Young gang members wow the audience at the Erwin-Piscator-Haus

“Tom Herfert, Talea Funk, Fynn Konnertz, Samuel Ruff, and Marit Winterstein were the extra splash of lemon in the band’s cocktail, making the music sound just a little fresher.” That’s how the Oberhessische Presse raved after the magnificent performance by the musicians of the Steinmühle Jazz Ensemble. In front of nearly 400 listeners in the packed small hall of the Erwin-Piscator-Haus, the five musicians seamlessly blended into the high musical standard and quickly dispelled any sense of awe in the presence of such great musicians as Lisa Pollard and Joe Wulf of the Gentlemen of Swing. Whether it was Tom’s rousing saxophone playing alongside “Sax Lady” Lisa Pollard, Talea’s soulful vocals, Fynn’s expressive blues guitar solos, Samuel’s spontaneous trombone battle with Joe Wulf, or Marit’s precise euphonium playing—the joy of performing among our students and the audience’s great enthusiasm were palpable throughout the evening.

For an entire week, the musicians of the N.N. Swinging Wodka Lemmon Gang rehearsed for this concert together with our JazzEnsemble after classes in the large music hall at the Steinmühle. Lisa Pollard’s intensive coaching paid off, and the result was clearly evident on Saturday: The JazzEnsemble kicked things off together with the N.N. Swinging Wodka Lemmon Gang; after the intermission, Joe Wulf and the Gentlemen of Swing showcased their musicality and exceptional skill; and the evening concluded with a grand finale featuring all the musicians. A highlight was the spontaneously arranged final piece, during which 91-year-old drummer Arno Funk demonstrated his skill on the bongos. The evening concluded with a standing ovation for all the musicians.

An unforgettable evening that leaves you looking forward to more performances by these musicians.