Kulturarena Jena | Michael Wollny Trio

In the organizer's words:

There was once this sorcerer's apprentice. He wanted to make his work easier, relied on a few industrious spirits, overestimated his abilities and ended up in a mess. Getting rid of them was no longer an option: "I can't get rid of the ghosts I called!". That was obvious. Goethe introduces us to a young man who overestimates himself and then ends up in chaos. Michael Wollny's story is somehow different - he and his band have a very good connection to the ghosts. This may be due to the different course of the stories: Wollny doesn't call the ghosts, they just appear of their own accord. Wollny doesn't want to make work easier, he is absorbed in his work and he doesn't send the ghosts away, they simply disappear of their own accord. Last but not least: he is modest and simply has more to offer. This makes dealing with ghosts more relaxed.

The trio's latest album, "Living Ghosts", is also dedicated to ghosts. Pianist and bandleader Michael Wollny, double bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Eric Schaefer draw on their shared musical repertoire, which has grown over a decade. It is said that the ghosts of their music suddenly appear, disappear after a few bars and come back again. The three musicians simply let themselves drift, giving different spirits their space, dancing between gripping power jazz, powerful grooves and tempo breaks with softer moments.

In the band's works, influences from jazz, classical music, indie pop, new and early music merge into a unique style. Michael Wollny is regarded as one of the most important European pianists of his generation, as someone who "can turn any conceivable music into an experience that takes your breath away." (Süddeutsche Zeitung).

Oh yes: hello superlatives! Unlike himself, the press doesn't take such a modest approach: Wollny is there the "consummate piano master" (FAZ), the "jazz star" (Der Spiegel) and "one of the few German jazz musicians to make it into the pop charts". His band is even considered the "most exciting piano trio in the world" (Die Zeit). In short: our guests can look forward to an excitingly dynamic concert experience and thrillingly spontaneous spirits: "At the beginning of a concert, we never know which fragments of which pieces will emerge or in which order they will unfold." is the bandleader's promising announcement.

Price information:

Advance booking: € 15.00 Box Office: € 20.00