As of: February 11, 2024, 1:15 p.m
By: Katja Kraft
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Love at second sight: In her childhood and youth, Jutta Keeß shone at piano competitions.
At the age of 14, I learned to play and love the tuba.
© Martin Hangen
Jutta Keeß dispels clichés as a tuba player.
She plays the “Instrument of the Year” in the Jazzrausch Big Band, which was founded ten years ago.
They say there are no stupid questions.
But then you ask Jutta Keeß a really stupid one.
Namely, whether she is an exotic tuba player.
Subtext: Tuba = heavy instrument = not for women.
But because Jutta Keeß has heard this stupid question many times and is a pretty laid-back guy, she counters in a relaxed manner: “Exactly, that’s why so many men play the harp.” Touché.
It's strange, we usually associate the harp with women.
Sounds so tender and gentle.
“But transporting this instrument – cruel!
“That’s difficult,” emphasizes Keeß.
And with that, welcome to the world of the 35-year-old from Munich.
The Jazzrausch Big Band invites you to the Kleine Olympiahalle Munich on February 17, 2024
This cannot be influenced by pigeonholing.
Instead, she is happy about how much attention her instrument is currently receiving.
As reported, 2024 has been declared the year of the tuba.
These days, Keeß is happy to help dispel a few clichés.
Keyword size.
“When I am asked whether the tuba is not too heavy for me, I like to remind you that a violinist or a flute player is not asked whether their instruments are a little too light or too small.” He says so and laughs heartily .
Who says only men have muscles?
Keeß can also laugh at the image of the cozy hum-ta-ta musician, which is the first thing that comes to mind for some people when they hear the word tuba.
“What I love about the tuba is that it can do so much more than 'just' brass music.
I love the flexibility of this instrument.
Musically and sonically.
I let off steam in all areas: in brass music, folk music, in the entire groove area - right up to techno.” Speaking of drawers: She celebrates techno in a formation that has been breaking all genre boundaries for ten years.
On February 17th, the Jazzrausch Bigband celebrates its big birthday concert in the Small Olympiahalle.
They call it: “Super Surround Sound Rave”.
And Jutta Keeß is already getting goosebumps in anticipation of the big party, where she and her tuba will also be going full throttle on stage.
Just like looking back to the beginning.
Back when she was still a “fan girl” and stopped by the former Rausch und Söhne nightclub in Munich week after week to experience Roman Sladek’s “Jazzrausch” concert series.
This resulted in the big band, which soon started playing at the Harry Klein techno club.
Actively present at the first concert there: Jutta Keeß and her tuba.
“I can still remember the concert clearly.
Then you felt: Wow, this could be something big.”
Ready for the birthday party: The Jazzrausch Big Band turns ten years old this year.
And celebrates this with, among other things, a big concert in the Small Olympic Hall.
© Jazzrausch Big Band
It became.
The Jazzrausch Big Band delights its diverse audience all over the world.
From classic concert halls such as the Elbphilharmonie to theaters and festivals.
Roman Sladek takes great pleasure in spontaneously asking the musicians in his troupe questions on stage and letting them chat a bit.
The 35-year-old does this particularly charmingly.
A ramp pig?
“Nope.
With this instrument you are actually more in the background.
I always refer to myself as a side woman.
I wouldn't have thought of putting myself at the front on my own." Grin.
“But I have to admit: I’m growing more and more into it and really enjoying it.”
In general, you get the feeling that the Memmingen native, who actually wanted to become a music teacher, marches happily through doors that open.
Even back then, when she – a talented and ambitious pianist – was introduced to playing the tuba by chance at the age of 14.
“I wanted to play in the marching band.
Actually a trombone, but our conductor said: Try out the tuba!” Love at second sight.
This was followed by a three-fold course of study: pedagogy and school music and classical tuba studies.
The mother of a two-year-old son, who is expecting her second child in March, can always go with “Plan B” and become a teacher.
Although you can't really imagine it when you see how much energy and joy she has when talking about all her projects.
Today she plays passionately with the Bavarian hip-hop band Dicht & Ergreifend and regularly helps out with the Munich Symphony Orchestra;
lets it rip in her Billy Burrito marching band, teaches tuba, plays dance music in the Hofbräuhaus or other taverns and will in future be one of the Bergson Artists in the new Bergson art power plant in Aubing.
“That is exactly the diversity that I meant and that makes me so happy.” To believe that: not difficult at all.
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Concert note:
Tickets for the Jazzrausch Bigband's birthday concert in the Kleine Olympiahalle in Munich on
Saturday, February 17th are available at www.jazzrauschbigband.de