Connected Concepts – Poetry of Logic
2009, ZS-ART Gallery Vienna
“Music is a hidden arithmetic exercise of the soul, which does not know that it is counting.” (Leibniz)
In the exhibition “Connected Concepts – Poetry of Logic”, the jazz composer, pianist and mathematician Benedikt Jahnel and the visual artists Harald Plochberger and Walter Angerer-Niketa staged geometry and mathematics set to music, visualised and made tangible. Abstract thinking becomes visible, audible and palpable.
Benedikt Jahnel unites his two vocations, music and mathematics. His music is based on structured patterns, the seeds of a clear and virtuosic harmony, which he raises to new spheres in the installation with Plochberger and Angerer. Audio sample, video. Order the catalogue: mail@benejahnel.de
Ehwald & Jahnel: Doublequartet
2007, Music for String Quartet and Jazz Quartet
As DAAD scholars, Peter Ehwald and Benedikt Jahnel studied in New York. The idea for this project came up while rehearsing for a concert at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, to which the DAAD had invited them. Over the following months they wrote nine pieces for string quartet and jazz quartet, recorded with Sara Caswell, Jeremy Kittel, Kenny Wang, Stephan Braun, Dan Weiss and Matt Aronoff.
Das Kaktus 6tett
2003, Benedikt’s first band of his own
The sextet brought together musicians from all over Germany who met in the Berlin jazz scene: Susanne Folk, Benjamin Kraef, Johannes Lauer, Roland Fidezius and Jens Dohle. The CD, entirely written by Jahnel, is his debut as a bandleader: melodic songwriting, flowing grooves and stirring improvisations, arranged for three horns and rhythm section.
Bizarre Encounters
2009, music for an exhibition in Penzberg
For the portrait exhibition “Bizarre Begegnungen” at the Penzberg city museum, Benedikt composed and recorded three pieces on paintings by Emil Nolde, William Straube and Käthe Kollwitz, available on the audio guide and the catalogue CD. His piece on Nolde’s “Mädchenkopf” (1925) can be heard under Listen.
Pattern Breaking in the Virtuoso Team
2009, Max.bab for AUDI AG
Max.bab held a one-day workshop on breaking patterns with 14 top managers of AUDI, with a lecture concert, discussions and a joint concert in the evening.
Other bands
Cyminology with Cymin Samawatie, Ketan Bhatti and Ralf Schwarz, and the trio Matzeit / Jahnel / Sieverts. A detailed overview is under References.
