Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald von ihrem einzigen Sohn Ray Brown Jr., Mike Kaufmann -Portnikow & Michael Porter - Erstmals in Deutschland! Tour 2025
This is not just a concert, but an opportunity to experience the world of Ella Fitzgerald firsthand.
Ray Brown Jr. is the son of jazz queen Ella Fitzgerald and legendary jazz bassist Ray Brown. He was born in New York City and grew up in a famous family where Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and many others were regular guests during his childhood.
The selection of songs reflects Ella's great successes from the mid-30s to the mid-60s of the last century – all favorites of the singer and great admirer of Ella. His stories touch and, through the music, create an unforgettable experience.
Ray Brown Jr. is an unparalleled singer who has managed to find his own unique voice in the world of jazz. Today, Ray performs actively around the world and makes us fall in love with the magical timbre of his voice from the first notes and impresses us with his uniqueness!
Participants in the concert:
Ray Brown Jr. (Jazz singer) grew up surrounded by jazz titans: Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and many others. In his youth, his teacher was the famous drummer of Ellington's orchestra – Louis Belson. So there was no question which path young Ray should take, especially since he spent a lot of time touring with Ella. Having such famous parents is both a blessing and a curse: there is a risk of living in the shadow of their fame. Fortunately, Ray did not compete with his great mother (which is simply impossible), but found his own path – in singing, style, and behavior on stage. He collaborated with the most famous blues musician Dr. John and many other artists, had his own show in Las Vegas in the 80s and 90s, and released several CDs.
His life and creative journey is well reflected on the album "Family and Friends": Here he sings duets with musicians he met through his profession and from which ultimately developed a friendship. For this, he has been honored with several music awards.
Ray Brown Jr. is an intelligent musician and a wonderful person who brings a great dose of positivity and kindness with his performances.
Mike Kaufmann-Portnikow (Piano)
Mike Kaufmann-Portnikow is a virtuoso pianist, composer, and filmmaker from a family of musicians, filmmakers, and inventors. He debuted on the piano at the age of 4. Musical legends like Mozart, Art Tatum, George Gershwin, Oscar Peterson, and Vladimir Horowitz became his virtual mentors. Piano improvisation has shaped the artistic work of the pianist from a young age. Alongside the classical piano repertoire, he has always maintained the almost forgotten tradition of styled improvisation, as well as free experimental improvisation and jazz. The piano as an interdisciplinary instrument holds as much significance for him as a comprehensive holistic view of music.
Throughout his career, Mike has worked with renowned stars from both the European and American scenes, including performances with the Klezmatics (USA), the Glenn Miller USAF Orchestra, and participation in the iconic musical "Cats" by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
In the last five years, Mike has closely collaborated with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, further establishing his place on the global music scene. The European press has dubbed him the "King of Improvisation" and the "Wizard of Notes," appreciating his ability to enchant the audience with both his spontaneity and mastery. Once, the mayor of Edinburgh decided to attend one of Mike's concerts instead of a football game, a testament to the magnetic appeal of his music.
Mike's piano playing is a masterful combination of emotions, ranging from fiery expressiveness to delicate tenderness. He strives to revive the ideal of the universal pianist, which was common in the 19th century, by having improvisation play a significant role. His music reaches not only the ears; it touches the soul. How does he achieve this? Quite simply: in his hands, the piano becomes as powerful and enchanting as Harry Potter's magic wand.
Michael Porter (Drummer) received his first drum lessons at the age of 7 through the city orchestra in Schramberg/Black Forest.
In 1987, he founded his drumming school "Rhythmpoint" in Laupheim and studied for 7 years with Cloy Petersen at "Drummers Focus" in Munich.
Furthermore, he received lessons from Karl Latham (USA), Chad Wackerman (USA), and Wolfgang Lackerschmid. This was followed by numerous of his own band and concert projects, including with Dave Samuels, Chuck Loeb, and Joo Kraus. Michael Porter was the drummer for the musical productions of "Fame," "Grease," and "West Side Story."
In 2009, he toured with his daughters Jessica and Vanessa, the "Porter Percussion Duo," through Ukraine. There, Porter also taught in Vinnytsia and at the Music Academy in Odessa.
His current regular formations are his big band "Brassport," the funk and soul band "The Soul Empire," the "Daimler Swing Ensemble" (led by Felice Civitareale), and the project "Hollywood, James Bond & more" – a 30-piece orchestra with a focus on film music.
Michael Porter sees himself as a stylistic boundary crosser – he plays as a drummer in a jazz trio up to a large symphonic wind orchestra and also leads the "Michael Porter Band."
Copyright: The image is from the personal archive of Ray Brown Jr. - son of Ella Fitzgerald
Entry: 6:00 PM
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