Münster-Wolbeck. Despite the heat and summer school holidays, Wolbeck is not as „extinct“ as it may seem during the day. In the late Friday afternoon many people went out for ice cream, a beer under a shady tree or a concert in the beer garden.At short notice, a big band had announced its arrival at the „Kiepe“ restaurant – that of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, USA. Because it was like many times before the weekend of the events of the „Christian Youth Exchange“ by Martin Schulz. On Saturday, the exchange students and their families had church service and barbecue on their agenda.
And on this occasion musicians from Alabama will be present from time to time. In the beginning it was only a small band that came along, e.g. five. Each time there were more: 2009 with 5 musicians, 2014 with 8, 2016 with 13 and this year with 18. 2009 they also performed at the Drostenhof.
Dr. Steven Roberts, trumpet teacher, is always present. For many it was their first trip by train or plane, he says, or simply their first visit to Germany. This was the case for Kyle Bacchus, who took part in his fourth international tour here. He was particularly impressed by the age of many buildings that are still in use. In Birmingham, he doesn’t know of one that is even two hundred years old. The 24-day tour started this time in Munich, led to Italy to Lago di Garda and Venice, to Kappl in the snow, briefly to Berlin and above all to Münster, where they also appear in the pub „Kruse Baimken“ and on the Aasee Terraces. They had already given many concerts in the USA to raise money for the trip. There were 18 gigs with one guitarist.
After a dinner the 18 then sat down at the instruments, with a view of the already full beer garden. Roberts announced Sinatra and Latin Jazz, Folk, also Rock, „we’ll do it all“, but „no classics, no dixieland“. Nobody scrolls through notes – nowadays you wipe. For example in „I Remember Clifford“, a jazz piece by Benny Golson, spontaneously written in 1956 in memoriam Clifford Brown, which has long since become a jazz standard: Again an opportunity to shine for the soloists of the band. „A Foggy Day“ is on the program, „BAP!“, and a lot of fire in „La Suerte de los Tontos“ by Johnny Richards.
The impression has become established that the big band always brings along a good singer – right, this time it’s Anna Warner: „Angel Eyes“ at the beginning.