Hendrika Entzian, born in 1984, is a renowned double bass player and composer who received the WDR Jazz Prize for composition in 2018. Prior to this, she released two acclaimed albums, Turnus (2015) and Pivot (2017), with her quartet, which was formed in 2012. Critics praised her leadership and the balance in her compositions between improvisation and structure. She has also collaborated with major ensembles like the WDR Big Band and the Dutch Metropole Orkest, showcasing the potential of big band formats.
In 2018, she formed her own ensemble, Hendrika Entzian+ , and recorded the album Marble in Cologne, presenting her vision of a contemporary big band through seven diverse pieces. Her compositions adapt to different ensemble sizes, with larger groups allowing for more complex dramaturgy and timbral variety, while still maintaining spontaneity and improvisation. Entzian emphasizes the importance of musicians adding their personal sound to keep the music lively.
Her work explores how solos and improvisation are integrated into large ensembles, with notable soloists like Sebastian Gille, Bastian Stein, Matthew Halpin, Shannon Barnett and Sandra Hempel contributing improvisational accents. The album title Marble reflects the flowing, changing structures she admires in marble stone. Entzian’s approach bridges traditional orchestral richness with individual expression, aiming to inspire diverse audiences, including younger listeners, through energetic and richly textured music.
Lineup
Julian Bossert: alto saxophone, flute (lead)
Theresia Philipp: alto saxophone, clarinet
Matthew Halpin: tenor & soprano saxophone
Sebastian Gille: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Heiko Bidmon: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Andy Haderer: trumpet, flugelhorn (lead, except for Marble pt. 2 & Stapel)
Felix Meyer: trumpet, flugelhorn (lead on Marble pt. 2)
Bastian Stein: trumpet,flugelhorn
Heidi Bayer: trumpet, flugelhorn
Klaus Heidenreich: trombone (lead)
Shannon Barnett: trombone
Janning Trumann: trombone
Jan Schreiner: bass trombone
Simon Seidl: piano, fender rhodes
Sandra Hempel: guitar
Matthias Akeo Nowak: bass
Fabian Arends: drums
Lorenzo Ludemann: lead trumpet on Stapel as guest
All music composed by Hendrika Entzian
