Martin Zenker

New Territory will be on Tour in Europe between September 20th and October 13th 2008Tim Armacost (USA) TS/SS Chris Varga (USA) VIB Martin Zenker (D) B/Lead/Comp Rick Hollander (USA) DRNew Territory is the current band of Munich based internationally active bass player Martin Zenker. And the name says it all: the music originates exclusively from the pen of Martin Zenker, who has allowed the impressions gained on numerous tours and journeys around the World to influence his compositions. It is therefore not surprising that Zenker has made such an exquisite choice of musicians to join him on this project. New York saxophonist Tim Armacost amongst the very finest in his field and so is the exeptional Vibraphonist Chris Varga, originally from the US but baesed in Seoul, Southkorea. American drummer Rick Hollander and Martin Zenker himself are at the heart of many sought-after rhythm sections in Europe. All four have worked together many times in various musical contexts, which makes them an ideal unit for this demanding and sophisticated project. Following his highly successful work as leader of the band UGETSU, Zenker breaks new ground with his new formation New Territory, augmenting the term „Contemporary" by a further facet. The music is taylor made to the virtuosity and elan of the band members, resulting in music with is both refreshing and lends new colours to jazz. On this tour the band will present it..s new CD which has been recorded during the last tour in fall 2007.The musicians Martin Zenker, Bass, Leader, Composer: born 1970 in Munich, Zenker has worked in all areas of music and in all the continents of the world. The collaboration with Rick Hollander and Tim Armacost began in 1991, after he had completed his studies at the Richard-Strauss-Conservatory in Munich. From 1996 – 2000 he lead his own band UGETSU with which he completed several international tours including countries as far afield as Australia, China and South Africa. Numerous recording document these concerts. In addition he worked frequently with James Moody, Conte Candoli, Jimmy Cobb, Ed Thigpen, Billy Hart, Johannes Enders and others. Together with Munich born bass player Andreas Kurz, Zenker is also leader of the band Bass’n’Bass, which highlights his prowess as soloist, whereas in New Territory the focus is on his accomplishment as composer. He is a permanent member of the Billy Hart Trio and also of trumpeter Valery Ponomarev’s and saxophonist Don Braden’s New York based Band „Universal Language", which plays regularly at Festivals and in clubs in the USA. Selected Discography: UGETSU Live in Athens UGETSU There’s Something on the Way UGETSU Live in Shanghai UGETSU Cape Town Blues UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE The Messenger (with Jimmy Cobb) Conte Candoli Quartet Live at Birdland Claus Raible Trio Live at Birdland (with Ed thigpan) Al Porcino Big Band Live at NachtcafÈ Mariette Radtke Sextet Motion Club Sebastian Hoess Sextet Wonder Billy Hart Trio Live in Europe UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE Beyond the Obvious Tim Armacost, Saxophone has worked for many years with Zenker and Hollander. Armacost is a true cosmopolitan: born in Los Angeles, he grew up first in Japan before he moved first to New York and then to Amsterdam, where he was engaged as lecturer at the Sweelink Conservatory. Following an extended period of study in India, he finally moved back to New York in 1993, where he has in the meantime established himself as a mainstay of the jazz scene. As with Zenker, Tim Armacost’s personal approach to music is highly influenced by his wide experience of other musical cultures, lending his playing enormous stature and power. This quality pervades his regular tours with his own quartet with Bruch Barth, Ray Drummond and Billy Hart. As sideman he has shared the stage with Al Foster, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Baron, Roy Hargrove, Randy Brecker and many, many more. Selected Discography: Tim Armacost Quartet: Brightly Dark Fire The Wishing Well Live at Bimhuis Live at Smalls (featuring Tom Harrell) Double Double I Mean You www.timarmacost.com Chris Varga..s musical background is widely varied, ranging from jazz, classical, church, rock, pop, 20th century avant-garde, trip-hop and other unclassifiable genres. His formal education includes a BM in percussion from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an MM in jazz studies from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, plus a few months at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied vibes with Victor Mendoza. His informal education includes freelancing on vibraphone and drums in the Chicago area, performing at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, the JVC Jazz Festival in Seoul, and the Singapore International Jazz Festival. Chris has also performed with Peter Bernstein, Steve Slagle, Dave Stryker, Howard Levy, Ulf Wakenius, Darren Barrett and others.  He can be heard on the recent C2K Trio release, “Unbalanced Beauty”, featuring Kenji Omae on tenor saxophone.  Rick Hollander, drums, was born 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing drums at the age of nine. He studied first with Gene Stewart and Roy Brooks before going to the Oakland Community College to study piano, theory and composition. In 1979 Hollander moved to New York and in 1987 to Europe. Rick Hollander can already look back on an exceptional career encompassing concerts and studio sessions with such notable musicians as Woody Shaw, James Moody, Tim Hagans, Roy Hargrove, Walt Weiskopf, Brad Mehldau, Philippe Catherine and many others. As bandleader Hollander has toured regularly with his own quartet in Europe, Japan and USA. His enormous musicality is documented on more than 40 CDs. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ORGANIZERS: As performing musician and composer, I find the principles and practices of the GEMA (German Performing Rights Society) unrealistic and incorrect. For this reason all the music played at our concerts is free of GEMA (performing rights) restrictions. Booking and contact: Martin Zenker Barer Strasse 75 80799 Munich Fon: -49 172 7945560 email: [email protected]