A FEW QUESTIONS FOR…GERWIN EISENHAUER!

The Drumweekend Regensburg.

Wikipedia says: <<Gerwin ‘Geff’ Eisenhauer (*1967 in Weiden in der Oberpfalz) is a German jazz musician (drums)>>.He not only has a Wikipedia entry, but also the Culture Prize of the District of Upper Palatinate (2010) and the Culture Prize of the City of Regensburg (2012). In 2016, he received the prestigious “Bremer Jazzpreis” with his trio Elf. Gerwin studied drums at the Drummers Collective in New York City. He passes on his enthusiasm for music not only on stage, but also at the Music College in Regensburg and at numerous workshops around the world. He has also infected his two sons – they also make music. From 10.02. to 12.02.2023,the Drumweekend Regensburg will take place for the seventh time, which Gerwin Eisenhauer has brought to life.

We asked the musician a few questions:

RegensburgNow: Dear Gerwin,

How long have you lived in Regensburg and where have you lived so far? For almost exactly 25 years now. I grew up in Weiden, just 80 km from here, and I studied in New York City. I was in Munich for a very short time, but I don’t want to mention that.

The Regensburg Drum Weekend will take place from 10.02. to 12.02.2023. What can we expect there?
Once again this year, some of the most interesting and remarkable drummers from the national and international scene will be taking part:
I’m particularly looking forward to Richard Spaven from London, who is probably one of the most exciting and innovative drummers in the world at the moment. Rooted in the British club and hip-hop scene, he plays with artists such as Loyle Carner, Flying Lotus, The Cinematic Orchestra, 4hero, Guru’s Jazzmatazz and Gregory Porter.

Flo Dauner is best known as the drummer of the German hip hop pioneers “Die Fantastischen Vier” (FANTA 4) and from the live band on the TV show “The Voice of Germany”.
Oli Rubow is known for his long-standing collaboration with bass legend Hellmut Hattler and the lounge pioneers of “DePhazz”. He has also toured with Nils Wülker, Cro, Freundeskreis and Jazzanova.

Max Gebhardt from Bremen will also be taking part. He runs an online store for drum breaks under the name maxbeatwerk and works for producers worldwide in the fields of music, film and advertising.
The workshops are rounded off by the evening concerts in the MusicAcademy hall, to which all those interested in music outside the workshop are also invited:

On Friday, February 10 at 7.30 pm THE DRUMWEEKEND OPENING PARTY with solo performances, talk, drum quiz show and some surprises and on Saturday, February 11 at 8 pm THE BIG DRUMWEEKEND CONCERT with RICHARD SPAVEN, FLO DAUNER, OLI RUBOW, myself and many musical guests.

The detailed program and registration for the Drumweekend can be found at music-college.com and tickets for the two DRUMWEEKEND concerts are available at okticket.de

You are obviously bubbling over with ideas, composing, releasing albums and bringing pieces such as the musical Scrooge or rock classics like “The Wall” to the stage. Is there anyone who inspires you? Not really. Sometimes I have an idea and then I just do it. I’m not someone who sits down and discusses with myself for days whether it could work, what the problems are and so on. If I have the feeling that it will work, I just do it and then solve any problems along the way. With SCROOGE 10 years ago, I had already booked the Turmtheater without having written a single line of the play. I always need a date or something, otherwise I can’t get going.

In the play “Misery”, you were not on stage but backstage as a director. How did that come about? I saw the play in NYC with my daughter Elisa. On Broadway, in a very elaborate production with Bruce Willis in the lead role. But I had the feeling that the play could be even more exciting and claustrophobic in a small, intimate atmosphere like the Tower Theater. Well, then I asked the publisher, then convinced Martin Hofer and Steffi that it would be great to do it in the Turmtheater. Well, and then we did it. The important thing is that I’m not a trained director or anything like that and I could never direct a play that I don’t like. It has to be something that I like and where I have images in my head and then I just do it exactly how I imagine it. It’s actually quite simple.

Please describe Regensburg briefly in your own words: Beautiful, almost too beautiful.

What do you like about Regensburg My apartment, my family and friends, a few bars and pubs, the short distances, the fact that I hardly need a car, the summer and winter here, the Hardline Festival, the Danube, Mrs. Reisinger’s sausage roastery on Neupfarrplatz.

And what is not so? The increasing Salzburgization, the feeling that there are no longer any dark corners in this city where an underground could emerge. That Regensburg will eventually become its own museum. Oh yes, and I also find the Christmas market in the castle very creepy.

What has been your coolest performance so far? The Gershwin Hotel in New York City.

What is exciting about your work? No day is the same.

Do you actually have a favorite musician or a role model? There are a few: Steve Gadd, Mike Skinner, Paul Simon, Travis Barker, J.D. Salinger….each in their own field!!!

What are you currently working on or what is your next project?
At the moment I’m playing a lot in a very unusual setting in a duo with the 18-year-old singer and rapper Layla Carter. I play with an electronic drum set and use it to control all the harmonic and melodic sounds. The whole thing is more in the electronic department, but also has a jazz side. We call it technojazz now. We’ll be giving a taste of it at the Drumweekend concert on February 10, and in March we’ll be playing at the Aberdeen Jazz Festival in Scotland. An album is planned for the fall and the working title is: “The old man and the brat” ;-))))

Do you have a favorite place or favorite spot in or around Regensburg? Actually my balcony when the sun is just setting or in summer in the shade in the mornings in the RT pool.

And now the Regensburg question: Knackersemmel or Prinzess chocolates? Crispy roll without gherkin!

Back to the Drumweekend. Which concert should we definitely not miss? None!

Dear Gerwin, thank you very much for the interview! We are very much looking forward to the Drumweekend Regensburg from 10.02. to 12.02.2023!

PROGRAM

Friday, 10.02.2023 16.00 to 17.30 Workshop with FLO DAUNER 18.00 to 19.30 Hang out with beer, wine or mineral water and Gudrun’s chili con/sin carne in the Music Academy café 19.30 THE DRUMWEEKEND OPENING PARTY with solo performances, talk, drum quiz show and a few surprises in the Music Academy hall with GERWIN EISENHAUER, FLO DAUNER, MAX BEATWERK and OLI RUBOW Saturday, 11.02.2023 11.00 am to 12.30 pm Workshop with OLI RUBOW 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Workshop with MAX BEATWERK 8.00 pm THE BIG DRUMWEEKEND CONCERT with RICHARD SPAVEN, GERWIN EISENHAUER, OLI RUBOW and many musical guests in the hall of the Music Academy! Sunday, 12.02.2023 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.: Workshop with RICHARD SPAVEN

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