NIKOLAUS-JAZZ 2026
This year, Saint Nicholas builds a wide bridge: leading us from the cool elegance of the American West Coast to the warm, narrative rhythms of Cameroon.
"THE SOUND OF GERRY MULLIGAN" QUARTET
It is the combination of the baritone saxophone’s deep, warm timbre and an almost dance-like lightness that has made the sound of Gerry Mulligan immortal. For Thomas Lay, this quartet is a true passion project—one that seeks not to copy the spirit of the West Coast legend, but rather to translate his ethos into the present day.
By his side are Markus Springfield (piano), Heiner Merk (double bass), and Andieh Merk (drums)—three musicians who have helped shape the region’s jazz profile for years. Together, they develop a chamber-music-like tapestry that treats the originals with respect while gaining its own contour through original compositions and fresh interpretations. It is jazz of unagitated clarity, thriving on lyrical lines, fine dynamics, and a swing that takes no detours.
Line-Up:
Thomas Lay – baritone saxophone
Markus Springfield – piano
Heiner Merk – double bass
Andieh Merk – drums
GABRIEL MBANDA QUINTET
Gabriel Mbanda understands his music as a bridge-building act. The Cameroon-born bassist, composer, and singer weaves the traditions of his homeland with the openness of jazz and the rhythmic diversity of blues and Latin music. Singing in the Bantu language, he tells stories of human encounters, of courage, and of a hopeful new beginning. These themes attain a particular intimacy through his gentle yet haunting voice.
His quintet embeds these narratives into a richly colored tapestry of sound. Gabriel Mbanda’s bass playing forms a buoyant, organic foundation upon which piano, saxophone, and percussion find space for solo excursions and dense collective improvisations. It is a music of openness that makes the influences of travels and encounters audible, offering an authentic, cosmopolitan perspective on the musical present of the African continent.
Line-Up:
Gabriel Mbanda – bass, vocals
Michael Reiß – tenor saxophone
Theodor Kollross – piano/keys
Leon Graff – drums
Cesar Gamero – percussion
Zehntscheuer Ravensburg
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