Axel Zwingenberger (German Boogie Woogie pianist)

Axel Zwingenberger (German: [ˌaksl̩ ˈt͡svɪŋənˌbɛʁɡɐ] ; born 7 May 1955) is a German blues and boogie-woogie pianist and songwriter. Zwingenberger was born in Hamburg, West Germany, and enjoyed 11 years of classical piano training. After listening to recordings by pianists Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Meade "Lux" Lewis, he became a boogie-woogie musician. In 1974 he performed with pianists Hans-Georg Moeller, Vince Weber and Martin Pyrker at the First International Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival in Cologne, West Germany. They also played at the Stars of Boogie Woogie and the Hans Maitner festival. A year later he signed with a record label, which released his solo albums Boogie Woogie Breakdown, Power House Boogie, and Boogie Woogie Live. He has worked with Ray Bryant, Champion Jack Dupree, Lloyd Glenn, Lionel Hampton, Jay McShann, Joe Newman, Sammy Price, Big Joe Turner, Sippie Wallace, Charlie Watts, Vince Weber, Bill Wyman, and Mama Yancey. His publications include Boogie Woogie: Piano Solo, a book of twelve of his compositions transcribed. A railfan since early childhood, he published photographs of steam locomotives in The Magic of Trains and established a non-profit group with the German Foundation for the Protection of Historical Monuments which works for the preservation of trains, such as the steam-powered DR 18 201. In early 2009, with the English pianist Ben Waters, Zwingenberger renewed his relationship with Charlie Watts, the drummer of the Rolling Stones. With bassist Dave Green, they played concerts under the name The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie. In June 2012 they released their first album, Live in Paris (Eagle 2012), and performed in New York City at Lincoln Center and the Iridium Jazz Club. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1 ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5. Prato, Greg. "Axel Zwingenberger". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2018. Axel Zwingenberger: Boogie Woogie: Piano Solo (1997) - ISBN 3-926398-01-9 Axel Zwingenberger, Vom Zauber der Züge - The Magic of Trains photo book - ISBN 3-926398-02-7 Fricke, David (3 July 2012). "Charlie Watts Rips the Joint With Boogie Woogie in New York". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 September 2018. Axel Zwingenberger: Boogie Woogie Piano Solo: transcription of the CD VRCD 8.85007 - ISBN 3-926398-01-9 Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian. Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings, 8th edition. Penguin Books, 2006 ISBN 978-0-14-102327-4 Kernfeld, Barry. The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd edition, Vol 2. London: Grove, 2002, ISBN 1-56159-284-6 Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Books, 1992 ISBN 0-85112-580-8 Silvester, Peter J. The Story of Boogie Woogie – A Left Hand Like God. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2009 ISBN 978-0-8108-6924-0 Axel Zwingenberger's homepage Interview with Axel Zwingenberger Axel Zwingenberger at IMDb