To Satch And Duke

Axel Schlosser's roots go back a long way into his childhood and lead directly to his cousin, who brought him into contact with New Orleans jazz and swinging arrangements at an early age.

If you go even deeper, you will inevitably come across two heroes who decisively shaped his further artistic life: Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Pops", "Satchmo", or simply "Satch" and Edward Kennedy Ellington, called "Duke".

The fact that the trumpet player now, together with pianist Thilo Wagner, bassist Jean-Philippe Wadle and drummer Jean Paul Höchstädter, takes a deep bow to Satch and Duke is for him a commitment and a project close to his heart at the same time.

Schlosser and co-musicians scrape off the sheen from the pieces of the masters in a witty and dignified manner. There are rarities (Chocolate Shake, Down in Honky Tonk Town, and Big Butter And Egg Man) and curiosities, compositions that gained the status of world hits (Basin Street Blues and What A Wonderful World), pieces that formed solid cornerstones in the repertoire of both musicians, as well as pieces from Duke Ellington's rich stock, which he recorded in a studio together with Louis Armstrong (Portrait of Louis Armstrong).