South West Oldtime All Stars

Reunited in 2018, the South West Oldtime All Stars have swiftly established themselves as a major force on the European traditional jazz scene, performing more than 200 concerts across the continent. Originating from south-west Germany, the band’s jazz-trained musicians passionately embrace the many shades of “classic jazz”, regularly enriching their performances with distinguished guest artists. Their first two albums are entirely dedicated to Louis Armstrong’s legendary Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings (1925–1928), widely regarded as a cornerstone of modern jazz, marking the rise of solo improvisation and described by critic Gary Giddins as one of the most influential recording projects in the history of American music. With their third album, The Blues And Some Other Abstract Truth, the ensemble broadens its musical scope by exploring the blues in all its expressive depth. Driven by the artistry and personality of its members — Thilo Wagner, a swinging pianist inspired by Oscar Peterson and honorary citizen of New Orleans, Martin “Ludwig” Auer, jazz trumpet professor in Leipzig and fluent in Armstrong’s musical language, award-winning clarinettist and saxophonist Gary Fuhrmann, Frankfurt Radio Bigband lead trombonist Felix Fromm, trained in the original Duke Ellington Orchestra technique, and virtuoso four-string banjo player Dave Ryan O’Hollyday from Bogotá — the band embodies with authenticity, elegance and vitality the living spirit of traditional jazz, as memorably showcased during their appearance at the Rive Jazzy Festival.