what Marc Brenken and Jean-Yves Braun aim for in their new band project. The result is a many-sided yet unique and
personal music. Their compositions join influences of both traditional and modern styles of jazz. Some have strong impulsive grooves, some create a relaxed atmosphere, some are playful and laid-back swinging.
The musical fire of the band is sparked by Alex Morsey on double-bass and Hermann Heidenreich on the drums. All band
members are graduates of the Folkwang University of Music in Essen, Germany.
Marc Brenken (*1973 - piano, composition) is mainly known for band projects under his own name. In 2006 his debut CD „Eight Short Stories“ (Marc Brenken - Christian Kappe Quartet) was released, in 2009 the trio album „It Could Happen to You“ followed, featuring also Alex Morsey on bass and Marcus Rieck on drums. Concert tours have taken him to Romania,
Spain, the Netherlands and Lebanon. He has made appearance on radio productions of the WDR and on CD releases of the Literaturkommission für Westfalen (lyric & jazz projects).
Jean-Yves Braun (*1983 - guitar, composition) studied at the music academies of Amsterdam and Essen. He won a scholarship for the University of Southern California, where he studied with renowned teachers like John Clayton and Joe Diorio. Back in Germany, he has been invited to perform at the Philharmonie Essen, the Jazzahead Bremen and the European Bassday Viersen. On the 20th anniversary of the Folkwang Jazz Department he collaborated with Markus Stockhausen, John Taylor and John Goldsby (bassist of the WDR Bigband).
Alex Morsey (double-bass, tube) likewise studied in Essen and is simply one of the most adept and inventive bassists on the German jazz scene. He played with stars like Clark Terry, Herb Geller, Ferdinand Povel and Ack van Rooyen. He also composes, mainly for his groups Un Tango Mas and disguise. His work has been documented on over 30 albums.
Hermann Heidenreich (*1979 – drums), also a graduate from the conservatories in Amsterdam and Essen, used to be a member of Peter Herbolzheimer's Bundesjugendjazzorchester (BuJazzO). Currently he's touring with his bands Trigonon, Question Quartet and Oktoposse, who won the „Best Young Jazz Band Award“ of Granada / Spain in 2005.
He collaborated with Joachim Kühn, Charlie Mariano, Frank Möbus, Ack van Rooyen, John Ruocco, Peter Weniger and Nils Wogram and played concerts throughout Europe and in the United States.
http://www.myspace.com/brenkenbraun
