Lori Williams 6tet

Lori Williams, voc

Bernhard Wiesinger, ts, ss, fl

Christian Havel, g

Renato Chicco, p

Milan Nikolic, b

Joris Dudli, dm

 

When a charismatic personality of jazz, rhythm & blues, like Lori Williams from Washington, D.C., meets five great European jazz musicians, something special might happen! After years of collaboration, a new album, recorded in July 2024, is now being presented as part of several tours. An unforgettable musical experience - classic yet contemporary, intimate yet electrifying, for the jazz fan or casual listener.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1RUoCPOe4g

 

Lori Williams – voc

 

Lori is one of the most sought-after voices in her hometown of Washington D.C./USA. She first demonstrated her qualities as a jazz and gospel singer, as well as an actress and dancer, in the spring of 2015 in the musical "Bessie's Blues", which was extremely successful in the USA. Due to her versatility, her work as a singer spans many genres and areas of responsibility, tours in Europe, Russia and Japan as a soloist in jazz formations and regularly gives workshops for female singers. Credits: George Duke, James Genus, Slide Hampton, Ben E.King, Stanley Clarke https://www.lorijazz.com

Bernhard Wiesinger – ts, ss, fl

 

On his two albums “Notice That Moment” (2020) and “Enlightened” (2024), both recorded in New York City, the Austrian saxophonist and composer shows his skills and presents himself with greats of the international jazz scene such as Kevin Hays, Peter Bernstein, Bill Stewart, Scott Colley. Jerry Bergonzi describes it like this: “Bernhard Wiesinger's new CD Enlightened is truly inspirational.  What a great tenor saxophone sound.” Together with Harry Sokal, Wiesinger leads the “freeTENORS” project. Since 2006, lecturer at the international jazz workshop Poysdorf Jazz & Wine. Credits: Fritz Pauer, Dave Kikoski, John DiMartino, Boris Kozlov, and many more.                                                                 

 

Christian Havel – g

 

At the beginning of the 80s, Christian Havel played in various formations of his mentor Karl Ratzer. As the bandleader of his “American Quartet” he toured Europe with Dennis Irvin, Jon Davis and Joris Dudli and recorded 3 albums with them. The CD FRANZ was nominated for the Hans Koller Prize in 2003. As a sideman he took part in over 20 CD productions. His musical activities took him to Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, the former Yugoslavia, Iran, Mexico and the USA, among others. Credits: Charles Fambrough, Jack Walrath, Valerie Ponomarev, Ingrid Jensen, Ed Thigpen, Mario Gonzi, Fritz Pauer, John di Martino, Andy Middelton, and many more.

Renato Chicco – p

 

The pianist and organist Renato Chicco studied at the University of Music in Graz, Austria, and at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. While in New York City (1990-1998), he was a member of the Lionel Hampton Orchestra (1990-1991) and pianist and musical director with Jon Hendricks & Company (1991-1997). Renato has also performed with many jazz greats: Lou Donaldson, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Red Holloway, Joe Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Burton, Milt Hinton, Reggie Workman, Jerry Bergonzi, Steve Grossman, Al Foster, Sheila Jordan, Michele auf Hendricks, Dusko Goykovich and many others. Renato is currently professor of jazz improvisation at the University of Music in Graz,

 

Milan Nikolic, b

 

Born in 1973 in Krusevac, Serbia, bassist Milan Nikolic began playing electric bass at the age of 17. He found his “roots” in “Rhythm & Blues”. In 1993 he moved to Belgrade and established himself in the local scene. Three years later he switched to the double bass and completed his master's degree at the Graz University of Art in 2003. Since then he has worked with Fritz Pauer, Ed Neumeister, Don Menza, Renato Chicco, Seamus Blake, Billy Harper, Johnathan Blake, Stjepko Gut, Dusko Gojkovic.

Joris Dudli – dm

 

Joris was a permanent member of the Vienna Art Orchestra and the Art Farmer Quintet from 1979 to 1985. After moving to the United States in 1986, he played and recorded with many of the world's greatest jazz musicians: The Zawinul Syndicate, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller, Johnny Griffin, Mullgrew Miller, Clifford Jordan, Joe Lovano, Joe Henderson, Harold Mabern, Sonny Fortune and many more. The most impressive thing about his career is probably his long-standing collaboration with alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, with whom he has toured worldwide over the last 25 years and received 4 stars in Downbeat magazine for the album SOUL CHEMISTRY.