HfK Jazzclub: Thomas Marek quartet
Piano, bass, drums and feet: dance event or jazz concert?
The question does not arise.
When tap dancer Thomas Marek plays with his band, music becomes visible, the percussive sounds of tap merge with the arrangements and improvisations of his band. A tap dance show as a concert. Oliver Poppe (piano), Gerd Bauder (bass), Steve Wiseman (trumpet) and Thomas Marek (tap dance & drums) carry on a tradition of jazz and tap without remaining stuck in the traditional. On the contrary: the desire for something new drives them straight to the origins of jazz - powerful, passionate, irreverent. Quiet tones flow into brilliant grooves and elegant swing, in a rousing interplay of dance and music, which become one in Thomas Marek's quartet. This is the trademark of this formation: the unleashed communication with each other and with the audience, which bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary jazz. Musicians and dancers challenge each other to cross boundaries and turn every performance into an adventure.
‘Thomas Marek not only danced to the music, but was a fully-fledged soloist in a band that has a stepper in the front row instead of a saxophonist. Thomas Marek brings an old art to new life.’ Werner Stiefele, Stuttgarter Zeitung
‘celebrated with breathtaking precision.... Everything that ever was or is jazz today sparkles.’ Frankfurter Neue Presse
‘Certainly not a mere and pale copy of Fred Astaire: the Ludwigsburg native develops this American dance form further. Loose, light and skilful, musical through and through - this is how Thomas Marek presents himself.’ Hans Kumpf, Jazzpodium
Line-up:
Oli Poppe (piano)
Gerd Bauder (bass)
Steve Wiseman (trumpet)
Thomas Marek (tap dance & drums)
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The "hfk jazzclub" is the venue for contemporary jazz in Bremen. Concerts and sessions with musicians from the university and local and national musicians take place every Tuesday of the semester at 9 pm in the basement vault of the University of Music. Passionate jamming takes place here, or student tryout programmes are presented. Semester projects by the Rehearsal Band and themed concert programmes are also on offer. In short: a think tank for jazz and a meeting place for Bremen's jazz scene.
Admission
Normal: 5 Euro
HfK students: 2 euros
Tickets are available at the box office from 8 pm
Important information
The HfK is barrier-free to a limited extent at the Dechanatstraße location.
The entire building is fully accessible via two lifts, in the west wing and in the middle wing, from the basement to the 2nd floor. Due to a height offset on the ground floor, the toilet for people with limited mobility can only be reached barrier-free from the entrance via the basement and the 1st floor.
Public disabled parking spaces are designated on the street immediately adjacent to the courtyard entrance. In addition, a disabled parking space can be allocated on the premises by the caretakers and the security service. The colleagues can be reached by telephone at +49 421 9595-1400.
