JAZZ SQUARE: GERMAN SESSIONS

Sunday, August 4
Museum Square, 11 p.m.

JAZZ SQUARE: GERMAN SESSIONS

Jakob Manz, alto sax
Hannes Stollsteimer, piano

Partners of the program:

Jakob Manz, sax, despite belonging to the younger generation, stands out as one of the most sought-after jazz musicians in Germany. He is renowned for his highly virtuosic, yet unpretentious, pure, and poetically colored sound. Jakob Manz has performed with Randy Brecker, the Big Band of the West German Radio (WDR), and the Southwest German Radio (SWR) Big Band, alongside Ack van Rooyen and Nils Landgren, and has had the privilege of performing at prestigeous venues such as the Elbphilharmonie and Cologne Philharmonic, as well as at the Basel Jazz Festival. Since the launch of his debut album Natural Energy in 2020 (ACT Music), he has performed over three hundred times in concerts across German-speaking countries and at major festivals. In 2022, Jakob Manz made history as the youngest recipient of the prestigious State Jazz Award of Baden-Württemberg. Additionally, he collaborated with pianist Joanna Summer on the album The Gallery Concerts I. In 2023, he released the album Groove Connection for the ACT label, collaborating with renowned figures of the international jazz scene, including Roberto Di Gioia, Per Lindvall, and Tim Lefebvre. This year, Jakob Manz has released The Answer, his latest album with his band, the Jakob Manz Project.

Hannes Stollsteimer, piano, is one of the most sought-after pianists in southern Germany. He began playing the keyboard at the age of eight before delving into formal piano lessons. Growing up, he was influenced by big bands and jazz ensembles, eventually becoming a pianist in the State Youth Jazz Orchestra of Baden-Württemberg. Hannes Stollsteimer studied Jazz Piano under Professor Hubert Nuss at the State Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, and obtained his master’s degree at the Munich University of Music and Theater under Professor Christian Elsässer. As a pianist of the Jakob Manz Project, he has won numerous international awards, including the Future Sounds 2018 at the Leverkusen Jazz Days, the Biberacher Jazz Award 2018, and the Lions Jazz Award Stuttgart 2019. Also with Jakob Manz, Hannes Stollsteimer performed in a duo at the Festival International de Jazz de Port-au-Prince in Haiti. He regularly performs as a pianist and keyboardist with the band of the legendary German bassist Wolfgang Schmid. Hannes Stollsteimer also collaborated with Mongolian singer Enji Erhem at the Savassi Festival in Brazil. He has recorded albums such as Natural Energy and The Answer. He currently teaches Piano in Rock-Pop-Jazz at the Vocational School of Music in Krumbach.