Projects

the Art of the Duo

the Art of the Duo ist das neue Projekt der Nürnberger Harfenistin Maja Taube und des Berner Bassklarinettisten Jan Galega Brönnimann. Beide haben sie den Kulturförderpreis des Bezirkes Mittelfranken und des Kantons Bern gewonnen.

Hier trifft die klassisch ausgebildete Harfenistin Maja Taube auf den in der Jazz-, World- und Elektro Szene bekannten Bassklarinettisten Jan Galega Brönnimann. Geschickt werden ihre beiden musikalischen Welten vermischt und ineinander verwoben. Die Musik der beiden gleichberechtigten Duo Partner*innen ist geprägt von den rhythmisch prägnanten, perlenden Klängen der Harfe und den mal rauchigen, lyrischen, dann wieder perkussiven Melodielinien der Bassklarinette. Die fliessenden Übergänge zwischen Komposition, Interpretation und Improvisation sorgen für Spannung und Abwechslung. Es entsteht eine zeitgenössische Kammermusik 

Video Play List

https://www.youtube.com/playlist

Maja Taube wurde 1972 in Berlin geboren und ist in Nürnberg aufgewachsen, wo sie bereits mit acht Jahren ihren ersten Harfenunterricht erhielt. Am Meistersinger-Konzervatorium in Nürnberg studierte sie als Gaststudentin und machte dort später ihren Abschluss. Ausserdem studierte sie am Mozarteum in Salzburg.
Nach einigen Jahren als Harfenistin in den Staatsorchestern von Nürnberg, Hof und Coburg, begann sie, ihre eigenen Projekte zu verwirklichen und sich mit Folk, Weltmusik, Minimal und Jazz zu beschäftigen. Auf der Suche nach Musik, die aus dem Instrument heraus entsteht, entwickelt sie ihre ganz eigene Klangsprache auf der Harfe. Die Soloprojekte Klanggewebe und Treibgut entstehen mit ihren eigenen Kompositionen. Aktuell spielt Maja Taube Solo, im Duo mit dem Schweizer Bassklarinettisten Jan Galega Brönnimann und mit ihrer Band, dem Treibgut-Ensemble.
Darüberhinaus engagiert sie sich in verschiedenen Jazz-, Improvisations- und Neue Musik Projekten.

In 2023 ist sie Kulturförderpreisträgerin des Bezirkes Mittelfranken.

www.maja-taube.de

Jan Galega Brönnimann wurde in Kamerun geboren. Er ist  seit Jahren bekannt als innovativer Grenzgänger. Als Komponist und Instrumentalist arbeitete er mit Leuten wie Nils Petter Molvaer, Sidsel Endresen, Pierre Favre, Eivind Aarset, Saadet Türköz, Eddie Floyd, Round Table Knights, Kenny Werner, Michael Zisman, Maja Taube, Aly Keïta, Lucas Niggli, Werner Hasler, Omri Hason, Moussa Cissokho und vielen mehr. Er hat sich in den letzten  30 Jahren einen Namen gemacht und tourte durch Europa, Afrika, Asien, Amerika und Russland, wo er an internationalen Festivals auftrat.

Als Auszeichnung für seine Arbeit erhielt er von Pro Helvetia das Artist in Residence Stipendium 2008 in Cape Town Südafrika und eine Research Residency von Pro Helvetia in Shanghai  2015 
Kulturpreis des Kantons Bern: Anerkennungspreis als "Honorierung von besonders bedeutenden musikalischen Leistungen"
2004 Gewinner des int. Kompositionswettbewerbes für science et cité
beim 38th annual jazz station award erhielt er eine "nomination for the best bass clarinet player of 2016“ 

jangalegabroennimann.ch

galega_optickle

sensory intoxication - a mind-expanding experience of sound and vision.

“galega_optickle”  is the new audio visual project of Jan Galega Brönnimann and Optickle.
Acoustic and electronic soundscapes, melodies and loops, breath and bass, rhythms and clicks – this is the musical world of Jan Galega Brönnimann.

“In his performances, he is creating a hypnotic and progressive sound rooted in different musical traditions and at the same time setting a path for the future.” (Musikreviews, Jochen König)

jan galega brönnimann bass clarinet, kontra altoclarinet, electronics
optickle live visuals

In collaboration with the video artists from Optickle, Galega composes an enrapturing audio-visual experience. Impressions from everyday life are condensed into unexpected creations. In contrast and mutual interaction, motifs of nature and urban worlds evolve into experimental landscapes. These multi-layered virtual worlds, often built from simple casual details, sharpen the audience’s awareness of it’s own contemplation of everyday life and allow for a glimpse behind the superficial.

https://vimeo.com/205532989

World, Jazz, griot

Jan Galega Brönnimann Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone

Moussa Cissokho Kora, Vocal

Omri Hason oriental percussion, hang

Videos:

jmo youtube channel

official video "al nge taa"

standing ovation at jgtt jazz festival

Moussa Cissokho Jan Galega Brönnimann Omri Hason live in Turnov

The music of Jan Galega Brönnimann, Moussa Cissokho and Omri Hason is a reminisence of the Art of storytelling. The Trio creates a tension of traditional and modern music from Africa and Europe. The sparkling sound of the Kora (African Harp with 22 strings) meets the warm tone of the Bass Clarinet and the oriental percussion.

