Indira - World Jazz Quartett

A remarkable journey of 4 musicians who understand the art of telling a story in one breath. The extraordinary instrumentation blends sounds, rhythms and musical cultures going back thousands of years. Contemporary jazz, indian folk and world music are convincingly weaved together into an appealing music soundscape. The human voice, woodwinds, electric cello, bali gongs, tubular bells, djembe and udu drums, waterphone and ghungroos (dancing feet bells) are some of the instruments used by Indira. Balancing intricacy with driving grooves, carefully constructed lines and opportunities for spontaneous… impromptu improvisation make their sound unique and fresh. The most natural yet ultimate melodic instrument which is the human voice is used like an instrument itself. Typical elements from the Kathak dance (north indian classical style) like Kathak-bols and Sawal-Jawab (question-answer) between the drums and foot-bells are also integrated. In 2009 Indira won the Creole World music prize “Prix Courage” in Germany for outstanding performance.


The Band:

Uwe Kuehner: gongs, percussion, composition
Uwe Kuehner has studied music in Germany and Switzerland under Doug Hammond and Pierre Favre. Winner of various Jazz prizes. It is fascinating to see him combine east and west with his percussive gong melodies. He has composed most of the songs for Indira.

Friedemann “Fried” Daehn: electric cello, composition
The cellist, composer and sound-artist works in the classical, contemporary and electronic music genres as well as in media and video arts. In 1989 he completed his studies with Johannes Goritzki at the Düsseldorf music conservatory "with exellence", after having taken part in additional master classes with Boris Pergamenschikow and Misha Maisky. Professor for music and sound and solo cellist with the Baden Wuerttemburg Philharmony. Has toured with avant-garde greats like Ensemble Modern, Frank Zappa and Stockhausen.

Frank Kroll: bass clarinet and soprano saxophone
Kroll has studied music in Germany as well as the USA under David Liebmann. Winner of Jazz Prize for the State Baden Wuerttemberg in 2003. International Tours with drummer Pierre Favre, pianist Patrick Bebelaar, serpent player Michel Godard to name a few.

Fauzia Maria Beg: lead vocal, percussion and kathak based gesture and footwork.
Fauzia Maria Beg started off as a professional singer back in the grand old days of the Supper Club at the Oberoi Sheraton Hotel, Bombay. This is where she developed her love for jazz. From the first lady of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, to Nina Simone and Billy Holiday, she studied and covered them all. 1989 she moved to Germany. It wasn’t long before she was signed on by various bands, The Kurt Rau Orchestra, Pete York, the Martin Schrack Trio, Friedemann Daehn, Lorenzo Petrocca, Joe Gallardo, Jose Cortijo, Beija Brazil to name a few. Having studied kathak as a child in Bombay, Fauzia developed a natural flair for rhythm and percussive styles and showcases her ability to take on a genre and conquer it.

www.indira-worldjazz.de

Indira - do, 2017
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Indira - sundance, 2005
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