JONAS TIMM, pianist and composer, is one of the defining figures of Leipzig's young jazz and improvisation scene. In addition to a soft spot for choral music rooted in his musical roots, his passion lies in travelling and experiencing improvisation in the diversity of the world's cultures. His work as a leader (Jonas Timm Trio/Mondmenschen), co-leader (Insul/Mayoretta) and sideman has been documented several times on recordings. As a pianistic accompanist, he has participated in workshops with Norma Winstone and Theo Bleckmann. With his ensemble "MORBU"(with Diego Pinera/Bertram Burkert/Tino Derado/Lorenz Heigenhuber) he released the debut album in 2022, inspired by various travel experiences. In spring 2023, the follow-up CD was recorded. When Jonas is not travelling, he lives in Leipzig and Berlin. In addition to collaborations in Leipzig's young scene (Max Stadtfeld/Philipp Scholz/Robert Lucacio), Jonas Timm works regularly with the Rundfunkchor Berlin and the Leipzig Gewandhauschor. With his father, he runs the family label Mondrago Music. He also organises the annual MJUZIK Festival as part of a collective, which was initiated by him in 2019. www.jonastimm.de
MARCEL KRÖMKER (Berlin) has been a double bass player appearing on stages at festivals and clubs in Asia, South America and Europe for over 20 years. His band Bathing Birds recorded the album Tweet! with New York trumpeter Alex Sipiagin in November. The latter is characterized by the alternation of new compositions and improvisations with the discreet integration of electronic instruments. A special element is the combination of the acoustic double bass with a synthesizer as well as the integration of self- produced samples. The album release is accompanied by an internet campaign. Together with the business partner Octason Records, the aim is to create the basis for a long-term cooperation in Europe and South America with press articles, the video and the artwork. He cooperated also with renowned producers like Yensin Jahn (Planet Roc Studio, Mando Diao, Alice Cooper, Till Brönner) and Andy Jung (Seed, Blackmail) amongst others. As a jazz double bass player Marcel’s musical highlights were concerts with Nils Landgreen, Alex Sipiagin, Toni & Lakatosh, Nils Wogram, Tino, Derado, Changuito (9 Grammy-awards), Pernell & Saturnino, Michael Moore, Jasper Blom, Leni Stern, Peter Ehwald and others. http://marcelkrömker.com
LAUREN FRANKLIN STEINMETZ (USA/GER), born 1980 in Jacksonville, Florida, has worked as a cello soloist and with chamber music ensembles in the USA, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Moldavia, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Hungary and Belgium. Lauren studied at Mannes College of Music and Manhattan School of Music in New York. Her principal teachers were David Soyer (Guarneri String Quartet) and Marcy Rosen. In 2010 Lauren was awarded the US Fulbright Scholarship and studied baroque cello with Judith Ermert at the Royal Conservatory in Ghent/BE. An enthusiastic interpreter of new music, she has been involved in the New York premieres of the compositions of Jennifer Hindon and Bright Sheng. She was cellist of the Eppes String Quartet, founded by Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Taffee Zwilich as a body of new string quartet music. Since Lauren's marriage and move to Berlin in 2012, she has been discovering and exploring improvised music and enjoying ensemble work with European jazz musicians.