news
What’s new
Tamara Lukasheva releases new single »Singet Leise«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/tamara-lukasheva-veroeffentlicht-neue-single-singet-leise/e4f21afe4e-1612134098/tamara-lukasheva-harald-hoffmann-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Tamara Lukasheva releases new single »Singet Leise«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/tamara-lukasheva-veroeffentlicht-neue-single-singet-leise/e4f21afe4e-1612134098/tamara-lukasheva-harald-hoffmann-1024x1024.jpg)
NICA artist Tamara Lukasheva bringt vor der Veröffentlichung ihres neuen Solo-Albums »Gleichung« die Single »Singet Leise« heraus. Hier greift sie die Lyrik Clemens Brentanos auf und gibt dessen Gedicht »Wiegenlied« neues Leben.
The single will be released on 31/01/21 on the label wismArt, the album »Gleichung« will follow in March.
photo: © Harald Hoffmann
ZEHN - Winterjazz Köln 2021 - January 8th & 9th
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/winterjazz-2021/5216d8c878-1612134100/winterjazz2021-homepage-1024x1024.jpg)
news
ZEHN - Winterjazz Köln 2021 - January 8th & 9th
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/winterjazz-2021/5216d8c878-1612134100/winterjazz2021-homepage-1024x1024.jpg)
On its 10th anniversary on January 8th/9th, Winterjazz Köln Festival was presented in a very special format and, being a first, in cooperation with NICA. 10 artists from neighbouring European countries and from all over Germany were invited to contribute their music and perform in exclusive projects together with Cologne musicians – corona-proof and via livestream from the Stadtgarten. Participating NICA artists were Elisabeth Coudoux, Heidi Bayer, Leif Berger, Pablo Gīw, Janning Trumann, Laura Totenhagen and Philip Zoubek. Information about the programme is available at www.winterjazzkoeln.com.
The videos are available here.
New music by Philip Zoubek
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/neue-musik-von-philip-zoubek/b13d2aae46-1608581396/zoubek-1024x1024.jpg)
news
New music by Philip Zoubek
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/neue-musik-von-philip-zoubek/b13d2aae46-1608581396/zoubek-1024x1024.jpg)
With different groups, NICA artist Philip Zoubek has released two new releases at once.
His project TAU 5 (with Philipp Gropper, Ludwig Wandinger, Petter Eldh und Moritz Baumgärtner) released their debut album »Kreise« on November 20, 2020 on the label Fun In The Church.
On October 19 he released »Torbid Daylight« with Frank Gratkowski, Robert Landfermann und Dominik Mahnig on IMPAKT veröffentlicht.
News from Pablo Held
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/neues-von-pablo-held/bf00336829-1612134095/pablo-held-descent-1024x1024.jpg)
news
News from Pablo Held
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/neues-von-pablo-held/bf00336829-1612134095/pablo-held-descent-1024x1024.jpg)
There’s news from NICA artist Pablo Held:
His latest EP »Descent« has been released on Edition Records as a follow-up to his album »Ascent« from spring 2020.
Pablo Held also came out with some new merch: his »Investigation Notes« Notebook, for which he teamed up with a regional partner for an overall climate-neutral production. The 96 page book can be used as a notebook, a sketchbook or a journal.
Philip Zoubek releases solo CD »Vortex«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/philip-zoubek-veroeffentlicht-solo-cd-vortex/daa8db8cf1-1612134097/vortex-2-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Philip Zoubek releases solo CD »Vortex«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/philip-zoubek-veroeffentlicht-solo-cd-vortex/daa8db8cf1-1612134097/vortex-2-1024x1024.jpg)
On December 11, 2020 NICA Artist Philip Zoubek released his new solo CD »Vortex« on WhyPlayJazz. On Vortex, which was recorded at LOFT in Cologne, Philip Zoubek turns his traditional instrument into an orchestra:
»Fascinating new music, eventful, alert, detailed and conscious of forms: Philip Zoubek makes long process in a precisely reflected and yet spontaneously developed flow of events. Thus, in his new solo program, he layers strange sounds into a surprising, strikingly plausible and, in its urgency, convincing sound journey into open terrain, which he paces out powerfully and nuanced (…)«.
The CD, with about 50 minutes of playtime full of sounds modulated with pieces of wood, e-bows, rubber, a wide variety of plastic and metal screws, is available on WhyPlayJazz.
