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Live Music Returns to Berlin

In the past two years, Berlin’s clubs had to postpone their concerts countless times because of lockdowns and restrictions that had to be put in place to curb the Coronavirus. Now, the music is back. Sound the alarm!

Berlin, March 8th, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) — So, what’s the live music situation in Berlin? In order to find out, we just have to look at one of the city’s best clubs, the legendary Quasimodo. Absolutely everyone has hit the stage here, especially Jazz, Soul, Funk and World Music artists. (Read separate article ‘Berlin’s Quasimodo Club: Where Music is Still Music‘.) Now the music is back. As long as the virus agrees, we can experience stunning gigs again. It’s about time.

Frank and Martha

The Quasimodo would not be the Quasimodo if its Spanish booker had not lined up the greatest acts he could find. Frank Gambale will be there on March 20th, 2022. The Australian guitarist was nominated for two Grammys and has delivered truckloads of powerful Jazz-Rock on as many as 15 studio albums and one live record of his own. Besides, he was part of the Fusion act Vital Information and played with the Chick Corea Elektric Band. Welcome to Berlin, Frank!

The author of this article remembers this Jazz-Rock killer by Frank Gambale. ‘High Five’ was recorded in 1991.

Martha High (see main photo at top of page), one of the greatest Soul singers on the planet, will be raising the roof at the Quasimodo on April 23rd, 2022. How many people you know have sung with James Brown for three decades? With him, she flew to Vietnam to perform for the soldiers there in the early 1970s, and to Zaire in 1974, where she became part of the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ when Muhammed Ali and George Forman fought it out down there. Today, she is Maceo Parker’s lead singer and she tours with her own band. There is only one Martha High.

Russell and Nikki

Guess who else is coming to the Quasimodo: The Yellowjackets. In 1981, Russell Ferrante’s group recorded one of the most brilliant Jazz-Funk and Fusion albums ever. Its title was the band name. ‘Matinee Idol’, ‘The Hornet’ and other tunes are unforgettable. Now, 41 years and 26 albums later, they will be in the club of clubs located in the city of cities. Apart from Russell Ferrante on the keyboards, William Kennedy on the drums and Dane Anderson on the bass, Bob Mintzer is part of the pack. The genius saxophone hero, composer and arranger won’t even have to travel that much, because he co-leads the WDR Big Band in Cologne, meaning he is in Germany a lot anyway.

The Quasimodo is situated in Berlin’s Charlottenburg borough. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

The Quasimodo will be presenting even more killer concerts. On May 1st, 2020, the British Jazz-Funk group Shakatak will be there (see separate article ‘Shakatak to Spread British Jazz-Funk in Germany‘). Nikki Hill from South Carolina is scheduled to be on stage on May 21st, 2022, delivering Blues and ‘Deep South Soul’. By the way: The acts mentioned in this piece are only the tip of the iceberg. A billion more artists will be there too.

Vaccinated and Tested

These are still Corona times. For now, the ‘2G Plus rule’ applies at the Quasimodo. This means everyone needs to be fully vaccinated and tested. Even persons who got booster shots need Corona tests. On March 20th, those rules will likely change, if the Corona infection numbers decrease by then. Hey, at least the music is back. Check out the Quasimodo’s entire program here.

Related articles:
Shakatak to Spread British Jazz-Funk in Germany
Berlin’s Quasimodo Club: Where Music is Still Music

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