Chris Hopkins’ Jazz All Stars

The Deutsches Theater München presents

CASUAL, INFECTIOUS AND ENTERTAINING

For this extraordinary concert, internationally renowned and multi-award-winning jazz artist Chris Hopkins presents a swinging all-star quartet with star guest Dan Barrett, featuring a blend of elegance and exuberance, humor and joie de vivre. Great tunes from New York’s Jazz Age alternate with hot bossa nova sounds from Rio de Janeiro, soulful ballads exude Parisian savoir vivre, while blues-soaked, fast-paced improvisations spread New Orleans flair. Chris Hopkins & Friends play their way lustily through a special summer evening, swinging for all they’re worth. Casual, rousing, entertaining.

CHRIS HOPKINS – BERNARD FLEGAR – GREG COHEN

Chris Hopkins, the German by choice born in Princeton/New Jersey, with his swinging, melodic style has long been one of the renowned musicians of the international jazz scene. He has played some 4000 concerts and festivals from America to Australia, from Bochum to Berlin. Equally adept on piano and saxophone, he convinces with a wealth of musical ideas and immense drive. In addition, he is still active as a jazz lecturer at the Cologne University of Music and Dance, and was recently honored as “Keeper of the Flame” and with the coveted “Jazz-Pott Award” as “Best Progressive Artist”. Also known as leader of his ensemble “Echoes of Swing”, he recently cleared numerous awards such as the “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” and the “Prix de L’Académie du Jazz (Paris)”. As a rhythm section, Chris Hopkins brings master drummer Bernard Flegar onto the stage of the Silver Hall for the necessary drive, as well as the New York double bass luminary Greg Cohen, on whose rhythm and sound foundation one could build a house.

STAR GUEST DAN BARRETT

But the star guest of the evening is none other than the American Dan Barrett, for many years one of the busiest jazz musicians and arrangers in the USA. With his elegant and melodious playing he has saved the romantic swing trombone from Lawrence Brown to Jack Teagarden into the future. Tasteful and with the great imagination of a modern conception, he has further developed the vocal-oriented style; with his expressive, warm sound, Dan Barrett today sets worldwide standards in classical jazz and mainstream. Occasionally he shines in addition as an immensely swinging trumpeter in the tradition of a Roy Eldridge as well as a charismatic singer. Dan Barrett has performed 4 times at New York’s Carnegie Hall, has been featured on the soundtracks of several movies (including some by and with Woody Allen), and even played for the King of Thailand himself. However, he is most proud of his collaboration with the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman, who hired Barrett as lead and solo trombonist for his last big band. Dan Barrett has also recorded over 100 records and CDs, and for many years was the musical director of the prestigious US record label “Arbors Records”.