Gratkowksi / Nabatov Duo
Simon Nabatov – piano
Frank Gratkowski – clarinets, flutes and alto saxophone
The collaboration between Simon Nabatov and Frank Gratkowski goes back to the late 1980s, shortly after Nabatov moved from New York to Cologne. Since then, they have continued to play together in various formations. Both musicians are among the most important representatives of the German jazz scene and both are also active as interpreters of contemporary chamber music and as composers. Their musical activities range worldwide from solo concerts to guest soloists in major orchestras. Her artistic activities have been honoured with various awards. For example, Nabatov received the ‘National Endowment for the Arts’ and Gratkowski the ‘SWR Jazzpreis’. Each has released over 50 CDs under his own name and is represented on countless other productions. Simon Nabatov lives in Cologne, Gratkowski lives in Berlin.
Duo CDs
“Mirthful Myths” 2017 (Leo Records)
“Tender Mercies” 2023 (Clean Feed)
Quotes
“A wonderfully lyrical, yet full of amazing joy atmospheric duo of the two Masters, who know each other like bald horses, as we say in Polish.” (Maciej Lewenstein)
“Frank Gratkowski / Simon Nabatov “Tender Mercies” Duo of masters, “Tender Mercies” is a showcase of modern craft European jazz by any means. The music is plastic and exploratory but yet concrete and backgrounded by the hours of shared music between Simon Nabatov and Frank Gratkowski” (Avant Music News January 2023)
“Whether you call Tender Mercies ”classical/contemporary”, ”improvised music/jazz” or choose any other generic labelling to blithely fandango about, matters not one jot if you get the duo’s essential drift.” (Stephen Graham)
upcoming concerts
No upcoming concerts at the moment.