Now Wolfgang Haffner is turning 60. It would have happened quickly, he says; just a moment ago he had accompanied all of his colleagues’ anniversary tours and considered himself far removed from that ominous age.
Now he himself has reached that point. If he were to put down his drumsticks today and only grow roses, he would have already achieved so much in these 60 years. His fellow musicians are illustrious and numerous.
Everyone is full of praise for this sensitive, versatile, and powerful drummer. This year’s anniversary tour also takes him to Stuttgart, where he has expanded his trio to include the phenomenal Thomas Quasthoff and the fantastic Nils Landgren, also two long-time friends and companions.
The author certainly felt that the acoustics at the Theaterhaus were excellent and enjoyed joining in the celebration.
Before the Wolfgang Haffner Trio and its guests begin, Werner Schretzmeier, the house’s doyen, takes the opportunity to address the audience with warm words.
He praises the diversity of jazz (some of which we’ll hear below) and admonishes the audience to stop filming with their phones (everyone thinks it’s a good idea, but we’ll do it anyway).
Afterward, the celebrant takes the stage alone: the old man and his felt mallet… but we don’t want to be disrespectful!
The dry tom beat sounds quite juvenile, becoming increasingly dense and complex, and increasingly exploiting the melodic potential of the kit.
It’s brilliant, and it ends with funny, glowing squeaky hammers from a Far Eastern mail-order company, which he plays on his thighs. That’s a win for us.
Prelude to this impressive evening
Haffner is not only a talented entertainer, but also chats eloquently about his musical life, his companions, and growing older.
Above all, he is a full-blooded drummer who, along with his colleagues Thomas Stieger on bass and Simon Oslender on keyboards, presents a powerful musical performance in the finest fusion idiom.
That alone would have justified every cent of the admission price, but it was only the prelude to this impressive evening. With Nils Landgren and Thomas Quasthoff, two other performers take to the stage, striking with their personalities and virtuosity.
The song “I’ll be your baby tonight” is rarely heard in such a low register and as tenderly as Quasthoff performs it. “You are so beautiful,” sung by Quasthoff and Lundgren, who also contributes a trombone solo, demonstrates the band’s super-sensitive, economical accompaniment.
And before everything in the hall melts away completely, the quintet turns things around and pushes “I can’t stand the rain” into the auditorium, including a distorted Rhodes solo from Oslender. But these are just a few of the tracks that experience a truly inspiring revival.
“I want a woman just like you,” Stevie Wonder’s “If it’s magic,” “Same old story, same old song,” and “I will survive”: All fantastic song material. Nils Landgren, a Scandinavian and otherwise rather reserved performer, becomes the center of attention, while Thomas Stieger pushes the band forward with Jaco-like figures on his bass in a number that is very reminiscent of Zawinul’s “Weather Report.” Superb!
The final piece of the evening, “Have a Little Faith in Me,” once again demonstrates Quasthoff’s class. The growl, the intensity, the incredible volume: it’s unique in this genre. A great evening, a fantastic combo, a fantastic birthday celebration. Congratulations, Wolfgang Haffner!
Wolfgang Haffner (dr)
Simon Oslender (keys, p)
Thomas Stieger (b)
Special Guests:
Thomas Quasthoff (voc)
Nils Landgren (tb)
