woody Herman and His Orchestra , Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra . Night Train brings a lot of freedom into existing materials without destroying the basic character of the pieces.
Members
Rurik van Heys
Rurik van Heys (* 1964 in Berlin ) is the pianist of Night Train. In the 80s he made a name for himself as a soloist and as a band member. He played with the Red Roseland Orchestra and the Bottomland Orchestra, among others. There were tours through Germany , Canada , the USA , Switzerland and the Netherlands . At the beginning of the 90s he turned to classical modern jazz piano playing and was a very popular pianist on the Berlin scene. He received special attention through the stylistics inspired by Horace Silver . In addition to Night Train, he also plays in numerous other bands, such as Silvermine, which play pieces by Horace Silver, Soul Station, Rurik van Heys Trio, Roger Raddatz and The Evolution. He has been working with the drummer Torsten Zwingenberger for several years.
Bernd Ratmeyer
Bernd Ratmeyer (* 1965 in Basel ) is the quartet's drummer. He had lessons a. a. with Jerry Granelli , Ronnie Stevenson and Jeff Hamilton. He has been working as a combo, big band and orchestral drummer at the theater and for the revue in Berlin since 1986. In 1992 he worked as a freelance musician in Montreal , Canada . Ratmeyer was present at international and national jazz festivals. He also works with the writer Stefan Krawczyk.
Lars Gühlcke
Lars Gühlcke (* 1972 in Jever ) is the bassist of the four. He first learned the guitar, but then studied double bass in Amsterdam and Hilversum. Since 1996 he has been a permanent member of the Ed Kröger Quartet with guest soloist Romy Camerun. After a stay in New York City and numerous concerts at home and abroad, he has lived in Berlin since 2000 and works as a freelance musician. He made several appearances on television and radio.
Volker Fry
Volker Fry (* 1961 ), actually Volker Frischling, is the vibraphonist of Night Train. The all-rounder became interested in jazz at an early age and then decided at the age of 13 to become a musician. In 1983 he went to Berlin, where he studied classical drums at the Hochschule der Künste . In the years that followed he was active in various orchestras and bands. He has been working freelance since 1995 and is very active in the jazz scene. In early 2008, the artist joined the band.
Bernd Kuchenbecker
Bernd Kuchenbecker (* 1968 in Berlin ) was the band's bass player. After some drumming experience in a school band, he studied at the "Hanns Eisler" University of Music in Berlin . He works in theaters and teaches at the Berlin-Kreuzberg Music School. He has made numerous appearances with well-known jazz musicians as well as those in television programs.
Discography
- express
- introduction
Prizes and awards
- 1st Jazz & Blues Award Berlin (2001 audience award)