Ubuntu - We Are One Gert Zimanowski

• 1Johnny Comes Marching Home06:32
• 2Golden Hand04:26
• 3Little Things06:18
• 4Stand Still03:10
• 5Live on Mars03:47
• 6Ubuntu05:07
• 74 Seasons05:48
• 8Nomades05:27
• 9Land of the Midnight Sun06:23
• Total Runtime46:58

Info for Ubuntu - We Are One

When Archbishop Desmond Tutu said “I am because we are”, he was encapsulating the ethos of the South African philosophy, “Ubuntu”, a word which, roughly translated, means “human kindness”. It is this spirit of interconnectedness that inspires jazz artist Gert Zimanowski in his daily life, in his composition, his lyrics, and the way he and his fellow musicians collaborated on this recording. The themes he treats in his lyrics, of equality and justice, are also achieved musically, through a balanced interchange among the fantastic ensemble members that came together for this album. It is music that speaks to the strength of solidarity and hope.

The music was created and performed by a collective of truly illustrious jazz musicians. Gert Zimanowski is a musical polymath who combines his roles as composer and lyricist with his own inimitable jazz performances on soprano saxophone and keyboards. Bill Ramsey is a legendary German-American singer and actor whose output in both fields is prolific and critically acclaimed. Barbara Dennerlein is an award-winning jazz organ virtuoso who has received particular acclaim for her work on the Hammond organ. Judith Erb is a singer of great skill and nuance, embracing jazz, pop, experimental and electronic music. They are joined by double bass virtuoso Karoline Höfler, and outstanding percussionists Bernhard Hering and Alex Pape.

“This German multi-instrumentalist bassist and songwriter’s ensemble features the Hammond organist Barbara Dennerlein and singer Bill Ramsey on a session informed by Township music with added folk-pop and jazz elements.” (JazzWise, Selwyn Harris)

Gert Zimanowski, saxophone, keyboards
Karoline Höfler, double bass
Bernhard Hering, drums, percussion
Alex Pape, drums, percussion
Special guests:
Barbara Dennerlein, vocals
Bill Ramsey, vocals

Gert Zimanowski
Seit Albert Mangelsdorff 1982 den Kontrabassisten Gert Zimanowski in das Deutsch-Französische-Jazz-Ensemble berief, beeindruckt vom Talent und der Creativität des jungen Mannes, entwickelte Gert über Jahre seine eigenen Musikidee. Das dieser Weg erfolgreich ist zeigt sich nicht zuletzt in der Anerkennung seiner Arbeit durch die Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden, die ihm 2011 den Integrationspreis verlieh. Seine Methode TALKTONE ermöglicht Kindern (und Erwachsenen) gleich welcher Sprache und Herkunft eine kraftvolle, kreative musikalische Zusammenarbeit. Es zeigt sich durch die Eichborn/Lido Produktion „Weihnachten mit Thomas Müller“, bei der er, gemeinsam mit seiner Schauspiel-Partnerin Renate Kohn mit klischee-freier Musik auf dem konventionellen Markt erfolgreich war. Und es zeigt sich durch die Zusammenarbeit mit unterschiedlichen Menschen und Stilrichtungen.

In 2014 waren das: Renate Kohn, Cornelius Hummel, Barbara Dennerlein, Bill Ramsey, Judith Erb, Karoline Höfler, Bernhard Hering, Axel Pape, Thomas Wächter, Saleh Rosati, Helge Heynold u.v.m.

Bei Projekten in denen er spielt: Sopransax, Kontrabass, Percussion, Keyboard, Electronics …

This album contains no booklet.