"...Habib Benedikt Elias with his rich solo program, a mix of jazz standards, chansons and songs in four languages...He hardly ever uses conventional patterns; the bass lines and harmonisations are well thought out and original, even when he starts to improvise…live. His metric-rhythmic dispositions are always good for - pleasant - surprises, and with his right pianistic hand he sprinkles in illuminating effects...economical like Count Basie...The TAGBLATT has often reported on Elias' repertoire and his outstanding interpretations..."Fly me to the moon",...enchanting."
(Thomas Ziegner, "Schwäbisches Tagblatt", 13.08.2021)
SHORT INFO (more details on Biography)
The singer, pianist and composer Habib Benedikt Elias discovered already at the age of 12 the music of Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman and thereby his fascination for jazz music which accompanies him until today.
The free use of musical forms and elements, the improvising and the openness of jazz music to connect different stiles of music are the basis for Elias' projects.
Influences from the repertoire of the French Chanson, the Bossa Nova and the pop music flow into his interpretations and own songs/compositions as well as his classical music studies (clarinet, opera singing), his experiences in film music composing and his interest in languages.
PROJECTS
Solo (Voice / Piano)
In his solo program, Habib Benedikt Elias combines his varied musical experience and the different facets of his broad repertoire.
He arranges and performs with vocal/piano improvisations and free musical forms jazz standards, chansons, his own songs/compositions, bossa nova songs and pop songs.
His versatile jazz singing mixes with influences from classical singing and his flexible piano playing combines improvisations with arrangements that are also influenced by his experiences in film music composition.
The sounds and forms of expression of the different languages German, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian in which he sings are also an important element of his repertoire.
Video: Zusammenstellung / Compilation Solo (Voice / Piano)
(some excerpts are from the album "Auf Halbem Weg" which has been rereleased on October 10th, 2024)
Quartet project "Songs from the Movies"
Jazz arrangements and improvisations on songs and themes from movie soundtracks.
What would be movies without music, without catchy songs? What would be "Breakfast at Tiffany's" without Audrey Hepburn's "Moon River" or "The Wizard of Oz" without "Over the rainbow"?
Music that enters in the movie or emerges from the movie, contributes significantly to the quality of the movie.
It doesn't only serve to complement the pictures, but also to explain the events. It points to moments of tension and release and affects eminently the emotional state of the audience.
With their quartet Habib Benedikt Elias (vocals), Martin Trostel (piano), Florian Dohrmann (bass), Felix Schrack / Dieter Schumacher (drums) give this music its own stage and tell their own versions of stories from the world of film with their jazz interpretations from Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" to "Al otro lado del rio" from the film "The Travels of the Young Che".
A musical journey from the French cinema across romantic comedies to independent movies.
Habib Benedikt Elias - Vocals
Martin Trostel - Piano
Florian Dohrmann - Bass
Felix Schrack / Dieter Schumacher - Drums
"Songs from the Movies"- Jazz Matinée, "Waldhorn-Cinema" Rottenburg, 30.09.2018, quartet with Martin Trostel (Piano), Florian Dohrmann (Bass) and Felix Schrack (Drums).
Video: "Songs from the Movies", Online-Livestream-Konzert on April 25th 2021 in the Theater Lindenhof in Melchingen, with the band of the Theater Lindenhof: Joachim Gröschel (Drums), Wolfgang Fischer (Piano), Steffen Hollenweger (Bass)
"Songs from the Movies", in the Rainbow Dance Factory, Jazz und Klassiktage Tübingen, 23.10.2022, Quartet with Martin Trostel (Piano), Florian Dohrmann (Bass) and Felix Schrack (Drums). Photos: Klaus Beyreuther
.png/picture-200?_=1705d142048)
