“INDIANA JAZZ EXCHANGE” – How and why musicians travel from Indianapolis to Cologne and vica versa

It is a home of Jazz music. The town of Indianapolis in the midwest of the USA. The crossroad of America, as the welcome signs of the town say.

Back in the 1930s and earlier: After young black students were banned from public schools, they were taught at special places, special schools, as University professor Monika Herzig explains. The birth places of Jazz.

Herzig, originally from southern Germany, lives in Burlington since 1991. Together with three (upcoming) alumni of Indiana University, all of them well taught musicians, she now traveled to Cologne, Germany. As part of the “Indiana Jazz Exchange.” A programm that brings young musicians, writers, teachers, even fire fighters from Indiana to Germany – and back.

Three young Jazz musicians and students of Indiana University: Bass player Quinn Sternberg, trumpet player Matt Riggen and drummer Josh Roberts (from left to right).

Since almost 30 years both towns, Cologne and Indianapolis keep a regular relationship – based on a sister-city arrangement.

Since Indiana is the birth place of Jazz, we had to find our own version of the music, says bass-player and award winning musician André Nendza. He is from Cologne, also working there as a music teacher.

“We wanted to show the Americans that there is more than simple brass music in Germany,” he explains.

As part of the “Indiana Jazz Exchange” now three upcoming musicians came to Cologne. Bass player Quinn Sternberg, trumpet player Matt Riggen and drummer Josh Roberts.

Monika Herzig from Germany works as a professor at Indiana University.

The transatlantic diablog was on location as they, joined by Monika Herzig, performed some Jazz standards from the great American Songbook. From Cole Porter to J. J. Johnson.

More about that:
Website of Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Partnership Committee