Florian Menzel - trumpet
Ben Kraef - sax
Uri Gincel - piano
Lars Gühlcke - bass
Tobias Backhaus - drums

The Miles & More Quintett pays tribute to the music that was composed and performed by the worlds most loved jazz trumpet player: Miles Davis. It features some of the most talented and in demand musicians in the Jazz scene today. This all star ensemble directed by Berlin´s notorious jazz giant Uri Gincel focuses on the 50´s and 60´s era when the music was defined by its highly energetic pulse and melodic fluidity. Tobias Backhaus already considered one of Germany´s greatest drummers together with Lars Guhlke deliver a deep swinging and powerful groove that lays the foundations for interaction and improvisation of the highest level. With the addition of the great Ben Kraef on sax and award winning jazz trumpet player Florian Menzel these gentlemen create a musical recipe that has not only defined the sound of the Zig Zag Jazz Club but more importantly has been central to establishing Berlin as a major force in the world of jazz. Make sure to reserve in advance for this show!

- Despite his young age trumpeter and composer Florian Menzel, born in Arnsberg in the Sauerland region in Germany in 1988, has already reached remarkable experience and success in the world of music. In 2007 he was awarded the „SkodaJazzAward“ by the German Jazz Federation for his outstanding instrumental skills and 2 years later won the first prize at the „Yamaha Trumpet Contest 2009“. Further during his studies at the Jazz Institute Berlin (JIB) he was awarded the „Savoy Award of Excellence 2011“ for his extraordinary musical and social contribution.

As a band leader and sideman he has been working with among others Peter Weniger, Mark Wyand, Rich Perry, Winard Harper, Greg Cohen, Torsten Goods, Till Broenner, Gerard Presencer and Bill Forman.

- Ben Kraef is a German-Montenegrin saxophonist and composer based in Berlin.

Ben graduated from the University of Music “Hanns Eisler”, Berlin. In 2007 he relocated to New York City on a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and obtained a Master of Arts from The City College of New York in 2009.

In the past years Ben has won international acclaim in form of several prizes and awards, among these most notably the Biberacher Jazzpreis (2006), the “Concours International de Jazz de Fribourg” (2007), the Yamaha Saxophone Contest (2007), and the Billie Stoller Scholarship to an outstanding scholar and musician from The City College of New York (2008).

Ben’s activities as a performer have included his membership in the renowned National German Youth Big Band (BuJazzO), where he was part of the concert line-up for a total of three years.

He has had the chance to perform throughout Europe, the Middle East, as well as southern Africa and Japan.

- Uri Gincel is one of the most in demand and respected Jazz pianists in Berlin. Uri´s style can be described as heavily rooted in tradition but with sensibility and understanding of bringing jazz into the modern age. His playing is dynamic, lyrical and above full of energy and power! Born in Tel-Aviv, Gincel came to Berlin in 2009 and quickly became an influential part of the Jazz scene, Uri toured the world with many projects, including "Uri Gincel Trio” and “Bonaparte” and studied under some major musicians as Arnie Lawrence and Walter Blending Jr.

- Lars Gühlcke started with guitar, 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 in Germany and abroad, he lives since 2000 in Berlin and works as a freelance musician. He appeared several times on television and radio.

- Tobias Backhaus was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on January 8 1984. He took up the drums at the age of 5 and has subsequently been studying under the guideance of jazz masters such as Keith Copeland, Ari Hoenig, Jim Black, John Hollenbeck and Jeff Ballard. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from the Jazz-Institute Berlin.

His individual approach and stylistic diversity – from traditional jazz to free improvisation, modern classical music and beyond – as well as his ability to effortlessly move between those different worlds have made him one of the most in-demand young drummers on the German jazz scene.

Tobias has been working with artists such as Torsten de Winkel, Till Brönner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Tony Lakatos, Carlos Bica, Jiggs Whigham, Gwilym Simcock, Peter Weniger, Frank Chastenier and Ack van Rooyen, the Dresden Symphonic Orchestra, the NDR Big Band, the Berlin Jazz Orchestra and many others.

Beginn 21:15 Uhr( Einlass 20:00 Uhr) 
Eintritt frei – Beitrag erwünscht

Sitzplatzreservierung

ENTRANCE FEES
One of the reasons that makes the zig zag jazz club so unique is that it is the first and only jazz club in the world that manages to finance world class events through a crowd funding concept. How do we do it? Its quite simple… during the break of the concert we make an announcement regarding the collection for the evening. For most concerts (excluding the jam session) we inform our customers that a fee of around 15€ per person will allow us to fairly compensate the musicians. Some people give more and some give less… and that´s ok… we ´ve already successfully promoted hundreds of concerts like this!!!