Mhdb photos & bio     German

 

. The Mhdb Session Trio: since 2010/12
. Since 2010: Bambulete
. 2005-10: The Open & Virtual Mhdb Band. Mhdb sessions. Metropolises, jazz & percussion
. 1999-2005: The Mhdb Trio. The Mhdb website
. 1994-98: The Mhdb Duo. Mozart had the Blues
. 1993-96: The Scheik Duo
. 1992-93: The Scheik Trio
. 1989-91: Mozart. The Mhdb Percussion Group & Session Band
. 1964-1989: Pre-Mhdb bands. The Esquires (1964-67),  et al.

The Mhdb Session Trio: since 2010/12

• Mhdb have never had the ambition to be famous, but simply to develop their own music, embedded in the context of global (see: Metropolises, jazz & percussion), regional and local trends: In 2023 and in/around Kassel (according to Backstagepro.de), there are mainly rock bands, then pop, alternative rock, metal and punk bands as well as by far hip hop/rap, blues and folk/country 'acts'. Soul, funk, jazz as well as reggae, latin, German 'schlager', etc, are rarely be found. 'Mhdb' are mentioned relatively frequently, often in connection with rock as well as hip hop/rap and especially jazz.
• Since March 2020:
  • The corona crisis led to the interruption of the Mhdb sessions and recordings as well as to the quarantine solo project (Bambulete live). Online band sessions did not work or were too complicated (test). Because life is somewhat back to normal after COVID 19 and the entire Mhdb repertoire was recorded with Hammond organ in 2022-23, Mhdb usually play two of the five Mhdb sets per year again, initially the sets 1-2 from 2024 on. Mhdb present themselves mainly on the Mhdb sessions and videos
  • Post-covid sessions (requirement: low covid risk)
  • Latest sessions (usually now from the Mhdb studio and with Hammond XK-1c): new YouTube videos
• First compression of the Mhdb website, then expanded again, especially due to intensification of the project 'Metropolises, jazz & percussion' (urban music, culture & development)
  
• Intensification of Bambulete (drums theory, development & history: Quarantine solo project, Drumming tips)
  
• Blackberry Smoke (outstanding live sound & style) *, Thelonious Monk (p, 1917-82, modern jazz co-founder, important to Mhdb chords & changes, rhythmic trickiness) *, and Chris Dave (d, 'contemporary' jazz, fancy drumming) *: They have influenced Mhdb greatly in recent years. These influences are not copied or 'covered' by Mhdb, but processed or tested out and integrated into one of the existing 43 Mhdb songs or the Mhdb concept
• Over some 20 years (approx. 1990-2010) Mhdb have created a repertoire of 43 own songs, which have been interpreted by The Mhdb Session Trio as 'Mhdb standards' on the Mhdb sessions and which were fully documented on live video in 2016. From October 2017 to April 2018, the Mhdb MP3s were updated
• Song examples (see below):  "KarlMarxShuffle", "BumerangTrophue"

The Mhdb Session Trio, image, 2014 (from right to left):

• Barbara Nespethal (voc, recorders)
• Anton Cik (key, arr)
• Wolfgang Billmann (voc, steeld, d)

The Mhdb Session Trio, 2014. Thanks to Dieter Bitter (g), The White Shadows

Mhdb post-covid & studio sessions since September 2021

The Mhdb title photo 2020-22

Quarantine solo project 2020-21

Mhdb 2019. Thanks to HNA, Kassel-Live, May 2022

Mhdb 2019

Mhdb 2018

Mhdb acoustic sessions, 2018-

Mhdb 2017

Mhdb 2016

Mhdb 2015

Mhdb 2014

Mhdb 2014

Mhdb 2013

Thanks to Dieter Bitter (g), The White Shadows, 2012

   Mampf, September 2012, Frankfurt/Main, Germany :

" ... Wed, Sept 12, 2012. Mhdb 2012. - Barbara Nespethal (voc, recorders, key), Anton Cik (key, arr) and Wolfgang Billmann (voc, steeldr, dr). Maybe you remember the following performances at the Mampf: 2000 ('Mozart has the blues' = Mhdb, trio: voc-v-g, voc-b, voc-steeld-d), 1997 ('Mozart has the blues', duo: voc-b, voc-steeld-d), 1996 ('Scheik' ~ Sheik, 5/4, duo: sous, steeld-d), 1994 ('Scheik' ~ Sheik, 5/4, duo: sous, steeld-d), 1993 ('Scheik' ~ Sheik, 5/4, quartet: tbn, key, perc, steeld-d). Based on these performances the repertoire of self-created experimental pieces with absurd German lyrics and a few instrumentals has been developed.  ... "   (www.mampf-jazz.de/programm.html, September 2012, approximate English translation)

Song examples:

"KarlMarxShuffle" (The Mhdb Session Trio, post-covid session, 2023. 3:40. - 2019. 2014)
   . KarlMarxBambulete (Bambulete, atonal & percussive, mp3, updated 2018)
   . CharliesShufflete (Bambulete, atonal & percussive, mp3, 2010)
   . KarlMarxBambulete live (Quarantine solo project, Bambulete live, video, 2020-21)

"BumerangTrophue" (The Mhdb Session Trio, post-covid session, 2024. 3:24. - 2022. 2014)
   . MP3 (The Virtual Mhdb Band, computer-generated, updated 2018)
   . BambuleteRangTrophue (Bambulete, atonal & percussive, computer-generated, mp3, updated 2018)
   . BambuleteRangTrophue live (Quarantine solo project, Bambulete live, video, 2020-21)

"BambuleteHatDenBlues 2020-21" (Quarantine solo project, Bambulete live, 2020-21. 6:54)

• Since 2010: Bambulete     German
  • Bambulete - a virtual percussion project, established in 2010 - also performs the 43 Mhdb songs or standards with German spoken lyrics, but in a largely atonal & percussive style and, except for the voices, entirely computer-generated, however live (since 2020: Quarantine solo project, Bambulete live, videos) also with live drums. Drumming tips
  • From October 2017 to April 2018, the Bambulete MP3s were updated and completed, especially the Bambulete sets 4 & 5
  • Song examples (see above): "KarlMarxShuffle", "BumerangTrophue", ...

