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The „Swing Divison“ stands out due to the characteristic sound created by the combination of flute and trumpet, with the rhythm trio offering an ideal basis. The focus is on well-known jazz standards, given a new lease of life with their own arrangements. Swinging and Latin American rhythms add to the variety.
Dirk Raufeisen is one of the best and most versatile musicians in Europe. Born in Hanau/Main in 1966, he came into contact with music at an early age through his father, Lothar. At the age of 6, he started playing the guitar; piano, bass and drums quickly followed. Over the years, Dirk has worked with world-famous jazz greats. His musical style is characterised by technical perfection, a intuitive feel for melodies and an extreme love of playing. This is particularly evident in his solo programme „From the Beatles to Oscar Peterson“. Numerous radio and television broadcasts bear witness to his skills. In 2011 he founded the „Dirk Raufeisen Singers“ in Berne together with his manager Walter Däppen.
Götz Ommert, born in Frankfurt/Main in 1960, studied classical double bass at Dr. Hoch’s Conservatory in Frankfurt. He grew up in a musical house: his father, Horst Ommert, was an active pianist in the Frankfurt jazz scene of the 50s. At 6 years old, Götz started piano lessons. At 17 he became interested in the bass guitar and had his first public performance with his father and with his brother Heiko on saxophone. Shortly afterwards he switched to the double bass. His professionalism and exceptional technique make him one of the most sought-after double bass players on the German jazz scene.
Gregor Beck was born on 26.04.1958 in Ravensburg. He started playing the guitar at the age of nine, before he changed to „his“ instrument at 17. He gained band experience immediately in a country & western / rock band and took lessons at the Musikhaus Lange (Ravensburg) with Giovanni della Monica, who prepared him for his studies at the Leopold Mozart Conservatory in Augsburg within a year. In 1981 he qualified as an orchestra musician and music teacher. Gregor Beck is now one of the most respected percussionists in Europe. He has made a name for himself through numerous tours in Europe, North America (more than 30 times) and in the Far East, from TV appearances, radio recordings, jazz cruises, and participation in well-known jazz festivals. His technique, which on the one hand displays impressive drive and spectacular technique, and on the other hand reveals an incredibly swinging and sensitive style, is reminiscent of Beck’s great idols: Big Sid Catlett, Jo Jones, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.
Stephanie Wagner studied classical and jazz transverse flute at the Musikhochschule Mainz and at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston/USA on a scholarship. She worked as a classical and jazz transverse flute lecturer at the Musikhochschule Mainz for several years. In 2009, she toured with the „Söhnen Mannheims“ and Xavier Naidoo. Her quintet „Stephanie Wagner’s Quinsch“ was one of the prize winners in the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Jazz (LAG Jazz RP) competition in 2010. In 2011, she received the city of Worms, Germany Jazz Prize as an outstanding instrumentalist with a high technical level, as well as for her innovative work in different formations, in which she unmistakably allows her personality to shine.
Colin Dawson began classical trumpet lessons at the age of 10; from 1976 to 1979 he continued his education at the Newcastle College of Arts and Technology. He had his first performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1977 and in 1978 Jabbo Smith gave him trumpet lessons in New Orleans. There he later played with Kid Thomas Valentine and Preston Jackson. In 1979 he began his career as a professional jazz trumpeter; in the same year he recorded his first LP with Sammy Rimington’s band. A year later, the first album of his own band, which was recorded in London’s 100 Club, followed. In 1984 he founded the Onward Band, with which he performed for five years.
Since 1988, he has been a member of the Allotria Jazzband, for which he also arranged pieces. He has performed with many guest stars such as Ray Brown, Benny Waters, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco and has made numerous international tours as a soloist. In 1998 he released the CD „Sophisticated“ with the pianist Bernd Lhotzky and he has also recorded several albums as a member of the quartet Echoes of Swing (with Lhotzky, Chris Hopkins and Oliver Mewes). He also worked with Alexander’s Swing-Machine (2001) and the European Jazz Giants (2002). He also performed with the Red Hot Hottentots from Frankfurt.