Sounds and Grooves: „George Gershwin – sein Leben, seine Musik“

In its current program, the trio “Sounds and Grooves” explores the life and work of American composer George Gershwin. The focus is on the jazz side of one of the most significant musicians of the 20th century, whose works—such as “An American in Paris,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” and “Porgy and Bess”—are still celebrated worldwide today.

Belgian singer Hilde Vanhove and the two German musicians Michael Kotzian (piano) and Stefan Werni (double bass) present a selection from Gershwin’s extensive songbook, which comprises more than 400 titles. Classics such as “’S Wonderful,” “Embraceable You,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” are performed in arrangements created specifically for a jazz trio—deliberately featuring a minimalist yet sonically rich ensemble without drums.

Between musical performances, Hilde Vanhove guides the audience through Gershwin’s life: from his early days in Brooklyn, New York, through his great successes on Broadway, to his final years in Hollywood. The result is a varied concert evening that combines music with biographical insights.

“Sounds and Grooves” has been performing on national and international stages for many years and has appeared at festivals such as Euroclassic, the Trier-Saarburg Culture Days, and the Thuringia Jazz Mile, among others. The ensemble has also performed multiple times at the Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural Summer. The three musicians embody stylistic diversity, international experience, and a vibrant interpretation of the classic jazz repertoire.
The audience can look forward to an atmospheric evening of swinging American jazz—multifaceted, narrative, and true to the original, yet interpreted with their own artistic flair.