Programme

Grounded and distinctive, steeped in soul: That is Ida Sand's voice. Since the beginning of her career as a freelance singer and keyboardist, she has worked with the top of the Swedish music scene. As fascinating as jazz was for her, her musical influences were and remain Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Aretha Franklin, which means that jazz, pop and folk influences are equally audible in her previous albums. "My Soul Kitchen", on the other hand, is Ida Sand's clearest declaration of her deep connection to and love of "sweet soul music". Soul in all its facets from Funk, R'n'B, New Orleans to Motown form a soulful unity with Ida Sand's own songs and interpretations.
Although this is Ida Sand's first appearance at Stars im Luitpoldhain, she regularly performs with Wolfgang Haffner in various formations. The jazz greats are not only linked by a long-standing friendship, but also by their importance in the jazz landscape and their openness and lack of fear of crossover, rock and pop.

Ivan Lins is the most successful Brazilian composer outside Brazil, having won several Grammys. His music moves between Música Popular Brasileira and jazz fusion and his pieces have been recorded by stars such as Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé and Quincy Jones and have become global hits. He himself has released over 40 albums. 
Since the 1980s, his music has had a very international influence, especially in the USA, where he played with Ella Fitzgerald, Sting and many other well-known stars. In 2023, he was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Latin Jazz Album" category with his album "My Heart Speaks". 
In 2022, Lins played at the Luitpoldhain for the first time and was the best example of how you can be successful with musical compromises that do not compromise the standards and quality of jazz. Wolfgang Haffner is certain that Ivan Lins, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, will once again captivate the audience with his unmistakable charm. 

Randy Brecker has played a key role in shaping the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than six decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances can be heard on hundreds of albums - including with Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra. Together with his brother Michael, among others, he recorded his first album "Score" in 1969 and founded the Brecker Brothers Band just a few years later. His great successes, also as a solo musician, were honoured with 7 Grammys and 20 Grammy nominations.
As a composer, musician and sought-after Yamaha artist, Randy Brecker continues to inspire young musicians all over the world. The jazz trumpeter also inspired the young Wolfgang Haffner, with whom he played together for the first time in 1988. This encounter led to a musical and personal friendship that continues to this day. They played together in the band Soulbop, a project by Randy Brecker and Bill Evans. So it is all the more wonderful that Randy Brecker is now performing at "Stars im Luitpoldhain" in Haffner's home town.

With his international megahit "Disko Partizani", Shantel became the audible face of a new music and dance culture worldwide. He was the first to give contemporary pop culture a cosmopolitan sound thanks to his multi-layered family roots. With Shantel, migration is audible and danceable. Musical influences from south-east Europe, Greece and the Middle East appear in a new, multi-layered context. His method is cultural mixing and sampling: taking things out of context and putting them into a new one.
Shantel is no stranger to the Nuremberg audience. For many years, he presented the Bucovina Club at the Künstlerhaus (formerly K4) and Z-Bau with great success and already brought the main market to life at the Bardentreffen 2019. Finally, a project with Wolfgang Haffner can also become a reality on the Luitpoldhain stage - a meeting that unites two artists with an open-minded and diverse view of music.

The German-Swedish supergroup "4 Wheel Drive" consists of first-class musicians who create an unmistakable sound with their own compositions and reinterpretations of well-known hits. Their album "4 Wheel Drive II", released in 2023, once again demonstrates their talent for pushing the boundaries of jazz and exploring new horizons.
The Swede Nils Landgren, also known as "Mr Red Horn" because of his red trombone, captivates the jazz and funk scene with his multi-faceted playing and distinctive voice. Michael Wollny, according to the FAZ a "consummate piano master" and "modest piano star", fascinates with his unique improvisation and composition style. The Swedish bassist and cellist Lars Danielsson, with his singing, warm bass tone, is a master of atmosphere. Wolfgang Haffner, the evening's host, completes the quartet.
The chemistry and long-standing friendship between the band members is palpable. The musicians are more than just a band - they form a creative unit.