Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion

The extraordinary success story began in 2000 on a tour of Cuba with the Dresdner Philhamonic. At the same time, the Cuban percussionists Alexis Herrera Estevez and Elio Rodriguez Luis met. After the concert of the Dresden Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra a spontaneous session followed in which the Klazz Brothers and the two Cuban percussionists intuitively and naturally grooved to a common musical language. Since that legendary encounter Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion have provided unprecedented musical creativity and have become a world wide sensation. The ensemble has performed in great halls like the Philharmonic Hall in Munich and Berlin, the Semper Opera Dresden, the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, the Alte Oper Frankfurt, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, the Musikverein in Vienna as well as the jazz club and theaters in Hazse. Their versatility and border crossings have lead them to celebrate their music in jazz and classical music festivals including the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, the Jazz Open Stuttgart, the Rheingau Music Festival as the AVO Session Basel. Seoul Arts Center, Esplanade Singapore, Moscow Performing Art Center and National Concert Hall in Taipei also participated in the international activities of the ensemble.
In cooperation with Cuba Percussion, the Klazz Brothers uniquely combine classical European music tradition with elements of swing and Latin jazz and the almost infinite variety of Cuban rhythms. The quintet has created a completely new sound. Behind the unmistakable sound of dynamic Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion is the highest artistic standard. They have created new and fascinating works that leave plenty of room for improvisation.

The success story of Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion accompanies a variety of highly successful programs that have started with, "Classic Meets Cuba". With the orchestral project "Symphonic Salsa" the sound spectrum is extended also to a symphonic dimension. Of the current seven, Sony released CDs released, the first album, "Classic Meets Cuba" (2003) was awarded the Echo Klassik Jazz Award in 2005 and nominated for a Grammy. In the same year, they also received the Jazz Award for the album "Jazz Meets Cuba".  Again in 2006, they received the Echo award for classical music for the album, "Mozart Meets Cuba". With other programs such as "Symphonic Salsa," "Messiah Super Star," and "Chopin Lounge” featuring David Gazarov, they have and continue to inspire an ever growing audience.

"A wonderful way to feed classical music to a wider audience. The Klazz Brothers created their own genre. "(Neue Westfälische)

Klazz Brothers


KILIAN FORSTER, became a member of the Berlin Philharmonic with Herbert von Karajan after his studies in Munich and Berlin. He later became the assistant principal bassist for the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig. Soon after, he served as the principal bassist of the Dresden Philharmonic for 10 years. Solo and orchestral engagements have taken him to the major music capitals of the world. Conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Sergiu Celibidache and Riccardo Muti shaped his musical path. His interest in crossover music began to increase: Jazz in all its diversity, freedom and beauty, with a particular focus on classical crossover. Working with Klazz Brothers is the creative center of his work as musician and organizer of various projects. In addition, he has performed with partners like  Daniel Kramer, David Gazarov, Martin Drew and Didier Lockwood. He served as artistic director for the concert series “Dresdener Philharmoniker anders” and is the artistic director and founder of the “Jazztage Dresden” (a festival focused on jazz and crossover).

 
BRUNO BÖHMER CAMACHO, grandson of the renowned Colombian composer and promoter of Caribbean folklore, Angel Maria Camacho y Cano, is one of the most outstanding pianists of the Latin music scene in Germany. He received his first music lessons under the guidance of his mother, the pianist Lyra Mercedes Camacho. At the age of 7, he began his training with the German piano teacher Prof. Gunther Renz. At the age of 9, he led the jazz group “Latin Sampling,” which appeared in several major jazz festivals. His quintet on ‘Best Youth Jazz Group in Europe’ at the 2002 Youth Jazz Festival in Bonn. With 17 years, Bruno Böhmer Camacho began his musical studies at the Folkwang Hochschule (Ruhr University of Essen). In 2006, he was awarded the “Folkwang Prize” for being the best jazz music student. In the same year he founded the band “Latin Sampling” and the Ecuadorian producer and sound engineer Daniel Orejuela Flores (ALLA Label), recorded and released the quintet’s first album, “Secrets”. In 2008, Bruno Böhmer Camacho received a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston. His talent and ability allowed him to work with artists like Roy Louis, Stevie Woods, Ulf Stricker, Kimbiza, Cesar Perez, Dj Sammy, European Jazz Project, Nene Vasquez, and participate in various projects and productions.

TIM HAHN, had his first drum lessons at the Conservatory of Cottbus at the age of 9. By the age of 16, he was admitted to study percussion at the Carl Maria von Weber Hochschule für Musik in Dresden. In 1994, he studied abroad at the Conservatory in Rotterdam. Tim Hahn also took opportunities to explore the diversity of his instrument outside of the jazz world during his period of study and travel. He founded a successful rock band, Merqury, which began his professional career at the age of 19. He also attended numerous international master classes, including the “Drummers Collective” in New York and at the Musician's Institute in Los Angeles. He later founded the European Jazz Collective. Tim Hahn moves confidently between different music styles. Due to his musical versatility, he is a sought-after live and studio drummer. He has worked with musical luminaries such as Lou Bega, Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras, Edson Cordeiro, Till Brönner and the HR-Bigband.

Cuba Percussion

ALEXIS HERRERA ESTEVEZ, born in Guantanamo, the cradle of the Cuban “Soneros”, began playing percussion at the age of 8. He also attended music school and took lessons. He learned so quickly that he began to teach himself and joined  the city concert orchestra. He established himself as Timbalist and has performed with various jazz and salsa bands, including the legendary guitarist of the Buena Vista Social Club, Compay Segundo. In 1997, he joined the “Havana Ensemble” founded by Chucho Valdez which is considered one of the best and most innovative Latin jazz ensembles in Cuba. Here he distinguished himself on the Timbalo and even then stunned the audience with his spectacular sense of rhythm and explosive drumming style. In addition to numerous television appearances, especially in South America, his recordings with Ketama, Luis Enrique, Ana Belen and Compay Segundo are emphasized. Today Alexis Herrera Estevez tours with Cuba Percussion, the Klazz Brothers and Cuba Nova in Germany and around the world.

ELIO RODRIGUEZ LUIS, born in Camaguey, Cuba, has been playing congas since early childhood. At a young age he already began playing with various salsa and descarga bands on stage. In the 90s, he moved to the capital Havana. There Elio Rodriguez Luis played with some of the most popular bands of the Cuban music scene like Charanga Latina, rumba or vana Octava Pesadilla. He perfected his skills in various styles of Cuban and international music. In 1997, he was also a member of the Ensemble Havana. Elio Rodriguez Luis also performed with Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente and Cesar Lopez. The excellent conga player is known for his amazing drive that has been heard in New York, Miami, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and France.