Livestream: »Früchte des Zorns« am Schauspiel Köln mit Musik von Pablo Giw
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/livestream-fruechte-des-zorns-mit-pablo-giw/06cd6b6d19-1608581395/fruechte-des-zorns-giw-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Livestream: »Früchte des Zorns« am Schauspiel Köln mit Musik von Pablo Giw
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/livestream-fruechte-des-zorns-mit-pablo-giw/06cd6b6d19-1608581395/fruechte-des-zorns-giw-1024x1024.jpg)
Die Dekonstruktion des amerikanischen Traums steht im Mittelpunkt des mit dem Pulitzerpreis gekrönten Romans FRÜCHTE DES ZORNS. John Steinbeck erzählt darin die Geschichte der Farmerfamilie Joad aus Oklahoma, die nach Jahren der Dürre ihr altes Leben aufgibt und sich auf die Reise entlang der Route 66 macht. Ihr Ziel: Kalifornien. Doch der Californian Dream rückt in immer weitere Ferne, als die Migrierenden im Westen bloß auf Schwindler*innen, Ausbeutung und Ausgrenzung stoßen. Ein Stoff der Stunde, der die Zusammenhänge zwischen Wirtschaftskrise, Migrationsbewegung und Klimawandel aufdeckt.
Die Musik für dieses Stück wurde komponiert von dem NICA-Artist Pablo Giw, der diese ebenso live auf der Bühne spielen wird. Die digitale Online-Premiere findet am 20.12.2020 von 17:00 - 19:00 statt.
Foto aus den Proben © Krafft Angerer
New remix by Sonae
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/neuer-remix-von-sonae/bc12c57462-1608581397/peripheral-02-1024x1024.jpg)
news
New remix by Sonae
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/neuer-remix-von-sonae/bc12c57462-1608581397/peripheral-02-1024x1024.jpg)
On November 6, 2020 a new remix by NICA artist Sonae was released - she took on the piece »VHS«, originally published on Si Begg’s soundtrack to the movie »Peripheral«.
The remix was published on the label Noodles Recordings and is part of a remix album of the soundtrack »Peripheral Original Motion Picture Soundtrack : Remixed Volume 2« which features also features artists like Carl Finlow, Bass Kittens, Adam Schock and Militant Funk.
Philip Zoubek's Trio releases new CD »Nonplaces«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/das-philip-zoubek-trio-veroeffentlicht-neue-cd-nonplaces/cafe4118a3-1608581393/philip-zoubek-trio-31-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Philip Zoubek's Trio releases new CD »Nonplaces«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/das-philip-zoubek-trio-veroeffentlicht-neue-cd-nonplaces/cafe4118a3-1608581393/philip-zoubek-trio-31-1024x1024.jpg)
The three extraordinary musicians Philip Zoubek, David Helm and Dominik Mahnig take an unconventional approach to the conventional format of the piano trio on their new CD.
On »Nonplaces«, the Philip Zoubek Trio captivates the listener with enticing sounds. The pianist Philip Zoubek has further developed his playing on the prepared grand piano and this time he also uses synthesizers. The fast music is full of imagination and challenging but fascinating urgency. It is complex and simple at the same time, inviting the listener on a creative journey to something new - something that one would not expect from a conventional piano trio. »Nonplaces« is an album of inspiring musical dialogues between composition and improvisation and a departure from the tried and tested.
»Most of the pieces are permanent shape-shifters, a kaleidoscope of bouncing melodies and subtle changes in rhythm and style, structurally held together and controlled by the phenomenal sense of tempo that the three musicians let you hear. A format-forming, extraordinary recording: the album of the year for me!«
Achim Doppler, CONCERTO
The Philip Zoubek Trio performed together for the first time in 2018.
»Nonplaces« is the second album of the formation; it is available on bandcamp and whyplayjazz.
Tamara Lukasheva is awarded the WDR Jazzpreis 2021 for Composition!
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/wdr-jazzpreis-komposition-fuer-tamara-lukasheva/e734050fbe-1608581410/tamara-lukasheva-110-v-gseapremiumxl-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Tamara Lukasheva is awarded the WDR Jazzpreis 2021 for Composition!
