Kreuzüber Bach
Gunther Tiedemann | cello, church organ | Michael Villmow | saxophone
Jazz and imrovisations on J. S. Bach's Cello Suites No. 1 and 2
In this programme Michael Villmow and Gunther Tiedemann set a main focus on the music by J.S. Bach. The harmonic structure as well as the improvising character of his work allow a dialogue with typical features of Jazz music. However, the two musicians don't refer to the term "swinging Bach", but to a more associative and playful exposure to the musical material involved.
The associative character of the programme is also reflected in the German title KREUZÜBER BACH, which is a pun made out of the English term CROSSOVER BACH. It´s not easy to translate all the playful allusions this pun can evoke with a German audience: Cross over Bach, intersecting Bach, # over Bach and of course the English way: Crossover Bach.
Pavilion Mies van der Rohe Barcelona, "Bach 'n' more" Fraumünster Zürich, Kölner Dom, Vokalensemble Kölner Dom, Cologne Jazz Night, Festival "Musik in den Häusern der Stadt" Köln, Bachwoche Greifswald, KlassikSommer Hamm, Hohenloher Kultursommer, Stolberger Musiksommer, Orgeltage Stralsund, Festival "Musik im Haus" Mönchengladbach, Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, Leo-Breuer-Preisverleihung Rheinisches LandesMuseum Bonn, Jazzclub Lippstadt, Altes Zollhaus Wissen, Immanuelskirche Wuppertal, Kantorei Barmen Gemarke, Altenberger Dom, Abtei Marienstatt, Abtei Königsmünster Meschede, Abtei Brauweiler, Franziskanerkloster Kempen, Christuskirche Köln, Christianskirche Hamburg, St. Martini Bremen, St. Lamberti-Kirche Oldenburg, Nikolaikirche Wismar, Dom Güstrow, Münster Bad Doberan, Nikolaikirche Siegen, Johanneskirche Mönchengladbach, Gnadenkirche Pulheim, St. Martinus Bigge, Probsteikirche Brilon, Marktkirche Neuwied, St. Nikolaus Bensberg, St. Josef Weyerbusch, Kulturkirche Landow/Rügen sowie Kirchen in Kühlungsborn, Anklam, Zinnowitz, Koserow, Lütow, Bansin, Heringsdorf, Ahlbeck, Usedom u.a.
„An absolutely stimulating program item at the Cologne Jazz Night in our house was the duo 'Kreuzüber Bach'. I liked the special timbres and the dense atmosphere. The response was extremely positive, not only I was captivated. Very stylish and atmospheric, just very, very beautiful.“
Prof. Josef Protschka, Cologne University of Music and Dance, Rector until 2009
„ 'Kreuzüber Bach' is an instrumental duo and at the same time a musical concept to deal with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in an original way. An impressive and exciting experience for the listener. Saxophonist Michael Villmow and cellist Gunther Tiedemann stage a subtle network of lines, colours and rhythms in which Bach's music and the musicians' ideas and interpretations are seamlessly combined. An emotional and intellectual pleasure.“
Prof. Wolfgang Breuer, Cologne University of Music and Dance
