Mel Canady & friends

In the organizer's words:

Program accompanying the exhibition "Learning and Leisure in "Little America" | Places of American Education and Leisure in Giesing and Harlaching, 1945-1992"

An evening full of soul, jazz & Munich music history

Mel Canady shows why his voice has been part of Munich's musical life for decades - and why his audience remains loyal to him for his warmth, presence and musicality. A concert that is also a small homage to Munich's musical history - and to all the places where musicians like Mel and his friends have found their artistic home.

Mel Canady, born in Alabama, discovered his extraordinary musical talent at an early age. In the country of origin of blues, gospel and soul, he first sang in church choirs and school performances before receiving a full scholarship to Alabama A&M University. There he met Fred Wesley, who later became a member of James Brown's horn section - a formative experience for the young musician.

After four semesters, his path led him to Nassau Community College on Long Island in New York. There he was introduced to the whole spectrum of American music. Concerts by Chick Corea, Hank Mobley, Thad Jones and James Brown were part of his everyday life. Mel has lived in Europe for many years - and in what he calls his "beloved Bavaria".

With the founding of the legendary band "Ruby and the Mudflaps", he quickly became one of the most distinctive voices in soul and jazz in Munich. Numerous TV and theater productions followed, including appearances at the Iberl Bühne, Theater Rechts der Isar, St. Pauli Theater and Theater am Kurfürstendamm. Today, Mel performs on stage as a singer and keyboardist with his band Chessboard and passes on his knowledge as a teacher of soul, jazz and gospel.

The musical attitude of this era - openness, joy of playing, curiosity - also characterizes the sound of Mel Canady & Friends. He will be accompanied on the evening by top-class musicians:

• Steve Cobey - drums
• Matthias Preisinger - keyboards
• Ferdinand Kirner - guitars
• Jair-Rohm Parker Wells - bass

All four are deeply connected to Munich's musical landscape, which for decades was largely shaped by the legendary Domicile jazz club - THE international jazz hotspot in Munich between 1965 and 1981. The Domicile was a club "that enjoyed an international reputation" and brought stars such as Benny Bailey, Don Menza, Klaus Doldinger, Friedrich Gulda and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Band to the stage. Many Munich musicians - including those with whom Mel, Kirner, Cobey and Parker Wells worked over the years - drew their inspiration from this scene. The Domicile was a place where jazz was not just played, but lived: a space for spontaneous sessions, bold sound experiments and nights that made music history.

Accompanying program at the Giesinger Bahnhof cultural center

Part of the accompanying program is free of charge, part for a fee. We also ask you to register for the free events so that we can plan ahead.

• Sunday May 03, 2026 | 11.00 a.m.
  Opening | Learning and Leisure in "Little America" | Opening | Places of American Education and Leisure in Giesing and Harlaching | 1945-1992
  with Elvira Auer & Dr. Karin Pohl | Music Christoph Bohning
  Free admission | Donations welcome | Ticket reservation free of charge
• Wednesday, May 06, 2026 | 7.30 pm
  Mel Canady &Friends | Concert
  tickets
• Sunday May 10, 2026 | 11.00 am
  Servus! 75 years of munich campus memories
  Book presentation Dr. Circe Woessner & Dr. Karin Pohl
  Free admission | Donations welcome | Ticket reservation free of charge
• Sunday May 17, 2026 | 6.00 pm
  Basketball is Jazz! | The Ernest Butler story
  Free admission | Donations welcome | Ticket reservation free of charge

Exhibition | Admission to the exhibition free of charge

Monday-Friday: 11:00-16:00 and by appointment

Access via the south pavilion (right part of the building, office of the cultural center). The exhibition is partly located on the 1st floor (without elevator).

Please note that individual rooms may be temporarily occupied due to rentals. If you would like to visit all parts of the exhibition at once, it is best to inform yourself in advance by telephone or via the current information on our website.

The exhibition "Amis in McGraw Kaserne" was conceived in 2025 and organized as part of the "Zero Hour? How we became what we are" at the Munich State Building Authority. The exhibition curated in May 2026 consists of parts of this major exhibition.

Event space: Baggage hall | main entrance | first floor

Current information on our website