D. D. Lowka

D.D. Lowka ist der Bassist von Quadro Nuevo und hat - in dieser Eigenschaft - nun mit ein paar Freunden dieses nahezu selbsterklärende Projekt Minijazz losgetreten. Es gibt eine kurzweilige Hommage an jene Heroen des Genres, die den Meister selbst beeinflusst und beeindruckt haben: Dizzie Gillespie, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock und die Sugababes. (Deren "Overload" streut Lowka hier nämlich zur Auflockerung ein.) Abgerundet wird das Programm mit einer eigenen Komposition.

This album lives up to the promise of its title: it is hot, appealing and enlivening. “Mocca Swing” is a retrospective of the musical creativity of Mulo Francel. It documents his role as a passionate builder of bridges between young and old, one’s home country and abroad, and between jazz and other music genres.

Quadro Nuevo explores the pathways of world music, blending arabesques, Balkan swing, and daring improvisations in an acoustic mode. However, this time, their new creation turns towards Brazil. With the philosophy, “Even in times of crisis and war, music can offer a positive alternative world,” the ensemble reflects. With refreshing reinterpretations of iconic hits such as Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” and Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” paired with newly crafted originals like “Here and Now,” Quadro Nuevo believes that “HAPPY Deluxe” encapsulates the enthusiasm of their journey and their tireless quest to create authentic and captivating music.

Birgit Minichmayr captures the imagination and holds centre-stage on “As An Unperfect Actor – Nine Sonnets by William Shakespeare”. This won’t come as a surprise to people in the German-speaking world, where the Austrian actor is well-known from countless appearances on TV and a substantial filmography.

"Flying Carpet" by Quadro Nuevo & Cairo Steps is an exotic, inspiring and sweeping experience in sound. The collaboration between these two well-known ensembles from Egypt and Germany, brilliantly mixes Sufi elements, jazz harmonies, classical Arabic music, Tango and Oriental - creating an inspirational and powerful atmosphere. Music as a ‘flying carpet’… rising far above the boundaries of time, politics and religion.

This movie portrait documents the quartet’s adventure-filled concert travels; inspiring places and the influence of foreign cultures. Numerous interviews and conversations give viewers a personal insight into the musicians’ life on the road. (70 Min). The second part of the DVD is devoted to one of Quadro Nuevo’s magical 2011 concerts.

Quadro Nuevo is a German acoustic quartet which was founded in 1996 and can be categorized as World Music and Jazz. The band is composed of Robert Wolf (1996 - 2008), Mulo Francel, D.D. Lowka, Andreas Hinterseher (original Heinz-Ludger Jeromine) and since 2008 Evelyn Huber. Within the last decade the band played about 1500 concerts all over the world and is with its numerous awards and Chart Positions among the internationally most successful German Jazz Bands. Their style is a composition of (cit. Quadro Nuevo) "Tango, Valse Musette, Flamenco, lovely dedusted filmmusic and an almost faded Italy". In November 2008 a car crashed into the tour bus. The guitarist Robert Wolf was seriously injured and paralyzed from the neck downwards. He died in April 2015 as a result of the accident.

Quadro Nuevo has always played tango. But things are different now – the days in Buenos Aires changed everything. Inspired by Argentinian musicians, famous dancers and wonderful people, the nostalgic atmosphere of the dance halls and the zeitgeist of a 15-million metropolis can be heard in every note – this is pure tango.

This album lives up to the promise of its title: it is hot, appealing and enlivening. “Mocca Swing” is a retrospective of the musical creativity of Mulo Francel. It documents his role as a passionate builder of bridges between young and old, one’s home country and abroad, and between jazz and other music genres.