Mastering diversity is one of JazzSteps (opens in a new tab)’ hallmarks. With an astonishing range, this band captivates audiences not only with its stylistic richness but also with its extensive repertoire of over 100 songs. JazzSteps performs jazz standards from the 1930s through the 1960s, blues, Latin American pieces, and, of course, pop and soul. They play polished, concert-style club jazz and pop—traditional yet not what you’d hear every day—that’s also perfect as background music for any celebration. The band consists of top-tier, renowned jazz musicians from the Rhine-Main region:

Silvia Willecke (vocals), Jörg Heuser (guitar), Thomas Bachmann (sax), Ralf Cetto (bass), and Mark Collazo (percussion).

With his current project, “All About That Double Bass,” Bastian Weinig places the double bass at the center of the jazz trio (opens in a new tab). The program highlights the versatility of this instrument while drawing on the tradition of jazz standards. In addition to its grounding role in the rhythm section, the double bass becomes a melodic instrument and is frequently featured in solo passages by Bastian Weinig. As a result, familiar themes that you can hum along to are presented in extraordinary ways. The “Bastian Weinig Standards Trio” shares a common passion for swing. Musically inspired by groundbreaking jazz albums—such as those by Oscar Peterson (with Ray Brown), Monty Alexander (with John Clayton), or Bill Evans (with Scott LaFaro)—the trio draws from the rich tradition of jazz and presents favorite standards with a fresh twist, complemented by original compositions. An unmistakable sound, virtuoso solos, a solid groove, memorable melodies, and fluid ensemble playing come together to form a unique band chemistry that is both captivating and a joy to experience.

Overall, the “All About That Double Bass” program reveals not only the sonic facets and outstanding mastery of this wonderful instrument, but also the harmony and precise interplay of this jazz trio. It is a tribute to the depth and versatility of the double bass—or, in short: “All About That Double Bass.” 

Lineup: Bastian Weinig – Double Bass / Lukas Ruschitzka – Piano / Max Hering – Drums

With *Kind of Cool, Jazz & Latin Grooves*, (opens in a new tab) Daniel Tochtermann is launching a new trio in which the musician—born in Switzerland and raised in the Rhine-Main region—shines equally as a guitarist and singer, supported by two top instrumentalists: double bassist Ralf Cetto (who has worked with Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Tony Lakatos, and Angela & Alex Frontera, among others) and drummer Andreas Neubauer (who has worked with Tango Transit, Larry Coryell, and the Rilke Project, among others).

Both Cetto and Neubauer have also gained extensive experience with Brazilian music—in bands, on stage, and in the studio. This plays right into Tochtermann’s hands, as he has always favored Latin music alongside jazz, and during an extended stay in Rio de Janeiro, he also immersed himself deeply in the world of bossa nova and samba. So it was not surprising—but nonetheless remarkable—that he sang in Portuguese quite naturally on his album “To Mingle And Mine.” He now builds on these original vocal tracks with *Kind of Cool*, pairing them with his own instrumental compositions in the guitar jazz idiom and mixing into the repertoire jazz standards and Brazilian classics by great composers and performers such as Jorge Ben, Chico Buarque, and Ivan Lins—who also contributed vocals to Daniel Tochtermann’s “Brasil” album. Melodic richness takes center stage.