Axel Zwingenberger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Axel Zwingenberger
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Zwingenberger at the funeral service for Champion Jack Dupree, January 1992 in Hanover, Germany
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| Background information | |
| Born | 7 May 1955 Hamburg, West Germany |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, boogie-woogie |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Piano, celeste, harpsichord |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Vagabond, EMI, Eagle |
Axel Zwingenberger (born May 7, 1955) is a German musician. He is famous for playing blues and boogie-woogie piano. He also writes songs.
Contents
About Axel Zwingenberger
Early Life and Musical Journey
Axel Zwingenberger was born in Hamburg, which was then West Germany. He started playing piano at a young age and had 11 years of classical music lessons. But his musical path changed when he heard recordings by famous boogie-woogie pianists. These included Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, and Meade "Lux" Lewis. Their exciting music inspired him to become a boogie-woogie musician himself.
What is Boogie-Woogie?
Boogie-woogie is a lively and rhythmic style of piano music. It grew out of the blues in the early 20th century. It's known for its strong, repeating bass lines played by the left hand. The right hand plays catchy melodies and improvisations. It's often very fast and makes people want to dance!
First Performances and Albums
In 1974, Axel performed at the First International Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival in Cologne, West Germany. He played alongside other talented pianists like Hans-Georg Moeller and Vince Weber. Just a year later, he signed a record deal. He released his own solo albums, including Boogie Woogie Breakdown and Power House Boogie.
Working with Music Legends
Axel has had the chance to play with many famous musicians. Some of these include Champion Jack Dupree, Lionel Hampton, Big Joe Turner, and Sippie Wallace. He even worked with Charlie Watts, the drummer from the famous band The Rolling Stones.
In 2009, Axel teamed up again with Charlie Watts and English pianist Ben Waters. They formed a group called The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie. They played many concerts and released an album called Live in Paris in 2012. They even performed in New York City at places like Lincoln Center.
A Love for Trains
Besides music, Axel has another passion: trains! Since he was a child, he has loved steam locomotives. He has even published a book of his train photographs called The Magic of Trains. He also helped start a group that works to protect old, historical trains, like the steam-powered DR 18 201.
