Century of Song

Mory Kanté, Dhafer Youssef, R.A. Ramamani, Mike Herting and friends
Concerts 1 and 2 September, 8 pm

Wolfgang Niedecken, Mike Herting and friends plus very special fireworks
Concert 14 October, 7 pm

When Marc Ribot, Vinicious Cantuària, Bill Frisell & Friends started the first Century of Song-concert on May 30, 2003 in the Maschinenhalle Zweckel in lovely Gladbeck, it was quite clear which musical vain of gold we had found. At the latest, when the last angry guitar eruptions about songs from the American Civil War, an electrifying interpretation of Jimi Hendrix’ The Wind Cries Mary and Duke Ellington’s Caravan, had been dying down, one could imagine that this series would become more than a modest nostalgic trip.
During the following years, consistent overwhelming encounters and moments arose: Let’s remember the terrific playful Roy Black medley by Joacchim Kühn, the sensitive interpretation of Pete Townshend’s Who-rocker Behind Blue Eyes by Suzanne Vega and the unforgettable duet of the Beatles classic You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away by Rickie Lee Jones and Vic Chesnutt. Again and again, strong musical excursions took place – and this emotionality did not merely originate from retrospection: When for instance last year Laurie Anderson and Greg Cohen voiced Hanns Elsner’s Mutter Beimlein, when David Byrne played Giuseppe Verdi’s Un di felice from La Traviata together with the Duisburg Philharmonics, these excursions stood for the curiosity of the artists they had towards the tune, the song or the aria.
This year Mike Herting will be the fourth curator for Century of Song after Bill Frisell, Mathias Rüegg and Greg Cohen. Herting who is one of the most outstanding pianists and arrangers of his generation will conceptualise his repertory by playing the piano – an instrument that is deeply positioned in the Blues, Rock’n’Roll, Swing as well as in the Jazz. Herting is going to begin Century of Song with the musical richness of the Arabian and Indian culture together with Dhafer Youssef, R.A. Ramamani and friends. Dhafer Youssef will honour one American hero however as well: Nat King Cole who has been a formative influence. And the grand virtuoso of the classic Carnatic music of Southern India, R.A. Ramamani, is going to interpret songs of Billie Holiday.
Mike Herting will end this year’s Century of Song with one of the most prominent German singer. Wolfgang Niedecken will not only stage his classics in a new guise but also his musical role models and their songs – and it is not merely Bob Dylan who will be presented. By means of this concert, beautiful fireworks and some accompanying drinks, Jürgen Flimm, the Century of Song-staff and further precious co-workers will say Good-Bye.