Omer Klein & Aris Quartett

In the opening concert of the asphalt Festival 2023, the world-renowned jazz pianist Omer Klein will meet the Aris Quartet, which is regarded in the classical music scene as “one of the most sensational ensembles of the young generation” (ARTE) and has long been among the top ranks of chamber music with its distinctive sound language. The special concert includes original compositions by Omer Klein, his arrangements of pieces by jazz greats such as Wayne Shorter and Sidney Bechet, but also classical pieces for string quartet – both in the original and as the basis for jazzy improvisations. The programme “Shake it!” is an impressive example of what can be achieved by combining classical music and jazz, tradition and the new. Omer Klein was nominated for the German Jazz Award 2023 for his arrangement of Wayne Shorter’s “Oriental Folk Song” for piano and string quartet.

The music of pianist and composer Omer Klein is “boundless” (New York Times). Signed to Warner Music in 2017, he received the ECHO Jazz Award in 2018 for his album “Sleepwalkers”. March 2023 will see the release of his 10th album, “Life & Fire”, which will also mark the 10th anniversary of his trio as a band. Klein plays internationally at renowned festivals and concert halls, including North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Elbphilharmonie, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Berliner Philharmonie and Wiener Konzerthaus. He performs regularly with mandolin star Avi Avital, the NDR Big Band and classical percussionist Alexei Gerassimez. Born in Israel in 1982, Omer Klein studied jazz and classical piano in Boston and New York. He has lived in Germany since 2009, currently in Frankfurt after several years in Düsseldorf.

The Aris Quartet is one of the young stars of the concert scene. Founded in 2009 in Frankfurt am Main, the musicians have been playing consistently at top venues for several years – including the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Berlin Konzerthaus, the Alte Oper Frankfurt and repeatedly at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. In addition to artistic excellence, the musicians’ passion and emotionality are particularly impressive. The ensemble’s success is also reflected in its awards: with numerous first prizes at renowned competitions, the Aris Quartet quickly achieved its international breakthrough. The musicians are “Rising Stars” of the ECHO network of Europe’s major concert halls in the 2022/23 season, are among the BBC’s “New Generation Artists” and won no less than five prizes at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. In addition to regular appearances on radio and TV, the Aris Quartet has already released six CD productions which have been highly acclaimed by the music press. The most recent release is a recording of works by Beethoven and the contemporary composer Gerald Resch.

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