Florian Menzel - trumpet
Ben Kraef - sax
Ori Jacobson - sax
Uri Gincel - piano/keys
Paul Kleber - bass
Tobias Backhaus - drums (

The six musicians performing tonight are not only some of the most in demand, globe trotting and award winning performers in the German Jazz scene… They are also six individuals that have helped put the Zig Zag Jazz club on the map and helped us win the prestigious Initiative Spielstätten award as one of the best venues in the country three years consecutively.  We call them the six thunders because of the mark they have made in the city’s jazz scene with the power and energy of performances that have sold out on every occasion in the last year.   We decided to present this last minute show to celebrate the best of what our venue had to offer in 2021. The quintet will be revisiting classics from Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and more. Prepare for an explosive evening of virtuosity, energy and celebration with an all star group we now consider family. Looking forward to greeting you all for one last time in 2021! - Dimitris Christides (Owner, Manager)

URI GINCEL   is one of the leading jazz pianists currently residing 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 
(preferred beverage - The Gincel -a custom cocktail dedicated to our favourite jazz musician)

FLORIAN MENZEL - 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.
(preferred beverage - Single Malt Glenmorangie)

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).
(preferred beverage - Negroni)

ORI JAKOBSON - Tel Aviv born and Berlin based, Ori has played alongside Esperanza Spalding (Four Grammy Awards winner), Terri Lyne Carrington (Two Grammy Awards winner), Susana Baca (Latin Grammy winner) and performed on world renown stages such as North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Beacon Theater and Agganis Arena to name a few. Ori is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Global Jazz Institute lead by Danilo Perez, awarded a full tuition scholarship for both degrees for outstanding jazz and saxophone performance. During his time in Berklee he studied closely with some of the most dominant saxophone voices of today's jazz scene: Joe Lovano, George Garzone and David Liebman. Ori is currently the saxophone player of the Doug Weiss Quartet and Louis Bonilla Quintet.

(preferred beverage - Bulleit -straight)

PAUL KLEBER was born in Berlin and started playing cello and drums as a young kid, before he chose his main instrument, the double bass. He studied classical double bass at the Hochschule für Musik „Hanns Eisler“ Berlin and jazz, too at the Universität der Künste Berlin.  He played and recorded with Jazzanova, Sebastian Studnitzky, British band Fink, Micatone, Nylon, JazzIndeed and Lisa Bassenge.
(preferred beverage - Alcohol free Weizen)

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 guidance 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.
(preferred beverage - Averna on ice with a slice of lemon)

Beginn: 21:00 Uhr (Einlass ab 20:00 Uhr)
Artist Support Fee: 15€

Location:
Zig Zag Jazz Club
Hauptstr. 89, 12159 Berlin