Milt Jackson Project

In the organizer's words:

The "Milt Jackson Project" has been part of vibraphonist Matthias Strucken's regular repertoire for years - an affair of the heart. Jackson (1923 - 1999), himself a vibraphonist and co-founder of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet, was the definitive master of bluesy, swinging and grooving cool jazz, which Strucken now revives in a rousing way together with pianist Marc Brenken, bassist Matthias Nowak and drummer Dominik Raab. It is precisely the simplicity and clarity of melody and form that inspire Strucken.

With their boundless joy of playing and their positive, soulful style, the "Milt Jackson Project" sweeps every listener away after just a few bars. The focus is always on the highlight instrument, the vibraphone, and Strucken's virtuoso, gripping playing. The band is currently presenting its second release 'I loves You Porgy', which is expanded in some pieces by guests Paul Heller, Joscho Stephan and Alfonso Garrido. It was important to Strucken to persistently expand his sound and tonal spectrum, with his tuneful and varied sound drawing on both the melodic and percussive possibilities of his instrument, which the bandleader not only makes swing, but above all makes sing, warm-hearted and rich in atmospheric sound effects. Stylistically, the band changes direction from time to time, sometimes in the direction of soul jazz, sometimes with a Brazilian touch - or sometimes sharply bopping.

The title track 'I Loves You Porgy' from Gershwin's opera 'Porgy and Bess' hovers above all of this - the quintessence of a sound experience, born from the somnambulistic interaction of pure intuition and grandiose creative artistry. The audible enjoyment is infectious and every listener will soon realize: Keep the soul in your music and have fun!