HERBIE‘S EXPLO 3000
HERBIE‘S EXPLO 3000
(Šveicarija)
Herbie Kopf – b, compositions
Adi Pflugshaupt – ss, fl, bc
Hans Feigenwinter – p
Pius Baschnagel – dr
Even though the quartet has been active for 18 years, their every meeting to make music metamorphoses into a new adventure. Because their music resembles open soundscapes absorbing most diverse influences. They create a playground-like atmosphere full of colours, curiosity and suspense… with plenty of poetry and a good sense of humour.
Each member of the quartet is an excellent instrumentalist and outstanding creative improviser. Thus the leader allows lots of space for their expressive solo flights and always keeps a good balance between planned dramaturgy and improvised interaction.
Herbie’s EXPLO 3000 toured extensively in France, Austria, Germany, Romania, the Ukraine, Lithuania and Switzerland. The quartet has released 5 CD’s (plus 2 more as Kopf’s nonet U.F.O.). On Birštonas Jazz stage the Swiss musicians will share music from their latest album Push or Pull.
Acclaimed Swiss bassist and composer Herbie Kopf has been frequenting Eastern Europe since 1994. He is closely associated with Lithuanian jazz scene. The musician collaborated with drummer Marijus Aleksa and keyboardist Dmitrij Golovanov, and also teamed up with them and trumpeter Mindaugas Vadoklis in Kopf’s quintet Swilit. With the aforementioned formation as well as with Dainius Pulauskas Group he appeared in Birštonas Jazz.
Having picked up bass guitar at the age 16, he soon started composing and arranging. Kopf began his career by playing in Swiss groups led by Daniel Schnyder, Harald Haerter, JoJo Mayer and other jazzmen.
His first visit to New York in 1982 incited Kopf to form his own groups and projects. For that he invited top jazz musicians such as Jack Walrath, Jerry Gonzalez, Paulo Mour, Seamus Blake, James Zollar, Mark Turner, Andy Scherer, Mike Clark and George Gruntz among others.
With his groups New Deal, Headphones, Hipnoses, Herbie Kopf Group, Wiesendanger-Kopf-Renold, Three Sirens and Herbie’s EXPLO 3000 the bassist toured Brazil, Greece, Spain, Russia, Poland, the Baltic countries and elsewhere in Europe, recorded more than 20 personal albums.
Kopf has collaborated with a number of celebrated jazz personalities such as Clifford Jordan, Charlie Mariano, Ray Anderson, Franco Ambrosetti, Patato Valdez, Luciana Souza, New York Voices and George Gruntz’s Concert Jazz Band. As a soloist he appeared with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of illustrious conductor John Axelrod.
Adrian Pflugshaupt graduated cum laude as a saxophonist from Lucerne Jazz School and furthered his education in New York’s New School. He was a member of the European Youth Jazz Orchestra, collaborated with jazz luminaries like Django Bates, Gil Evans Orchestra, George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, Hämi Hämmerli, Christoph Baumann, George Robert and Pepe Lienhard.
In addition to Herbie Kopf’s groups, he works in the Swiss and Zurich’s jazz orchestras.
Hans Feigenwinter graduated as a pianist from Bern Jazz School. Presently, he teaches in music colleges in Basel and Lucerne.
The pianist performs with his groups Zinc and Feigenwinter 3, gives recitals as an improviser, and composes. He has shared the stage with such jazz megastars as Woody Shaw, Franco Ambrosetti, Joe Lovano, Billy Hart, Buddy de Franco, Chico Freema, and Peter Schärl Sextet.
Pius Baschnagel studied at the Musicians Institute in California, honed his skills in Brazil and Cuba. Presently, he is an associate professor of the Zurich University of the Arts.
He has collaborated with many a jazz coryphée including Joshua Redman, Benny Golson, Chico Freeman, Jean-Michel Pilc, Till Broenner, Jimmy Woode, Alex Sipiagin, Thomas Gansch, Nubya, Benny Bailey, George Gruntz, Barbara Dennerlein, and the NDR Big Band.