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/wdr-jazzpreis-komposition-fuer-tamara-lukasheva/e734050fbe-1608581410/tamara-lukasheva-110-v-gseapremiumxl-1024x1024.jpg)
Tamara Lukasheva, NICA artist since 2019, is awarded the WDR Jazzpreis 2021 in the category composition! Motivation: ‘Tamara Lukasheva, born in Odessa in 1988, has developed a distinct signature as a singer, and keeps on further expanding this style as composer and arranger into a profound tonal language with Eastern European hints, expressive and urban.’ A radio portrait of Tamara as well as information on other award categories are available here; and, she will be featured in detail during today’s programme on WDR 3 Jazz & World starting at 22:00: https://www1.wdr.de/radio/wdr3/programm/sendungen/wdr3-jazz-world/titelliste-jazz-world-784.html
Congratulations to all award winners!
Photo: Foto: WDR 3
Elisabeth Coudoux's Emißatett releases new CD »physis«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/elisabeth-coudoux-s-emissatett-veroeffentlicht-neue-cd-physis/163623141e-1608581394/emiszatett-02-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Elisabeth Coudoux's Emißatett releases new CD »physis«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/elisabeth-coudoux-s-emissatett-veroeffentlicht-neue-cd-physis/163623141e-1608581394/emiszatett-02-1024x1024.jpg)
Elisabeth Coudoux’s quintet Emißatett has released its new CD »physis«.
Five outstanding musicians meet each other with high musical values such as equality, freedom, listening, and the common form of sound. The Emißatett is the realization of direct musical communication. A dense but transparent building of events is created, a complex structure. There is no intellectual definition for this experience. It is up to the listener’s state of mind whether he hears or thinks exclusively, whether he sinks into himself or looks, whether he analyses or swings into the music.
»The cello, otherwise better known as a slightly melancholic romantic, screeches, trembles and jumps into time. Together with the piano as spaceship, the snare as satellite, the bass as nutrient and the trombone as transducer they blow up the nothingness. Sounds rush by, take us with them and set us down again with stretched perception. Destination Multiverse.«
The Emißatett has existed since 2013 and was included in the 2019 funding programme of the Ministry of Culture and Science for professional, independent music ensembles.
The album is digital available at bandcamp.
NICA joins Stepping Stone Family
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-joins-stepping-stone-family/c0cfc10820-1608581397/logo-stepping-stone-1024x1024.jpg)
news
NICA joins Stepping Stone Family
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-joins-stepping-stone-family/c0cfc10820-1608581397/logo-stepping-stone-1024x1024.jpg)
Introducing new community Stepping Stone
Stepping Stone is a new community aimed at empowering musicians towards sustainable international careers. The current music system has gradually lost its connection to the value of music and its creation. Stepping Stone enables an open dialogue with musicians and professionals: bottom-up, aimed at long-term relationships and committed to contribute and share.
During this year’s inJazz, Stepping Stone will be officially launched and opens a dialogue on a creator-centered approach. You are invited to step up and actively participate in this conversation together with Stepping Stone ’20 participants Berlinde Deman and Bram Stadhouders.
Stepping Stone is financially made possible by among others Grensverleggers – funding to support cultural collaborations between parties in Flanders, the province of Noord-Brabant, the province of Limburg and the province of Zeeland – and by Sabam for Culture. More information: Stepping Stone
With:
Berlinde Deman, artist-composer (BE)
Bram Stadhouders, artist-composer (NL)
Svenja Doeinck, project manager NICA, Stadgarten (DE)
Martel Ollerenshaw, Arts broker & creative producer, Sound Out (GB)
Sophie Blussé, Director, Jazz International Rotterdam (NL)
Host:
Sandra Gevaert, participatory leadership expert, coach, host, Morosoph (NL)
Lobke Aelbrecht, production manager, JazzLab (BE)
Rogier Telderman, artist, creative Powered by TINC (NL)
The online inJazz conference is English spoken.
This session takes place online via the platform NetworkTables. Please note that seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Save your seat now.
