Transcontinental and phenomenal: the "JazzNights Special" with the bands of the multi-award-winning American flutist Jamie Baum, the German pianist Anke Helfrich, "one of the figureheads of German jazz, a pioneer" (NDR), and Judith Owen, a cross-genre singer, songwriter and storyteller whose work includes jazz, blues, big band, rock, pop, classical music and musical theatre. They will all keep what many promise. The outstanding female leaders and their top-class ensembles not only stand for improvisational and compositional excellence, for diversity and variety and all the consistent qualities that make jazz so exciting, especially today, they are also strong female voices beyond their instruments in a music world that is still dominated by men. In different musical ways, these bands pursue the question "What Times Are These", the title of Jamie Baum's seventh album, and at the end of the concert evening come together to an inspiring conclusion, which can also be found in the title of Helfrich's current work and strengthens and encourages us all: We'll Rise, which means in something: things are going up. We need such confident statements!

Link to audio sample