His instrument is as traditional as his spirit is innovative. Jazz virtuoso Till Brönner is constantly conquering new artistic territory. Musically in a duet with the double bass "monster" Dieter Ilg, but also visually - as a gifted photographer. We met him for an exclusive interview.
Your last album "The Good Life" was released in 2016, with songs by Frank Sinatra. Is something new already in the pipeline?
Till Brönner: I'm currently working on a joint album with bassist Dieter Ilg. Although we've been performing together for almost eight years, we haven't managed it yet. It should finally be released in 2018.
You will also be performing with Dieter Ilg in Zurich in January.
Performing with Dieter Ilg has become extremely dear to me. You might think that trumpet and double bass would be a boring event. You forget that there is neither guitar nor piano - and the audience really appreciates that.
Dieter Ilg has a special style. Does he encourage you to experiment?
I call Dieter a monster on the double bass, in the most positive sense. Because it's almost unbelievable what he gets out of this instrument harmonically and percussively. Ideas that can replace an entire band. At the end of the evening, I always leave the stage drenched in sweat. I let out everything that lies dormant inside me.
You work yourself to the bone on stage. So you don't need another fitness program to stay in shape?
Actually, the calorie consumption on stage is considerable. No, playing live doesn't mean I don't do sports from time to time. Yoga is something I can do anywhere, even when I'm traveling. When the weather is good, I also like to go jogging in the countryside.
A few years ago, you were a judge on the casting show "The X Factor", and you also teach at one, so you look after the next generation of musicians. What advice do you have for young musicians?
In fact, I come across quite a few young talents who say "I want to do it like you, dear Till". I think I was very lucky back in the nineties. The media situation was different back then, social media wasn't so important yet. Today, I would advise a young jazz musician to think about their unique selling point. Because it's not enough to simply have a good education. What sets a musician apart from others and how to communicate this with their own means is almost worth a course of study in itself.
Do you also advise young musicians to take part in talent shows? Why did you leave the show back then?
Back then, I took part in X-Factor because I was assured that it was supposed to be about music - and the show really did that. It was a novelty at the time and the quality was high. I was able to win twice with my candidates. However, I also learned that television audiences are different from concert audiences.
What is your own unique selling point?
Till Brönner's unique selling point is perhaps his sound. Regardless of the style of a production, I can always hear myself. In the end, it might be good if you only hear two or three trumpet notes - and have the impression, "Ah, that could be Till Brönner". Then I've actually already won.
So TV success doesn't guarantee success on stage?
The winners of casting shows rarely make a difference in the end.
You are now also a successful photographer. Is that a balance to music, or are there parallels?
Photography and jazz have a lot in common. However, photography gives me the chance to decide afterwards whether I want to show what I have created. When playing jazz, when making music on stage, I don't have a second chance - at least not for the rest of the evening.
You mainly portray other music stars. Do you have better access because you are a musician yourself?
Photography is chemistry, which is comparable to the energy you exchange as a musician on stage. And because musicians meet musicians in my case, the result is perhaps also different. It's a different situation than when a photographer arrives and the artist thinks: "Oh God, now I have a photo session and I have to make sure my hair is right."
Last year, Barack Obama invited you to the White House. What was your experience of him?
Obama made a connection with jazz very early on. He grew up with jazz, his father took him to a Dave Brubeck concert at a very early age. This changed Obama a lot. He told me that in a very touching way. I'm not sure whether Donald Trump is also a jazz fan.
TILL BRÖNNER / DIETER ILG DUO
Wed January 31, 18, Neumünster Church, Zurich
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