Conny Bauer (tb), Johannes Bauer (tb), Uwe Kropinski (g), Helmut „Joe” Sachse (g)

Foto: privat

Conny Bauer on Doppelmoppel

“What’s there against a band with bass and drums? In the seventies this was unthinkable! My brother Johannes and I had the idea to try out just that. We sought two interesting personalities and creative musicians, and found them in the guitarists Joe Sachse und Uwe Kropinski. Out of the idea that someone or other had described it as ‘funny’ came the band Doppelmoppel.”

Johannes Bauer

Johannes Bauer (born 1954 in Halle) began his musical studies in Berlin and even then was playing on groups based around Manfred Schulze. Since 1979 he has been working as a freelance musical improviser. In 1987 he was a founding member of Slawterhaus and since 1988 has been playing duo concerts with brother Conny Bauer. Additionally he is a member of various other ensembles such as the Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet and Barry Guy’s New Orchestra. In 2004, alongside Thomas Lehn and Jon Rose, Bauer formed Futch as well as becoming a member of Bauer 4. His playing is vigorous, sometimes close to the border of noise, an appealing contrast to that of his brother Conny.

Uwe Kropinski

Uwe Kropinski (born 1952 in Berlin) was initially the electric guitarist in various rock bands, but after his studies at the Berlin Academy of Music drifted into improvised jazz. He reached a particular virtuosity with his percussive playing of his guitar’s body. Besides his work with Doppelmoppel he formed his own quartet in 1981 and gave solo concerts. Kropinski has played with several famous jazz musicians such as Volker Schlott, David Friesen, Günter Baby Sommer, John Tchicai and Adelhard Roidinger. In addition to his concert duties Kropinski hosts improvisation workshops and composes. He is also a photographer.

Helmut Joe Sachse

Helmut Joe Sachse (born 1948 in Mittweida) started out in the East German jazz scene, with whose representatives he almost without exception played. Later he also performed with other international musicians: Carmell Jones, Leo Wright, Mighty Flea Conners, Charlie Mariano, John Tchicai, John Marshall, David Moss, Peter Brötzmann, Tony Oxley, Jack Bruce, Han Bennink and Albert Mangelsdorff. From the nineties onwards he began to incorporate standards – including those from rock music – into his repertoire. His characteristic art of playing has brought him labels such as the Jimi Hendrix of jazz guitar or the high priest and wizard of electric guitar. The Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper eventually named him as Germany’s greatest unknown guitarist. In 1990, his two solo records were awarded the Goldene Amiga (‘Golden Amiga’).

Conny Bauer

Conny Bauer (born 1943 in Halle an der Saale), is one of Europe’s most significant trombonists. Since the start of the 70’s he has been a founding member of numerous groups such as Exis, FEZ, Konrad Bauer Quartet, Bauer Sommer Kowald Trio, Doppelmoppel, Zentralquartett as well as the initiator of the big band Klangprojekt 86.
Bauer gave his debut solo trombone concert in 1974. To date he has recorded six CD albums of his solo music. Bauer articulates his irrefutably musical impartations through a mix of brilliant technique, unique style and confident displays of power.

Today, all of them are considered coveted partners in innumerable international formations, both large and small.

“…Such unpredictable, innovative and sonically resourceful music is a thrilling experience, no less today as it was at the outset of this quartet. The music has nothing about it that could be filed under ‘finished’. It goes about its business in an unjaded, inexhaustible way with a bright, translucent, mutual knowledge of the idiosyncrasies, styles, preferences, foibles of any given instrumental technique and with an unstinting joy in experimentation.”
Frankfurter Rundschau 26.3.2008, Hans-Jürgen Linke

“The music comes into being spontaneously, and accordingly cannot be surpassed in terms of surprising twists and turns, coming on in a torrential flow. While Conny Bauer narrates polyphonic tales, his brother Johannes, also on trombone, is on hand with aggressive, coarse tones, while the guitarists deliver a backdrop ranging from world music excursions (Uwe Kropinski) to discreet Beatles reminiscences (Joe Sachse).”
www.jazzzeitung.de, 2002, Reiner Kobe

CD- Production

……“Outside this area”

2007, Doppelmoppel,

Conny Bauer (tb), Johannes Bauer (tb), Uwe Kropinski (g), Helmut “Joe” Sachse (g)

……Aventure Québécoise

1998, “Doppelmoppel”,

Conny Bauer (tb), Johannes Bauer (tb), Uwe Kropinski (g), Helmut “Joe” Sachse (g)

……Reflections

1986, Doppelmoppel live in Berlin, 18-19.10.1986

Conny Bauer (tb), Johannes Bauer (tb), Uwe Kropinski (g), Helmut “Joe” Sachse (g)