The band

origin

Although Big Brass Machine will not celebrate their live premiere until August 2024, the origins of this unconventional big band go back to the early 1990s. In Espelkamp, ​​East Westphalia, young musicians met in a school big band that  from there they discovered the wide world of music. Some of them played  for years together in various projects. Now - almost 30 years later - they are all meeting again in Rinteln and forming the axis of Big Brass Machine - and continuing what began in childhood between Espelkamp and Hille. At that time, the band's leader, Daniel Ellermann, was now from Rinteln, bassist Tobias Carmine from Hameln, alto saxophonist Sebastian Heise from Rahden and first trumpeter Britta Rohlfing from Stemwede. Over the last few decades, all of them have been able to gain countless experiences in various ensembles of different genres and have met top-class musicians who have now brought them together in a new, promising project: Big Brass Machine. The group includes musicians from Schaumburg, Hessisch Oldendorf, Bad Oeynhausen and Hameln, Minden, Hille, Hanover, Rahden and Stemwede.

program

The band of around 25 people has been rehearsing in a classic big band line-up since autumn 2023, initially in the multi-purpose hall in Todenmann and since the beginning of the year in the IGS Rinteln. Since then, a program has been rehearsed that is demanding, but still consists of easily accessible and catchy songs. In addition to pearls from recent music history by bands such as Tower of Power, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Dusty Springfield, Michael Bublé and Santana, it also offers completely newly arranged and interpreted classics by Glenn Miller, Henry Mancini and Bobby Darin. 

project

"The special appeal of founding a band like this is to observe the spark as musicians, some of whom are meeting for the first time, slowly grow together into a unit, not just musically but also personally. The last few months have been very intense. Due to long distances and other projects, we can only get the whole group together once a month, but that doesn't mean that the time in between isn't put to good use: individual and section rehearsals take place during this time, as do conceptual meetings. Arrangements are made, set, merchandising and PR material are worked on, and there is a lot of communication at all levels - one of the keys to successful ensemble work," says leader Daniel Ellermann. 

premiere

The band's premiere will take place at the Rinteln Old Town Festival on August 11th at 1 p.m. on the market square stage. Big Brass Machine will also be seen and heard on October 26th at the Jungle Room in Kleinenbremen. 

outlook

Planning for the coming year is already in full swing. A few high-caliber, national concerts have already been confirmed. Information about this will be available in due course on Big Brass Machine's social media channels on Instagram and Facebook. There you can also follow the creation of this special project almost live: Professional video clips of the rehearsals are published at regular intervals, giving an exclusive insight into the meticulous rehearsal work by Big Brass Machine.

members

  • musical direction
     Daniel Ellermann
  • singing
     Janek MO, Nina Grewing
  • Saxophone
     Sebastian Heise, Marc 'Moe' Osterhage, Dennis 'Scully' Cording, Manu Schäffer, Peter Strunk
  • Trombones
     Justus Requardt, Lars Weiß, Uli Biewener, René Rüter, Matthias Wellenbrink
  • Trumpets
     Britta Rohlfing, Detlef Kaufs, Sophia Weiß, Atze Hildebrand, Jens Gerbode, Julian Kohrs
  • rhythm
    Frederik Weissel, Tobias Carmine, Phil Gräfe, Christoph Kuhlmann, Alejandro Cagigas