Axel Zwingenberger

Axel Zwingenberger (born 7 May 1955) is a German blues and boogie-woogie pianist and songwriter.[1]

Axel Zwingenberger
Axel Zwingenberger during the funeral service of Champion Jack Dupree, January 1992 in Hannover, Germany
Axel Zwingenberger during the funeral service of Champion Jack Dupree, January 1992 in Hannover, Germany
Background information
Born (1955-05-07) 7 May 1955
Hamburg, West Germany
GenresJazz, blues, boogie-woogie[1]
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Piano, celeste, harpsichord
Years active1970s–present
LabelsVagabond, EMI, Eagle
Websiteboogiewoogie.net/2/en/0/a/0/news.html

Biography

Zwingenberger was born in Hamburg, West Germany, and enjoyed eleven years of classical piano training. After listening to recordings by pianists Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Meade "Lux" Lewis, he became a boogie-woogie musician.[2] In 1974 he performed with pianists Hans-Georg Moeller, Vince Weber and Martin Pyrker at the First International Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival in Cologne, West Germany. They also played at the Stars of Boogie Woogie and the Hans Maitner festival.[2]

A year later he signed with a record label, which released his solo albums Boogie Woogie Breakdown, Power House Boogie, and Boogie Woogie Live. He has worked with Ray Bryant, Champion Jack Dupree, Lloyd Glenn, Lionel Hampton, Jay McShann, Joe Newman, Sammy Price, Big Joe Turner, Sippie Wallace, Charlie Watts, Vince Weber, Bill Wyman, and Mama Yancey.[2] His publications include Boogie Woogie: Piano Solo, a book of twelve of his compositions transcribed.[3]

A railfan since early childhood, he published photographs of steam locomotives in The Magic of Trains [4] and established a non-profit group with the German Foundation for the Protection of Historical Monuments which works for the preservation of trains, such as the steam-powered DR 18 201.

In spring 2009, with English pianist Ben Waters, he renewed his relationship with Charlie Watts, drummer of The Rolling Stones. With bassist Dave Green, they played concerts under the name The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie. In June 2012 they released their first album, Live in Paris (Eagle 2012), and performed in New York City at Lincoln Center and the Iridium Jazz Club.[5]

Selective discography
Year Title Solo albums Label
1996 Boogie Back to New York City solo Vagabond
1992 Boogie Woogie Classics solo PolyGram
1985 Boogie Woogie Live solo[6] Vagabond (also issued on Calligraph)
1980 Power House Boogie solo Vagabond
1978 Boogie Woogie Breakdown solo Telefunken
Year Title Combinations Label
2012 The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie – Live in Paris w/Ben Waters, Charlie Watts, Dave Green Eagle
2012 The Joy of Boogie Woogie w/Keito Saito Quatre Mains
2010 The Magic of Boogie Woogie w/Charlie Watts, Dave Green Vagabond
2009 Lady sings the Boogie Woogie w/Lila Ammons Vagabond
2008 Saxy Boogie Woogie w/Big Jay McNeely & The Bad Boys Vagabond
2004 Groovology w/Gottfried Boettger Vagabond
1999 Brothers in Boogie w/Torsten Zwingenberger Vagabond
1999 The Boogiemeisters w/Vince Weber Vagabond
1996 Swing the Boogie! w/Jay McShann Vagabond
1982 The Boogie Woogie Album w/Lionel Hampton Orchestra Vagabond
1978 Let's Boogie Woogie All Night Long w/Big Joe Turner Vagabond
1976 2015 Boogie Woogie Session '76 live in Vienna – The Complete Recordings w/Hans-Georg Möller, Martin Pyrker, Torsten Zwingenberger, Vince Weber EMI/Vagabond (re-release of 2 CDs + DVD)
Year Title Axel Zwingenberger & The Friends of Boogie Woogie – Series Label
2000 Vol. 10: Kansas City Boogie Jam w/Big Joe Duskin, Sammy Price, Jay McShann Vagabond
1999 Vol. 9: Red Hot Boogie Woogie Party w/Red Holloway, Mojo Blues Band Vagabond
1993 Vol. 8: Heat It Up w/Red Holloway, Mojo Blues Band Vagabond
1992 Vol. 7: Champion Jack Dupree sings Blues Classics w/Champion Jack Dupree, Mogens "Basse" Seidelin, Michael Strasser Vagabond
1990 Vol. 6: On Stage with Champion Jack Dupree w/Champion Jack Dupree, Torsten Zwingenberger Vagabond
1988 Vol. 5: Champ's Housewarming w/Champion Jack Dupree, Mojo Blues Band Vagabond
1987 Vol. 4: The Blues of Mama Yancey w/Estella "Mama" Yancey Vagabond
1986 Vol. 3: An Evening with Sippie Wallace w/Sippie Wallace Vagabond
1985 Vol. 2: Between Hamburg & Hollywood w/Big Joe Turner, Joe Newman, Lloyd Glenn, Torsten Zwingenberger Vagabond
1984 Vol. 1: Sippie Wallace w/Sippie Wallace Vagabond

References
  1. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1 ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  2. Prato, Greg. "Axel Zwingenberger". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  3. Axel Zwingenberger: Boogie Woogie: Piano Solo (1997) - ISBN 3-926398-01-9
  4. Axel Zwingenberger, Vom Zauber der Züge - The Magic of Trains photo book - ISBN 3-926398-02-7
  5. Fricke, David (3 July 2012). "Charlie Watts Rips the Joint With Boogie Woogie in New York". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  6. Axel Zwingenberger: Boogie Woogie Piano Solo: transcription of the CD VRCD 8.85007 - ISBN 3-926398-01-9

Further reading
  • Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian. Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings, 8th edition. Penguin Books, 2006 ISBN 978-0-14-102327-4
  • Kernfeld, Barry. The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd edition, Vol 2. London: Grove, 2002ISBN 1-56159-284-6
  • Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Books, 1992 ISBN 0-85112-580-8
  • Silvester, Peter J. The Story of Boogie Woogie – A Left Hand Like God. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2009 ISBN 978-0-8108-6924-0
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