TIP

In the midst of the Cold War, African-American Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. launched the "Jazz Ambassadors" program, which sent jazz musicians all over the world as cultural ambassadors, including greats such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Benny Goodman and, of course: Duke Ellington. He toured Japan, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Egypt in 1963 and processed his musical and cultural travel experiences in the "Far East Suite", which he wrote with Billy Strayhorn (who would have turned 100 at the end of November). This last classic album the two collaborated on was recorded exactly 50 years ago and won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance. The "Far East Suite" is a musical milestone that would be inconceivable without the encounters of people from East and West. Thus, it is also a plea for an open approach to other cultures, for tolerance and humanism.

The Jazzclub Leipzig, the UT Connewitz, the HMT Leipzig, the Neue Musik Leipzig, the Pianofortefabrik Blüthner, RumseiRec, the Kreuzer and Gangart jointly present this Flashback concert, where refugees have free admission.

HMT Big Band under the direction of Rolf von Nordenskjöld

Reeds: Eva-Sophia Steilen, Roman Polatzky, Laurenz Welten, Ulrich Hübner, Max Hirth & Johannes Moritz
Trombones: Ludwig Kociok, Mathias Hochmuth, Paul Quistrop, Georg Demel & Julian Schließmeyer
Trumpets: Luke Strange, Juri de Marco, Hans-Philipp Knudsen, Max Kraft & Patrick Schanze
Rhythm Section: Paul Brauner, Olga Reznichenko, Sophie Milz & Max Stadtfeld
Vocals: Bianca Aristía