Nils Gessinger

It´s been 33 years since nine year old Nils Gessinger amazed a crowd of 400 guests with his piano playing. Today the 12-piece Nils Gessinger Band fills the halls of international jazz festivals, not only charming the listeners´ ears, but also having a hit with "Angel" in indonesian radio charts.For such a career you need luck, but with no doubt it didn´t happen accidentally: having his first classical lessons through his grandfather, found the love for the "blue notes" at the jazz club of his parents, and got in touch with black funk&soul in the disco of his brother.With such a variety of experiences taken at southern german bands he studied "Jazz&Classics" at the university of music Hamburg (Prof. Dr. Dieter Glawischnig). At that time the passionate motorcyclist established himself in the Hamburg music scene.Dee Dee Bridgewater, Inga Rumpf, the Platters, Georg Danzer, Patti LaBelle or the Three Degrees appreciate his virtuosity and his musical sensitivity, the NDR BigBand (North German RadioBigBand) hired him for many studio- and live productions. Meanwhile he is conductor and leader of Jazzessence, the state youth jazz orchestra of Hamburg, having recorded 4 CD´s (amongst others with Bob Mintzer and Herb Geller ).1995 Nils produced the not only in professional circles highly acclaimed first CD "Ducks´n´Cookies". With a total of 28 musicians (with guests such as Inga Rumpf, Bridget Fogle, Peter Weniger, Billy King or Herb Geller) 14 Funk-, Soul-, Latin- and Fusion original compositions were mixed in Dolby Surround.About the recording contract with US-label GRP people tell of the story of Tommi LiPuma, legendary producer of Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Randy Crawford or David Sanborn, who at a visit in Germany heard a tape of Nils Gessinger and signed him immediately and so far as first european artist.The international success of the album led to invitations at big jazz festivals. Juli 1995 he was opening for George Benson at Westport-Festival Hamburg, november 1995 he was sharing the stage with Spyro Gyra .1996 the pianist, arranger and composer had enough material to produce his second CD "Scratch Blue". 41 musicians, with guitar legend Robben Ford and trombone player Nils Landgren to name just a few, played a mixture of vocal- and instrumental tunes resulting invitations to international festivals like North Sea Jazz Festival 1996 in The Hague.1997 ARD (major german TV-station) taped a 60 minute live performance "Ohne Filter Extra" with Robben Ford as special guest.2003 Nils released the album "Jam it up!", consisting of 16 new titels being produced in Los Angeles and Hamburg, Germany, featuring Dave Weckl on drums, Peter Weniger on sax and Joe Gallardo on trombone amongst others as special guests.Just now his new CD "Burning" featuring drum legend Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Zappa), Peter Weniger on sax (Lionel Richie) as well as Joe Gallardo on trombone (Stan Kenton) has been released.