Cologne drummer Dominik Raab invites two masters of international jazz, Tony Lakatos and Hubert Nuss, to this evening. Lakatos became known for his collaborations with Al Foster, Randy Brecker and George Coleman, among others, and has so far left behind an impressive discography. Hubert Nuss is on everyone's lips through his collaborations with Mel Lewis, Clark Terry, Shirley Bassey, Johnny Griffin, Jeff Hamilton, Paul Kuhn, Peter Herbolzheimer's RC&B and Wolfgang Haffner. The quartet is completed by Doug Weiss on bass, who was accepted into his quartet by Al Foster, long-time drummer of Miles Davis, as an up-and-coming bassist and has since played with saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and singer Lizz Wright.
Dominik Raab has consequently called his first album as a bandleader "Choose Loose". Already during the recording he had a true dream trio at his side with Lakatos, Weiss and Billy Test on piano. "What has always fascinated me about jazz is that it is intense on the one hand and relaxed and cool on the other. At least that's how I feel when I play jazz...", says Raab. At just 34 years of age, he is already an integral part of the European jazz scene. The fact that he was able to win three such top-class musicians for his debut album is nevertheless extraordinary - and speaks for his skills as a soloist and bandleader. "Dominik impressed me with his time feel right from the start. He also has an excellent ear for his teammates. And he is able to brake in an elegant way when the horses are musically running away with you - which happens occasionally," saxophone legend Lakatos sums it up.

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