Judy Rafat Introduces Her Band and Musicians

Judy Rafat und Thomas Rückert


Thomas Rückert and Judy Rafat are a duo that is perfectly coordinated. Rückert completed his jazz piano studies (cum laude + concert exam) at the Cologne University of Music with Rainer Brüninghaus and John Taylor and was inspired by countless musical styles on numerous trips to India, Africa and the USA. In addition to appearances at jazz festivals and tours with various artists, two CDs have been released with his trio so far.

Das Judy Rafat Quintett  


In 2005 the Judy Rafat Quintet recorded a new CD. The title says it all: Judy Rafat, a pure inspiration. Due to the extraordinarily harmonious cooperation, the great enthusiasm and passion with which each individual stands on stage, the five musicians clearly stand out from other groups.  

Let yourself be carried away into a world of temperament, romance and pure goose bumps. The "Judy Rafat Quintet" is the best possible choice for all occasions, be it a milestone birthday, a company party or a festival.

Olaf Polziehn

 
In recent years, Olaf Polziehn has earned the reputation of being one of the best and most sought-after pianists in Germany. The Frankfurter Rundschau recently described him as "[...] one of the most interesting pianistic discoveries of recent years" and the Süddeutsche Zeitung judged: "Olaf Polziehn must quite simply be acknowledged as one of the upcoming great German pianists".

Henning Gailing 
 
"Gailing is certainly one of the few modern bass players saturated with the sounds of Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers and Israel Crosby."
-  John Goldsby  

“…a beat like Charles Mingus ….marvelous arco-playing…”
- John Ruocco
 
“The King of Swing in Cologne and probably the most solid bass player I have ever worked with.”
- Steve Klink

Hendrik Smock  
 
Studied at the Musikhochschule in Cologne with Keith Copland, Bill Dobbins and Jiggs Whigham.

Winner of international competitions in Brussels, Antwerp, Bilbao, Leipzig, Leverkusen, Cologne

Concerts, tours, radio and CD productions with Michael Brecker, David Liebman Martin Taylor, Peter Bernstein, Vincent Herring, Charlie Mariano, Ingrid Jensen, Bill Grimes, Lutz Häfner, Tony Lakatosh, Silvia Droste, Jean Shy, John Golsdby, John Marshall , Johannes Enders
- Steve Klink

Lothar Van Staa  

 
All saxophones, flute, clarinet 1989-93 studied music at the Folkwang University in Essen.

Own quartet since 1991, appearances at various jazz festivals (Leverkusener Jazztage, Hessen Jazz ...)

1995 Nachtmusik WDR (radio live recording) Participation in various big bands, show bands, soul and pop groups, including Peter Herbolzheimer, Paul Kuhn, "Soul Cats", RTL "Samstag-Nacht-Allstars", "Willi Ketzer Big-Band"