• 2005-10: The Open & Virtual Mhdb Band. Mhdb sessions. Metropolises, jazz & percussion
  • The Open Mhdb Band: On the Mhdb sessions, starting in 2005, the missing musicians were replaced by self- and computer-generated playback (vice versa: The Virtual Mhdb Band)
  • The Virtual Mhdb Band (at the same time) :
    • The live songs by Mhdb, which have evolved since around 1990, were systematically digitally reworked in the Mhdb style between 2005-10, and have since been available as a computer-generated Mhdb real book containing standards, which are used for the Mhdb sessions
    • With these digital song versions, Mhdb have also been establishing themselves since 2008 as a virtual band in the internet charts, for instance at SoundClick.com
  • 'Metropolises, jazz & percussion': from 2007 on a new chapter in 'Mozart had the Blues'. Permanent project
  • Song examples (see above): "KarlMarxShuffle", "BumerangTrophue"

The Mhdb title photo 2005-20, 2022-

• 1999-2005: The Mhdb Trio. The Mhdb website
  • The Mhdb Trio: From 1999 to 2005, Mhdb performed as an avant-garde jazz & absurd rock trio (g, voc-b, voc-steeld-d). This trio refined the Mhdb duo repertory of 1994-98
  • The Mhdb website: from 1999 on
  • Song examples: "KarlMarxShuffle" (mp3, 30 sec), 2005, text. "BumerangTrophue" (mp3, 30 sec), 2003, text

The Mhdb Trio (1999-2005)

• 1994-98: The Mhdb Duo. Mozart had the Blues
  • The Mhdb Duo: In 1994 Mhdb became an experimental duo (voc-b, voc-steeld-d). This duo completed the prototype songs with absurd texts, that have since been influenced by: Stan & Ollie, Mrs. Miller, Mozart, Joachim Ringelnatz, Karl Marx *, The Simpsons, Ulrich Roski (voc, p), et al., and the music & culture of the global megacities and historical metropolises (permanent project)
  • 'Mozart had the Blues': 1st ed. 1997, German, manuscript
  • Song examples: "KarlMarxShuffle" (mp3, 30 sec), 1998, text. "BumerangTrophue" (mp3, 30 sec), 1997, text

The Mhdb Duo (1994-98)

• 1993-96: The Scheik Duo     German
  • The Scheik Duo: From 1993 to 1996, The Scheik Duo (sous, steeld-d) developed Mhdb prototype songs from the former Scheik trio adaptations of 1992-93, but still only in 5/4, and added the first self-composed song prototypes, for instance:
  • Song example: the prototype of the "KarlMarxShuffle" (mp3, 30 sec), 1996, without text

The Scheik Duo (1993-96)

• 1992-93: The Scheik Trio
  • The Scheik Trio: From 1992 to 1993, the Mhdb-related 'Scheik' trio (tbn, b, steeld-d) processed the percussion & session stuff of 1989-91 into various 5/4 adaptations without texts
  • Song example: "Trophie" (mp3, 30 sec), a 5/4 adaptation of a jazz standard by Monk/Clarke, "Epistrophy", and the prototype of the later Mhdb "BumerangTrophue" (see above: The Mhdb Session Trio, 2014; The Mhdb Trio, 2003; The Mhdb Duo, 1997)
     
• 1989-91: Mozart. The Mhdb Percussion Group & Session Band
  • 'Mozart': From 1989 to 1991, a proto Mhdb band called 'Mozart' (g, b, d) existed
  • The Mhdb Percussion Group & Session Band: In 1991, Mhdb were founded as an open percussion group and also session band. This group or band tested out rock & jazz standards, German folksongs, and arias and is considered the 1st Mhdb band
  • No song examples
     
• 1964-1989: Pre-Mhdb bands. The Esquires (1964-67),  inter alia     German
  • Rock in Berlin: Wolfgang Billmann, 1965-81, only in German
  • The Esquires * * were the 2nd of 20 pre-Mhdb & Mhdb bands, a Berlin-based beat band from 1964-67, and were the first semi-professional band of the Mhdb founder & drummer (Wolfgang Billmann)

The Esquires (Berlin-West, 1964-67)

The whole Mhdb story (approx. 1960-), theoretical background (texts, arrangements, melodies, chords, measures), and the 20 pre-Mhdb & Mhdb bands: "Mozart had the Blues, The theory, history & prehistory of 'Mozart has the blues' (Mhdb) - or: an amateur drummer's autobiography". By Wolfgang Billmann, Kassel, Germany, 2015 (updated from time to time, 1st ed. 1997), password via mozarthatdenblues@gmail.com

German - Mozart has the blues