Pablo Held releases new album »Ascent«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/pablo-held-veroeffentlicht-neue-cd-ascent/52c435bea0-1608581409/ascent-cover-quer-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Pablo Held releases new album »Ascent«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/pablo-held-veroeffentlicht-neue-cd-ascent/52c435bea0-1608581409/ascent-cover-quer-1024x1024.jpg)
Pablo Held’s new album, Ascent, his second for Edition Records, is a collaboration between his long-running trio (with bassist, Robert Landfermann and drummer, Jonas Burgwinkel) and the great Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras. Regarded as one of the most talented and adventurous pianists and improvisors in Europe, Pablo Held is building a formidable reputation, not only as a pianist of outstanding ability but also for his considerable musicality, energy and risk-taking. Ascent is highly anticipated new album, following their 10th album Investigations, praised internationally for its remarkable quality, deep communication and lyrical elegance, prompting All About Jazz to describe the group as »a world-class trio of exceptional talent«. The new album is a deeply satisfying fusion of the powerful and expressive music associated with Pablo Held’s trio and the fluid invention of Nelson Veras’s guitar stylings.
Live, Pablo Held will present his new CD with two concerts on April 3 & 4, 2020 at Stadtgarten Cologne.
NICA presents: Coudoux, Giw, Held & Lukasheva - Artists in Residence 2020
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-presents-coudoux-giw-held-lukasheva-artists-in-residence-2020/66eed08263-1608581405/nica-artists-2020-1024x1024.jpg)
news
NICA presents: Coudoux, Giw, Held & Lukasheva - Artists in Residence 2020
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-presents-coudoux-giw-held-lukasheva-artists-in-residence-2020/66eed08263-1608581405/nica-artists-2020-1024x1024.jpg)
Four Cologne musicians are the new Artists in Residence, who will help shape the programme in the Stadtgarten from 2020. On 17 December 2019, the four NICA Artists presented their current projects to the audience and invited organizers in a short performance at the Stadtgarten in Cologne.
With NICA artist development, a pilot project launched this autumn by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia to promote jazz musicians at the European Centre for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Within a funding period of three years, it enables the selected artists to build up a professional, international network as well as a long-term presence at home and abroad, to sharpen their artistic profile and to provide them with the necessary knowledge for a successful career.
2nd generation has started!
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/2-jahrgang-ist-gestartet/d4d9ce7b39-1608581388/201001-neueartists-collagen6-1024x1024.jpg)
news
2nd generation has started!
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/2-jahrgang-ist-gestartet/d4d9ce7b39-1608581388/201001-neueartists-collagen6-1024x1024.jpg)
The 2nd generation has started!
Another six outstanding musicians* have been selected as the 2nd generation to receive NICA funding for their careers. They were nominated by selected promoters and music journalists. The final selection of the ‘NICA artists 2020’ was the responsibility of an expert jury. The six artists are:
Heidi Bayer (trumpet, *Lichtenfels)
Leif Berger (percussion, *Münster)
Sonae (producer/DJ, *Köln)
Laura Totenhagen (vocals, *Bergisch-Gladbach)
Janning Trumann (trombone, *Uelzen)
Philip Zoubek (piano, *Tulln, Austria)
Click here for the press release.
Further information about the artists is available here.
NICA Magazine: New Portrait Series
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-magazin-neue-portrait-reihe/9cdca0f531-1608581401/elisabethcoudoux-portrait-screenshot-1024x1024.png)
news
NICA Magazine: New Portrait Series
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-magazin-neue-portrait-reihe/9cdca0f531-1608581401/elisabethcoudoux-portrait-screenshot-1024x1024.png)
Today our NICA magazine starts with a portrait series in which we present the NICA Artists in short video clips. We start with a portrait of the cellist Elisabeth Coudoux, who moves at the intersection of different musical genres such as free improvisation, experimental music, new composed music and jazz. The portrait as well as all upcoming formats of the NICA Magazine can be viewed here.
The NICA Magazine is produced by an experienced editorial team - consisting of Martin Laurentius (Jazz thing, “Deutscher Jazzjournalisten Preis” 2017) and Felix Klopotek (Kölner StadtRevue) - in cooperation with Klangmalerei.tv.
Pablo Held starts new podcast series
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/pablo-held-startet-neue-podcast-reihe/0c502249b4-1608581408/scofield-mit-pablo-held-trio-1-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Pablo Held starts new podcast series
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/pablo-held-startet-neue-podcast-reihe/0c502249b4-1608581408/scofield-mit-pablo-held-trio-1-1024x1024.jpg)
In his interview series »Pablo Held Investigates«, Pablo Held has been talking to his musical idols and companions since 2018. Some of the interviews from the successful series can be read in JazzThing magazine. Wayne Shorter, Joey Baron, Dave Holland, Bill Stewart, John Scofield, Norma Winstone, Larry Goldings or Dave Longstreth already talked to Pablo Held about their music and creative process.
