Chico Freeman has been a fixture in jazz for many years, enriching the scene as a musical jack-of-all-trades with his creative work and unmistakable saxophone playing. He not only lends a special magic to every piece in his own projects, but also helps other artists to find and refine the right sound in a wide variety of musical genres such as jazz, rhythm & blues, pop and world music. His ability to switch effortlessly between different styles – from post-bop to free jazz – reveals not only his technical ability, but also a remarkable versatility. Collaborations with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones show that “Chico Freeman no longer has to prove anything to anyone. The saxophonist (…) is one of the character heads of modern jazz” (FAZ).
After several years of travelling, collaborations with jazz greats and leading his own groups, including the founding of ‘The Leaders’ and the group ‘Roots’, Freeman felt the urge to reach a new level musically and personally. He began to build bridges and collaborate with musicians from different cultures to create new forms of expression.
In this spirit, the legendary jazz saxophonist is now planning a new project: together with the Senegalese guitar virtuoso Hervé Samb, the New York bassist Heiri Känzig and the Swiss master percussionist Reto Weber, he wants to create a sonic fusion that will merge the musical worlds of the participants into a single entity. Together, the exotic percussion elements of Weber, the expressive expression of Känzig and the West African guitar sound of Samb unfold a fascinating soundscape. This interplay transforms ‘Exotica’ into an experience characterised by world music impulses and wonderfully enriched by Chico Freeman’s melodic, dreamy playing.
Heiri Känzig:
The New York-born bassist Heiri Känzig has long been one of Europe’s outstanding bassists and has been an integral part of the international jazz scene for decades. At the age of 21, he was already playing alongside bebop trumpeter Art Farmer and has since played with greats such as John Scofield, Billy Cobham and Pierre Favre. Känzig, who studied in Graz, Vienna and Zurich, combines virtuoso technique with an unmistakable sound that comes into its own in both jazz and world music.
He achieved international fame as the longstanding bassist of the Vienna Art Orchestra. As a sought-after musician, Känzig has played on over 150 albums and toured worldwide. At the beginning of the 90s, he founded his own quartet with greats such as Kenny Wheeler and Art Lande. He is currently thrilling audiences with his ‘Tien Shan Schweiz Express’ project, which combines musical influences from Central Asia, Mongolia and Switzerland to create a unique journey of sound.
Reto Weber:
Reto Weber is a master percussionist known for his musical vision, sensitivity and humour. His captivating solo performances, often reminiscent of pantomime, combine visual elements with impressive sounds. He masters a variety of percussion instruments, including conventional drums, gongs, steel drums and the Senegalese balaphone. Born in Switzerland in 1953, Weber joined his first band at the age of five and gave solo concerts with extensive drum setups in his formative years. He has been touring with his renowned Percussion Orchestra for 25 years and works with outstanding percussionists such as Djamchid Chemirani and Muthuswamy Balasubramoniam as well as soloists such as Albert Mangelsdorff, Eberhard Weber and Chico Freeman. His music has taken him around the world.
Hervé Samb:
Hervé Samb is a charismatic guitarist, composer and producer who has made a name for himself worldwide through his exceptional musicality and his collaborations with artists such as Marcus Miller, Oumou Sangaré and Lisa Simone. With his albums, including CROSS OVER (2009), KHARIT (2012) and TERANGA (2018), he has established his unmistakable ‘Jazz Sabar’ – a style that combines traditional Senegalese Sabar rhythms with contemporary jazz. His first solo guitar work BENN (2021) and JOLOF, released in 2023, on which he once again collaborates with the ‘Teranga Band’, show Samb’s deep striving for authenticity. In JOLOF, his musical identity and his values merge: openness, cultural diversity and a deep gratitude for the roots of his art.
“Transatlantic top jazz music by Freeman, Känzig and Weber! An organiser’s instinct based on routine and a great overview is the basis for a masterfully successful event such as the performance by Chico Freeman and his Swiss ‘backing rhythm team’“ Porgy.at
“Yes, you can feel it immediately, Chico Freeman no longer has to prove anything to anyone. The saxophonist (…) is one of the character heads of modern jazz. Nothing about him seems stylised, he doesn’t have to have his status confirmed by a suit from Brioni or by tightrope acts on the tenor saxophone.” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
„When Chico Freeman blows his saxophone , it feels as if he’s pressing the start button of a time machine (…) The 68-year-old, born in Chicago, the son of jazz saxophonist Von Freeman, has seen the heyday of modern jazz (…) he knows how to bring the sound and lifestyle of the era back to life at the club concert” Opus
