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Christina Fuchs
soprano & alto saxophone, bass clarinet
Romy
Herzberg
contrabass
CD - KontraSax
(1995)
CD - KontraSax plays Gertrude Stein
(1998)
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KONTRASAX - The duo performs
as a fusion of improvisation and composition. The double-bass,
saxophones and bass clarinet in their contemporary approach create
a unique and very personal dialogue. Sensitive sounds belong to
the multi-colored variety of the music. The duo exclusively plays
their own original works that can be seen in the context of new
improvised music.
KontraSax has performed in concerts and also in extended form
in: performances, theatre-music, readings, setting to music of
images and words in collaboration with artists, dancers, performers
and other musicians. Besides this, they have performed live at
different events, on the radio and have done radio dramas.
KontraSax's best-known accomplishment is a CD release (1998, JazzHouseMusic,
Cologne), called 'KontraSax Plays Gertrude Stein', which brought
them a nomination for the German record Critics Award. The duo
was extended to form an interdisciplinary trio by the reader Renate
Fuhrmann. These three have dedicated themselves to the poetic
work of the American poet Gertrude Stein. The press described
this CD saying: 'Both musicians, Christina Fuchs (saxes and bass
clarinet) and Romy Herzberg (double bass) have been, for quite
some time now, well known instrumentalists and composers. Here,
we find a blending of compositions and improvisation that wind
themselves around the texts of Gertrude Stein, read by the actress
Renate Fuhrmann. It is that particular sound mix that gives these
texts their personal and unique aura.' or: 'Romy Herzberg (born
1951) and Christina Fuchs (born 1963) are masters of their instruments,
who create, through playing with sound possibilities, the smallest
possible units of sound… That is the secret of good music
where jazz and new music meet… Here, the communication is
right, life is in the sounds; they do dance and cry and make love
and fight and kiss and work miracles.' Their teamwork is excellent
and it is what critics have pointed out in the review of their
first CD release 'KontraSax' (1995, JazzHouseMusik): 'Christina
Fuchs and Romy Herzberg are telling improvised short stories.
Dense miniatures created from a duo that is definitely attuned,
precise and sensitive. A CD recorded in a brilliant way.'
CHRISTINA FUCHS was born
in Münich/Germany in 1963 and grew up in Freiburg. Between
1982 and 1986 she studied History and German Literature at the
University of Freiburg. In 1987 she started studying Jazz Harmony,
Composition and Arranging with Joachim Ullrich, teacher at the
High School of Music in Cologne, and with Siegfried Köpf
also in Cologne. Since 1987 she has worked as a saxophonist, clarinetist
and composer, with many ensembles ranging from New Music and theatre
to improvised music and jazz. She has also done composition commissions
for theatre and films, radio and TV productions, as well as several
CD releases. In 1992 she founded, and is still a co-leader of
the United Women's Orchestra, a jazz orchestra dedicated to performing
original compositions. In 1995 she was awarded the working grant
"Jazz & Literature" by the Federal State of Nordrhein
Westfalen and in 1997 she studied in Canada at the "Banff
Center for the Arts". In 1998/99/00 she participated in the
international Big Band composer/instrumentalist festival in Vancouver,
Canada (with Hugh Fraser, Slide Hampton, Graham Collier, Phil
Nimmons). In 1999/2000 Christine studied in NYC with Jim McNeely,
Maria Schneider, Michael Abene and George Russell on a grant from
the BMI Composers Programme/NY/USA. In 2001/2002 she was the winner
of the composition competition "Jazzart" in Nordrhein
Westfalen/Germany and in 2002 received first prize in the "Julius
Hemphill Composition Awards" in the USA, in the category
"Large Ensembles". In 2003 she received a fellowship
for the 2003 Music Omi International Musician Residency Program
in the USA. Since 1987 Christina Fuchs has lived and worked in
Cologne, Germany.
ROMY HERZBERG was born
1951 in Ratingen. He lives in Cologne, Germany, works as a psychotherapist
and musician (double bass player, composer, and arranger: New
Music, improvised music, jazz). In 2001/2003 he had a scholarship
and studied Art in the Engadina Bassa School in Switzerland. He
his been involved in music since 1996, when he worked on the AGORA
II project with Blaise Siwula (New York) and others. Since 1990
he has been a member of the duo KontraSax with Christina Fuchs
(bass clarinet, saxophones) working on different multidisciplinary
projects. They have released two CDs: 'Kontrasax' in 1995 and
"KontraSax plays Gertrude Stein" in 1998, which nominated
for the German Record Critics Award.
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