After Pablo Held tried out something new on the occasion of his new album »Ascent« and published a audio commentary about the inspirations and working method for this album, the idea for a new podcast series was born.
His plan is to publish an audio commentary for each of his albums. In the current episode he talks about his album »The Trio Meets John Scofield«, which was released in 2014 by Pirouet Records.
NICA streams... International Jazz Day
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-streams-international-jazz-day/c62d29eed9-1608581406/christian-ramond-robert-landfermann-nica-1024x1024.jpg)
news
NICA streams... International Jazz Day
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-streams-international-jazz-day/c62d29eed9-1608581406/christian-ramond-robert-landfermann-nica-1024x1024.jpg)
In January this year the monthly series NICA presents at the Jaki started. Due to the current situation the series cannot be continued for the time being. As long as this is the case, there will instead be »NICA streams« every Thursday, which will bring the artists of the free Cologne scene to life digitally, curated and recorded by the NICA artists Elisabeth Coudoux, Pablo Giw, Pablo Held and Tamara Lukasheva.
On the occasion of the International Jazz Day, »NICA streams…« will network with the three clubs Moods (Zurich), Porgy&Bess (Vienna) and Victoria (Oslo) to create a joint programme. The programme will start at 19:00 in Cologne, continue at 20:00 at Victoria and continue at 20:30 at Porgy & Bess.
In Cologne, NICA Artist Pablo Held will host the evening. Due to the occasion, he will be supported by Mascha Corman, who will conduct interviews with the three above-mentioned venues as NICA foreign correspondent. Pablo Held has invited the following two duos as musical program points:
Landferman / Ramond
With Christian Ramond and Robert Landfermann, two generations of Cologne double bassists meet for discourse. Both are connected by a Bonn past and early lessons with the great German jazz personality Gunnar Plümer. As a duo, they weave together standards of the American jazz tradition with European improvisational music.
Simon Seidl / Veronika Morscher
Austrian-born songwriter Veronika Morscher presents a program from her own pen in a rare duo performance with jazz pianist Simon Seidl. The vocalist’s passion for storytelling and her penchant for poetry are shown to advantage in a very special way in the reduced setting and through the characterful and expressive accompaniment of the Ingolstadt-born pianist.
NICA streams
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-streams/866584b055-1604359273/nica-stream-staga-homepage2-1024x1024.gif)
news
NICA streams
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/nica-streams/866584b055-1604359273/nica-stream-staga-homepage2-1024x1024.gif)
In January this year the monthly series NICA presents at the Jaki started. Due to the current covid-19 situation the series cannot be continued for the time being. As long as this is the case, there will instead be »NICA streams« every Thursday, which will bring the artists of the free Cologne scene to life digitally, curated and recorded by the NICA artists Elisabeth Coudoux, Pablo Giw, Pablo Held and Tamara Lukasheva.
The first livestream will take place on Thursday, April 2 at 18:30: NICA streams Lukasheva/Gramss & Coudoux/Giw
to the livestream:
culture-stream.cologne/videos/nica-streams
Monthly concert series »NICA presents«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/monatliche-konzertreihe-nica-presents/5b1225646e-1608581396/tamara-lukasheva-harald-hoffmann-1024x1024.jpg)
news
Monthly concert series »NICA presents«
![](https://staging.nica-artistdevelopment.de/media/pages/news/monatliche-konzertreihe-nica-presents/5b1225646e-1608581396/tamara-lukasheva-harald-hoffmann-1024x1024.jpg)
Starting in January, the four artists in residence Elisabeth Coudoux, Pablo Giw, Pablo Held and Tamara Lukasheva will regularly present their musical ideas, visions, cooperations or discoveries in the monthly concert series »NICA presents« on a Monday evening under their names in the JAKI Club of the Stadtgarten.
Tamara Lukasheva will start on 27 January 2019 with her new project Lukoshko.
Mon 27.01.20
20:00 JAKI
entrance free
more infos about concert