Erdmann-Rohrer Quartet

The Pharos Arts Foundation in collaboration with the Goethe Institut Zypern and the Institut Francais Chypre, and supported by the Deutsch-französischer Kulturfonds/ Fonds Cultural Franco-Allemand, jointly present the fascinating Erdmann-Rohrer Quartet, comprising four of the most renowned jazz performers of our time: saxophonist Daniel Erdmann, cellist Vincent Courtois, guitarist Frank Möbus and drummer Samuel Rohrer. The concert will take place in the open-air venue of the Pharos Arts Foundation, The Olive Grove, in Delikipos, on Saturday 6 June at 8:30pm.

ERDMANN – ROHRER QUARTET
Daniel Erdmann / tenor saxophone
Vincent Courtois / cello
Frank Möbus / guitar
Samuel Rohrer / drums

For most of its history, jazz was a soloist’s music: one melody instrument improvising accompanied by a rhythm section. The composition’s theme was generally just a departure point for the soloists’ excursions. What counted most was the solo – that was where musicians could show off their virtuosity and aplomb, that was where they displayed individuality and fantasy, as well as a deeper understanding of the harmonic subtleties of jazz. Daniel Erdmann and Samuel Rohrer stir fresh air into jazz music-making. Their jazz essentially questions the soloistic principle: in this music no soloist takes the focus, everything is focused on composition and form, expressed through the sound of the Quartet. In terms of their concept, this ensemble is more related to a classical string quartet than a hard bop combo. In fact, solos survive in this music, even in their collective and free form, but they fulfil a different function: the improvisations serve the composition and they are embedded into the arrangements. Not an end in themselves, they are a means to an end, always referring to the atmosphere, construction and tonality of the respective piece.

Refined arrangements constitute the interior of the pieces and bring diversity into the playing by employing the instruments wisely. Inventive combinations of instruments display surprising tone colours. The musicians draw on the abundant treasure of their musical experience: rock sounds, jazz feeling, popular music, free improvisation as well as classical composition – everything brews together, soundly and organically fermenting into an idiosyncratic style synthesis.

Daniel Erdmann plays his tenor saxophone in multifarious manners but always with his singular artistic identity. A graduate of the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin, shuttles between Paris and Berlin, having performed all over the world (including all major festivals in Berlin, Paris, New York, Lisbon, Rotterdam) and with appearances on numerous CD recordings. Under his own name he has released CDs on Enja Records, ACT, INTAKT. He is a cofounder and member of DAS KAPITAL.

French-born cellist and composer Vincent Courtois is as agile in changing from bow to pizzicato as he is in swapping bass line for melody. He began playing the cello at the age of 6, and received classical studies at the Conservatory in Aubervilliers and Paris before discovering jazz and improvisation. His first CD was released in 1990 and since then he has recorded more than 10 CDs.
Frank Möbus feeds his guitar through an arsenal of effects, generating spherical tones or howling in rock style. Graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he has appeared in numerous jazz festivals in Europe, Asia, USA and Africa (Montreux, Bell Atlantic Festival, Moers Jazzfestival, Jazz d´or Straßbourg) and he is the leader and producer of the group "Der Rote Bereich".

Co-leader Samuel Rohrer contributes several highly inventive compositions to the band repertoire. He treats his drums as far more than a rhythm instrument. This melodic drum playing exploits the range of dynamic possibilities, blends in elastically and is always exactly to the point. Samuel studied at the Hochschule der Künste (formerly Swiss Jazz School) in Berne, recorded several albums for ECM, Intakt, HatHut and other labels and created his own label Arjunamusic Records in 2012. He has been touring all over the world, appearing in all major festivals, including, Montreal International Jazz Festival, NorthSea Festival Rotterdam and CTM Festival Berlin.

Tickets:
€15 / €10 Concessions & members of the Pharos Arts Foundation,
Box Office: Directly from the Foundation’s website www.pharosartsfoundation.org/ or Tel. 96669003 (Monday - Friday 10:00am-3:00pm)