GERT KAPO QUARTETT „AMANET“

In the organizer's words:

Gert Kapo - Piano, Keys, Comp. | Epaminondas Ladas - Guitar/Oud | Armin Alic - Bass | Mirek Pyschny - Drums


Gert Kapo
Born in Tirana, Albania, and living in Cologne since the mid-90s, pianist Gert Kapo released his debut solo album "AMANET" on the Wuppertal label Royal Street Records in June 2024.
After many years of working as a pianist, composer and producer, mainly for other artists, the coronavirus crisis gave Gert Kapo the time and space to finally realize an album under his own name.
In Albanian, "AMANET" stands for a gift of special value that is entrusted to a person. In the musical sense, it refers to a melody or composition that is handed down from generation to generation.
Accordingly, the traditional music of Albania and the Balkans plays a central role in the nine original compositions on the album. But that's not all, because the classically trained pianist Gert Kapo has loved jazz since his youth and has studied many other musical traditions very intensively. All these influences result in a completely new and unique sound, which is also shaped by the musicians involved in the album:
Many masters of their craft from different countries and with very different musical backgrounds took part in the studio recordings for "AMANET". Gert Kapo is very much looking forward to sharing his "AMANET" with the world. On the evening, his quartet will play pieces from the album as well as new compositions in the warm atmosphere of Bistro Verde. The line-up consists of four of the original thirteen musicians who contributed to the album.

Epaminondas Ladas
Epaminondas Ladas studied jazz guitar in Cologne with Prof. Frank Haunschild, Prof. Werner Neumann and Jorg Lehnard. He combines modern jazz with influences from Greek traditional music.
With ensembles such as New Phalanx, Rebetikon and the Gert Kapo Quartet, he shows how the
jazz guitar can become a new form of expression. He combines virtuoso improvisation with the
Greek musical traditions, creating an unmistakable, modern sound that transcends cultural boundaries.
sound that transcends cultural boundaries.
In addition to his work as a musician, he also works as a teacher and curator, including for the
CultConcerts series in Cologne.

Armin Alic
Armin Alic, the German bassist with Bosnian roots, is co-founder of the Wuppertal World Music, which has existed for 15
of the Wuppertal world music collective Royal Street Orchestra, which has been in existence for 15 years. In addition
Until recently, he played for many years in the band of Wuppertal blues guitarist Henrik
Freischlader.

Mirek Pyschny
Mirek Pyschny (born in Katowice, Poland) is a versatile drummer between jazz,
world music, hip-hop and improvisation. He has performed internationally with artists such as Samy
Deluxe, Gerd Dudek, Nils Landgren and Paul Reddick. For ten years he was a member of the Schal Sick
Brass Band for ten years and founded the duo DUS-TI, which performed at the Moers Festival, among others. Mirek Pyschny has won several awards, including the Creole National Competition, Biberach Jazz Prize, Avignon Jazz Festival
Avignon Jazz Festival. Since 2011, he has been a lecturer for percussion and rhythm at the Cologne University of Music and
Dance Cologne, Wuppertal department.
You can look forward to jazz with Balkan fire and Mediterranean spirit!

Press reviews
Lowbeats.de 16.06.'24, Claus Dick
"...a captivating album that offers a clever range between Balkan rhythms and
piano jazz appeal and a great sound"

Eclipsed Magazine 07-08/24
"Gert Kapo's debut album is much more than the debut of a jazz pianist. Sometimes Kapo plays brashly,
sometimes cool and relaxed, sometimes extremely elegant, but he always shows a carefree playfulness.
There is nothing hectic here, and it is precisely this casual elegance that is the album's strength"

Jazz-fun.de
Wonderful compositions and arrangements as well as an interestingly expanded range of instruments
provide a great variety of sounds. The album develops and becomes more fascinating with every new note.
more fascinating. The music at the interface between jazz and oriental melodies offers
many possibilities for interpretation and improvisation, which are skillfully used by the invited musicians.
skillfully used by the invited musicians. (Jacek Brun, 22.06.2024)

Virgin Jazz Face 30.06.'24 Christoph Giese
What Gert Kapo has recorded on his solo debut album "Amanet" sounds pretty exciting. The pianist and composer comes from Albania, which fortunately can also be heard on this recording. Albanian folk songs, but also a Syrian love song and a lot of self-composed music can be heard on this recording. And also that Kapo loves classical, rock, fusion and Brazilian music. With guitarist Nenad Gajin, percussionist Rhani Krija and alto saxophonist Hayden Chisholm, Kapo has gathered super musicians around him to play his always surprising-sounding jazz. A real discovery, this man.

Price information:

Tickets at 0221 93550417 or info@walterscheidt.net