# Concert in EU: Fola lives the blues – and Fola Dada? With wonderful dynamics and a remarkable vocal range … Video, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2025/02/15/concert-in-eu-fola-lives-the-blues-and-fola-dada-with-wonderful-dynamics-and-a-remarkable-vocal-range-video-photos/
- Published: 2025-02-15T00:02:05+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**“The blues will never die” (Koko Taylor (1928 – 2009)**

Fola Dada, winner of the German Jazz Prize, and four of her friends indulge in the
blues and trigger storms of enthusiasm. “Jazz in the Zehntscheuer” has finally arrived
in the region.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_5936_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

The Schönaicher double bassist Judith Goldbach and the director of the Schönaicher
music school Thomas Schnellbach planted the seed from which a respectable little
plant has now grown.

Thanks to Goldbach’s contacts with musicians, renowned jazz musicians are always
being pulled out of the lucky bag, which must have also spread in the region; because
on Saturday evening 140 visitors made a pilgrimage to the Zehntscheuer to experience
Fola Dada with her four accompanying musicians.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_5939_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

“Fola Dada & Friends play the Blues” was the motto. The jazz singer won the German
Jazz Vocal Prize in 2022 and has long since established herself with the SWR Big
Band, among others. made a name for themselves. Reason enough to listen to how they
sing the blues.

At their side this evening was guitarist Jo Ambros. To get straight to the point:
They can play the blues too; and how! After all, this genre is one of the roots 
of jazz, alongside work songs, spirituals and ragtime.

After the sunny Saturday afternoon, things got stormy on stage, if only musically.“
Stormy Monday Blues” began with a goosebump-inducing intro and by “Stop This World”
Ambros was unstoppable and his exciting guitar licks got under your skin.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_5817_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

The devotion with which the Berliner and ex-Böblinger made his 6 strings vibrate
was quite surprising. His facial expressions and gestures revealed that he must 
be a bluesman at heart. In contrast to difficult jazz arrangements, the blues naturally
offers even more freedom to “let loose” in a positive sense.

Time and again, Ambros showed that he doesn’t have to hide behind any world-famous
blues guitarist.

Fola lives the blues – and Fola Dada? Full of praise for Ambros, as well as for 
the three other friends Martin Grünenwald (drums), Ulf Kleiner (piano) and Joscha
Glass (bass), she showed off all facets of her vocal ability.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_6073_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

With wonderful dynamics and a remarkable vocal range, she “lives” the blues like
no other. In addition, she seemed to want to demonstrate in one number that evening
how long you can hold the note in a high position.

Just listening and watching probably made some of the audience gasp for air and 
rewarded this performance with frenetic applause. In jazz, as in blues, improvisations
play a major role; in Schönaich, this was also evident in the verbal communication
between the band members.

In addition to their exuberant enthusiasm for playing, they also showed scenic improvisation
with a lot of fun and humor.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_5985_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

During the break, Judith Goldbach beamed: “I am totally happy. and I am pleased 
that the Schönaichers are in such a good mood and that this series is being so well
received. We were already completely sold out two weeks ago!”.

In the second half, “Centerpiece” revealed what it means to play dynamically and
add spice to even the quietest passages, while “Backlash Blues” became a first-class
guitar playground.

“Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t (My Babe)”, a piece that Dada originally didn’t like 
that much, couldn’t have been sung better. The concert ended with “Everyday I Have
The Blues” – for now. But the combo didn’t leave the stage without two encores. 
Standing ovations!

Among the audience was ex-“Dicke Fische” member Jürgen Ammann. He summed up: “Joy
of playing, liveliness and spontaneity! The great Fola didn’t need any reverb on
the microphone. Everything was harmoniously mixed and you felt like you were literally
drawn into the music.”

**Fola Dada** (voc)
 **Jo Ambros** (git) **Ulf Kleiner** (piano) **Joscha Glass**(
bass) **Martin Grünenwald** (drums)

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_6122_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Fola_Dada_6111_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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