Nighthawks

This is the perfect way to set off on a journey in a relaxed mood. Smooth, groovy beats that blend funk and hip-hop, a laid-back, swinging guitar, and the cool, grounded sound of Reiner Winterschladen’s trumpet and flugelhorn. Sometimes flowing, sometimes driving the tempo, always capturing the pulse of life. The best music for the road. With the title of their latest album, the Nighthawks have set their sights on a long journey: “Paris Dakar.” They have to be called veterans of the scene.

Winterschladen on trumpet, Dal Martino on bass and at the controls: the two Cologne-based band founders have developed an unmistakable sound over nearly three decades. With Thomas Alkier on drums, Jörg Lehnardt on guitar, and Jürgen Dahmen on keyboards, the quintet becomes an ensemble in concert that knows exactly when to push forward and when to let things flow. The Kaue, with its 300 seats, is exactly the kind of venue where that blend of focus and ease—which the band is known for—truly comes to life.