Zappelbude L-R: Roberto Gioia, Tony Lakatos, Wolfgang Haffner, Patrick Scales, Martin Scales Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Ralf Dombrowski was photographing at the last of the three reunion gigs of Zappelbude as part of the Munich Summer Jazz Weeks at Unterfahrt. The group recently got together after a gap of fifteen years. Ralf writes:

Wolfgang Haffner and Patrick Scales Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

“Zappelbude, the reunited supergroup of German jazz fusion really could be one of the big things of the next few years. They all want to continue what they have started and go back into the studio and record.

Roberto Gioia and Tony Lakatos Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

“Zappelbude consists of co-leader and fine keyboard player Roberto Di Gioia who does most of the writing for the band, saxophonist Tony Lakatos  – one of the best and most under-recognized saxophonists on European jazz – and the Scales brothers, Martin – from the HR Big Band – on guitar and Patrick on bass. The Scales brothers are originally from Garmisch in Bavaria – their father is English.”

Wolfgang Haffner Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Ralf has also recently interviewed the other co-leader, drummer Wolfgang Haffner, who said:

“Zappelbude is a fully grown-up band. We have experienced so much together and spent a lot of time in each others’ company. After a gap of 15 years it is something completely different. Everyone has been off doing his own thing for years. Roberto, for example, has been doing pop and hiphop bands. But he is a better jazz pianist than ever. When we did our concerts he played solos and we were all there, with our instruments cheering him on in total amazement!”

LINK: Wolfgang Haffner’s new CD, Kind of Spain, is released on ACT Music on 25 August.