For the first time, the TU’s own house and big band SwingING. held a Christmas concert in Audimax I. Under the direction of music teacher Gero Weiland, the band offered a colorful mix of classical and Christmas pieces, interpreted with a jazzy flair, perfectly matching the concert’s motto “We wish you a very swingin’ Christmas.” The first part of the evening was dedicated to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. This was performed in the light-footed jazz adaptation by Duke Ellington from 1960. “This is a work with several movements,” explained band guitarist and host Wingolf Grieger to a well-filled auditorium. “And normally you shouldn’t clap between the movements,” he added with a wink, “but in this case we ask you to do so. First, it helps to relieve some tension, and second, we need the time to turn pages.” The band was then rewarded with great applause after each movement, inspiring collective foot-tapping.
The audience was equally enthusiastic about the numerous interpretations of popular Christmas classics. Arranger Torsten Maaß from Ahrensburg had newly arranged some of the best-known Christmas songs for big band, including “Lasst uns froh und munter sein,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Let it Snow.” Singer and actress Caroline Kiesewetter as well as TUHH singer Frank Dainat shone both solo and in duets, for example in the evergreen “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Another highlight was the guest appearance by renowned trumpeter Benny Brown. Brown has toured, among others, with Wolfgang Niedecken’s Kölsch rock band BAP and regularly performs in the brass section of the TV show “Sing meinen Song.” Together with the Swedish soloist Lennart Axelsson, he thrilled the audience with brilliant solos.
SwingING. was founded in 2002 on the initiative of Gero Weiland and former TU staff member Christian Scharfetter. Initially, the band consisted of students, scientific staff, and professors. Meanwhile, SwingING. has developed into a predominantly professional big band. Nevertheless, as a musical ambassador of the TU, it remains firmly rooted at the university.
Further concert dates of SwingING. can be found at: gero-weiland.de/de/105706-SwingING-Big-Band
