DUO HANSCHEL – SHOTHAM

Roger Hanschel               Saxophone            

Ramesh Shotham            Percussion

The duo HANSCHEL–SHOTHAM think outside the box and look beyond the horizon. Their non-classical Jazz-mix is a fusion of Indian temple-music with virtuoso saxophone sounds. Excellently made music in a fine contrast, the alto saxophone and percussion are from time to time contrary and quite abstract, yet surprising with precise synchronization.
 
Both these internationally well-known musicians are experts in their own music styles, well-experienced in cross-cultural contemporary musical ventures. Both Roger Hanschel and Ramesh Shotham have received the prestigious German WDR Jazz Award 2018, Hanschel in the category ‘Improvisation’ as solo saxophonist and Shotham in the category ‘Music Cultures’. According to the Jury is Roger Hanschel the dream of a virtuoso stylist, one who knows what he does constantly developing towards perfection, and on reaching losing himself again to explore newer musical frontiers. Ramesh Shotham, the self-taught percussionist, who began his career as a rock-band drummer, inspired by ‘Beatles’ and ‘Rolling Stones’ creates a fusion of unusual cultural styles, quite contrary to his long training in Indian temple and percussion training.

Roger Hanschel
After beginning his musical education at a young age, he began to play the saxophone at 11. He developed a fascination for jazz, improvised music and at 14 founded his first group to realize his musical visions. He studied Saxophone at the Cologne Music Academy. Hanschel is a member of the Kölner Saxophon Mafia since 1987 which has received 4 German Record Prizes as well as the SWR Jazz Prize. Since 2007 he has been performing solo concerts throughout Europe and released his first complete solo CD in March 2011. In addition Hanschel is frequently called upon for cross-culture collaborations. In 2014 he founded the group Trio Benares with Indian musicians and their CD "Assi Ghat" won the "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.” Since 2010 he teaches saxophone at the Musikhochschule in Cologne. He has released 38 CDs.

https://rogerhanschel.de/en

Ramesh Shotham
Ramesh Shotham was born in Madras, South India. He began his musical career as a self-taught drummer, co-leading a Rock band called Human Bondage. In 1970 the band established itself in Bombay, Bangalore and all over the Subcontinent. After that Ramesh took up study of the Tavil (a traditional temple music drum). This extended his repertoire to other classical percussion instruments, like Ghatam, Mridangam, Kanjira and Morsing. Since 1981, Shotham has lived and worked in Europe, is recognized as one of the most successful percussionists around and has performed not only with leading European and American Jazz and Rock musicians, but also with artistes from Africa, Australia, China, Korea and several Arabic countries. Shotham has recorded over 120 LPs and CDs and has worked for almost all the leading TV and Radio stations in Germany and Europe. His most recent work has been as guest percussionist with the WDR Big Band and Wolfgang Niedecken of BAP fame.

https://shotham.org/