„Al nge taa“ is the first release of the trio. It means „let's move!“ in Mandinka, a language spoken in Gambia, Mali and Senegal. The songs are written by the three musicians and reflect their different backgrounds. Listening to    „Al nge taa“ is an unforgettable adventure thanks to its merging of different musical traditions, the band’s unique line-up and its wealth of ingenious melodies and rhythms.

Moussa Cissokho from Senegal is an exceptionally talented and skillful kora player, singer and composer. Born and raised in the famous griot family he was taught to play by his father from very early age travelling to assist in traditional ceremonies in Senegal. By the age of 13 he was choosen for the National Ballet of Senegal. He toured all over Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Moussa Cissokho now lives in Austria and works with different musicians in Africa and Europe.

Contemporary World Music

kalan teban

New CD out in february 2020!

Aly Keïta Balafon / Voice

Jan Galega Brönnimann Bass Clarinet

Lucas Niggli Percussion

videos:

live in china

teaser Konstanz

Aly Keita is one of the grand masters of the balafon, the West African xylophone. The Ivorian musician won countless awards (including the German World Music Award "Ruth") and fits the balafon in interaction with artists such as Joe Zawinul, Omar Sosa, Pharao Sanders, Paco Séry, Dobet Gnahore, Manu Gallo and Jan Garbarek. Together with the Swiss clarinetist Jan Galega Brönnimann and Swiss drummer Lucas Niggli, both born in Cameroon, Keïta mixes the traditional African repertoire with Western jazz, Improvisation and African rhythms. This "Brotherhood of vibes and Grooves" takes the audience on an adventurous ride - from the deepest jungle to great lengths under the African sky and back to Europe.

Jan Galega Brönnimann bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet, electronics

René Reimann guitar, electronics
Emanuel Schnyder bass, electronics
Christoph Staudenmann drums, computer

guests:
Nya vocals, electronics
Joy Frempong vocals

brink man ship „instant replay“

“Instant Replay”, Brink Man Ship’s latest CD is the result of an internet based collective composition, a unique forward moving flashback based on moments of improvisation and their reworking. The outcome is a postmodern urban jazz sound full of contrasts, delicate melodies and multilayered beats. The music creates a tension of harmony and ruptures, reflecting the contradictions of modern life.

View Videos.
Brink Man Ship

Nadja Stoller voc, loops, accordeon

Jan Galega Brönnimann bass clarinet, electronics

Ronan Skillen tabla, percussion, digderidoo, hybrid drum kit

The Swiss-South African trio A.Spell is one of the most exciting discoveries of the recent music scene. Urban, yet exotic, fragile and bombastic in the same breath; A.Spell put a spell on their audiences from Cape Town to Hamburg, from Maputo to Moscow.

‚A. Spell’ have found a trio where each musician complements the other perfectly. The band comprises of Vocalist and Accordeon player, Nadja Stoller, Bass Clarinet player and elctro wizard Jan Galega Brönnimann and the Percussionist, Tabla and Didgeridoo player Ronan Skillen from Cape Town, South Africa.

With the release of their debut album „Where The Strange Creatures Live“, A.Spell bring music where lyrically and structurally the songs are given special contexts within which they unfold in their own spacial feeling. Unfamiliar combinations of instruments and rich variety are specialities that are endlessly intriguing. Bass Clarinet and Tabla combined with playful electronics and a provocative Accordeon are the foundation for an otherworldly Voice soaring high above, reminding us of mystical beings, secrets behind mountains of snow and a forgotten pair of shoes.

‚Where The Strange Creature Live’ is a journey through surreal dreamworlds.

2015

Issa Kouyaté Kora

Jan Galega Brönnimann Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone

The music of Issa Kouyaté, Jan Galega Brönimann  is a reminisence of the Art of storytelling. The Trio creates a tension of traditional and mordern music from Africa and  Europe. The sparkling sound of the Kora (African Harp) meets the warm tone of the Bass Clarinet percussion. the result is a marvellous, soft and swinging afro manding songs of Issa Kouyaté, Jan Galega Brönnimann!

Issa Kouyaté from Senegal is an exceptionally talented and skillful kora player, singer and composer. Born and raised in a famous traditional griot/ jali family he was taught to play by his father from very early age travelling to assist in traditional ceremonies in Senegal, Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissau. He started his professional career accompanying various afro manding groups in Senegal such as Alalake, Wa Flash, G Kalima, Nakodje and most recently Ngua Néné with his niece singer Mariama Kouyaté, a rising star in Senegal and on the international scene. Ready to invest in his own solo career Issa moved to Switzerland in 2012 and produced his first album Tanian Tanian.

Jan Galega Brönnimann was born in Cameroon, West Africa. He has been on the scene for years and known for his innovative and cutting edge collaborations. As a composer and instrumentalist he has worked with the likes of: Nils Petter Molvaer, Sidsel Endresen, Pierre Favre, Saadet Türköz, Eddie Floyd, Round Table Knights Baba Salah, Aly Keïta and Kenny Werner. He is best known as a frontman with his own band, Brink Man Ship.

Jazz, Tango, Songs

Jan Galega Brönnimann Bass Clarinet, Contra alto clarinet, Soprano Saxophone

Michael Zisman bandoneon

The Art of the Duo: Jan Galega Brönnimann and Michael Zisman are strong improvisers with a unique language.  in this duo they are creating magic moments.