Name: Jazz Concert 'Mayhem'
Start: 2024-09-25T20:00:00+02:00
Location: 14, rue du Puits, 2355 Bonnevoie, Luxembourg

‘Mayhem’ is dedicated to memory of the great clarinetist
Michel Pilz who passed away on November 2, 2023.
Michel will be missed in the European musical landscape and over.
Their music is a fusion, not of musical styles but of musicians' temperaments and experiences. Their interaction is a role-playing game, where players exploit their playful intelligence to write a scenario giving rise to situations where each musician freely deploys their musical language. The sonic adventure that unfolds throughout the 10 tracks is the natural communion of freely exposed musical contexts and memorable melodies subtly and intensely punctuated by a twin-skins section.

A fun and successful piece of free music by clarinetist Michel Pilz, drummer Benoit Martiny, pianist Michel Reis and saxophonist and drummer Pit Dahm united for the first time at a farewell evening in 2019 at the Opderschmelz in Dudelange, bastion of Jazz in Luxembourg, is at the origin of ‘Mayhem’.
That enjoyable moment invited the musicians to deepen their collaboration, culminating with a notable concert at the “Like a Jazz Machine” festival in Dudelange in 2021:
“Pit Dahm and Benoit Martiny sit in front of their percussions. Already, the smoke machine is exulting. Michel Pilz joins the dance and tames the two drummers who look at each other, who respond to each other and who test each other. One is tough, the other falsely ingenuous. Michel Reis, who sits at the piano, acts as arbiter and comes to temper the free-jazz ardor of the trio which preceded him, by setting a tempo and adding melody. Here we have the cream of indigenous jazz, whose reunion on stage seems obvious. The four musicians allow themselves unexpected parentheses. Pit Dahm grabs a saxophone to bring body to the ensemble, then performs a solo which gives the impression of witnessing the spectacle of a tamer who would have difficulty making the animal in his hands obey. But when the troop reaches its cruising speed, it is inexhaustible. A gong is given at the end of its strength to put an end to the run.” - Kévin Kroczek - d'Lëtzebuerger Land du 21.05.2021
A twin-skins record
Twin-skin recordings are famous but are rare these days, remember Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman or outside the framework of Jazz, the JBs of James Brown, The Melvins, King Crimson or Grateful Dead. With Benoît Martiny and Pit Dahm, on the one hand a drummer nourished by the rhythms of John Bonham who is also at ease with his drumsticks on jazz, world music, hip- hop and even metal, from another, a drummer raised in the tradition and discipline of jazz drumming, the opportunity was too good, they seized it to offer the listener hot chops and expressive drummings.
Pilz-Reis-Dahm-Martiny
Michel Pilz
Probably one of the most recognizable jazz musicians in Europe, tall and lanky Michel Pilz and his long bass-clarinet are a popular club and concert feature. Considered early on as a successor to the great Eric Dolphy, Michel has dedicated his career exclusively to the mastery of this extraordinary woodwind.
Michel Reis
Hailed as a “tremendous pianist” by Downbeat Magazine, Michel Reis has in recent years paved his way into an artist of international acclaim. Having released 13 albums as leader or co-leader, Michel Reis has appeared in many of the world’s most famous venues and festivals, including the
Blue Note Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Olympia in Paris, the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Pit Dahm
Pit Dahm is a drummer, multi-instrumentalist and composer. After finishing his classical and jazz studies in Luxembourg he moved to Amsterdam and later to Brussels to pursue further studies. In 2016, Pit finished his masters degree with honours and moved back to his home country. He won numerous awards like the “Dutch Jazz Competition”, “The Records” as well as the “Toots Thielemans jazz award” and has performed with his own band and as a sideman the most prestigious venues in Europe, Asia and South America. Pit is currently teaching in Luxembourg and working on his new record.
Benoît Martiny
Benoît went on to study jazz drums at the Conservatory of Rotterdam, recorded 2 albums and toured around Europe, Asia and America with Dutch Afro group Mdungu. With the Benoit Martiny Band, he toured in Japan, South America, Middle-East and all over Europe. The mighty BMB released 6 albums and 2 DVDs, was the first prize winner of the Amersfoort Jazztalent award in 2008. Over the years Benoit has played and recorded with many bands and artists such as Oghene Kologbo (ex-Fela Kuti), Laki Latino, Neco Novellas, Mark Lotterman, played concerts with trumpet legend Randy Brecker and with Justin Adams (Guitarist of Robert Plant).