- .....Hot jazz on a cool night in the City ..... an amazing quartet of musicians from Europe regaled the jazz lovers ..... legends of this calibre ..... Michael Gustorff seemed to be the most vocal and kept the interest alive through the whole performance with his quick repartee ..... very catchy virtuoso kind of music which is fascinating for both the eye and the ear ..... the sound of violinwith it's touch of pathos spiralled up into the cold night air weaving a magical web around the audience ..... George Gershwin's "The Man I Love", Fats Waller, Cole Porter and other greats were aired with the violin picking up the melody and improvising wonderfully with the other instruments ..... very unaffectedly whenever any of the soloists broke into a solo performance the audience egged them on with appreciative applause ..... "I cannot play like your Indian violinists do " said Michael Gustorff most humbly which was an understatement coming from a virtuoso ..... the group belted out their melodies with practised ease, their talent unmistakeable .....
Deccan Herald
- .....Michael Gustorff and his team had music lovers tap their feet to jazz violin. Music is foor for the soul and in every form of music, be it classical, contemporary, instrumental or vocal, the musician is expressing his thoughts with an underlying passion for the art. You may be someone who is completely ignorant to music, yet it has a way of getting to your heart and stirring the emotions within.
For Michael Gustorff music keeps him alive and when he plays the violin, everybody present gets drawn into the rhythm of the master ..... By including jazz and other forms of improvised music with the violin, Gustorff is broadening the horizon for the classical instrument and taking it to a whole new level.
About the potential of jazz violin, he says, "There is good potential. But in this form of music, apart from how you work and the method of practising it, it is more about one's perspective about oneself as well as the art." He was in town with a musical group called "Collectif" ..... giving the city a feel of jazz, never heard before ..... Keeping alive this form of music, Michael is imparting his talent by teaching at ArtEZ Institute for the Arts at Arnhem and the Hochschule für Musik Cologne, Germany. During these training he gives mental training workshops, individual coaching along with jazz violin. He is the author of the book "Practising without Problems - mental training for jazz musicians."
For "Collectiv", the experience in Bangalore has been enriching and they return with the gratification that their music, though very different, was well appreciated .....
The New Sunday Express
- .....If Michael Gustorff German-born jazz violinist an guest soloist of the Dutch jazz group "Collectif", decides to embark on a carreer as a scat vocalist, this writer can perhaps take some credits for it. For, in response to my request to do "A Night in Tunesia", he started of with scat singing the tune for two minutes before his collegues and he very gamely got down to playing it on their instruments. After which he concessed he had never sung as a professional performer! ..... a sterling performance ..... Obviously unprepaired for "...Tunesia", by rising to the challenge and improvising heir way through it, they gave the audience an object lesson in what jazz is all about.....
The Hindu
- .....'Catchy and virtuoso'. one swinging unit .....
The Times of India
- .....'rapturous strains of the violin'. special guest violinist Michael Gustorff, international professional
- gave a performance to remember'.....
Bangalore Times
- .....plays high quality gipsy jazz..... again and again the audience broke into big applause.....
Westfälische Zeitung
- .....Led by Mirko Hohlmann, the strings added a new richness to the big-band
sound, as in Lalo Schifrin's 'Mission Impossible', which included a mature
solo by another guest: the virtuoso solos of professional jazz-violinist Michael
Gustorff were outstanding throughout the evening.....
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
- .....Michael Gustorff plays his violin like a horn, with delightfully refreshing
solos.....
All Music Guide
- .....Michael Gustorff Quartet (Michael Gustorff, violin, Frank Sichmann,
guitar, Henk Haverhoek, bass, Joop van Erven drums).... a very swinging....
and impressive set, in which team work went hand in hand with respect for
the individual. The obvious technical facility of each player remained subservient
to the demands of musicality.....
Arnhemse Courant
- .....Now I understand where the term hot violin comes from......Michael
has completely mastered this difficult instrument thanks to a good conservatory
education and a combination of musicality, good taste and originality. He
never tries to imitate his great predecessors Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti
or Stuff Smith (his favourite).....
Leusder Krant
- .....The violin solo with it s beautiful long phrases and fast sixteenth
notes was one of the best solos of the evening. Gustorff has a strong full
tone which can stand up to the power of the other instruments.....
Jazzfreak
- .....Along with Dick de Graaf s solos I enjoyed the violin solos most: the
one on the beautiful Three Countesses, where Gustorff phrases like a sax,
is a highlight.....
Jazz Nu
- .....Michael Gustorff played modern jazz without any clichés. Although
many violinists tend to play endless lines, he took breaths just at the right
moments, as if his violin were a horn......
Amersfoortse Courant
- .....the fascinating violin solo by Gustorff was remarkable.....In the fast,
wild piece TGV Gustorff was standing on the crossroads: after an exciting
journey introduced by drums and continued by tenor and piano, he created the
necessary stillness of arrival with tender, unaccompanied harmonics.....
Jazz Freak
- .....Jazz violinist Michael Gustorff stole the hearts of the audience......Michael
Gustorff proved that he commands his instrument, but with subtlety. Bowing
effects transformed the notes into clear mountain streams....with a musical
sensitivity on the one hand and a passionate character on the other.....
Leusder Krant
- .....Amazing debut Michael Gustorff Quartet (Michael Gustorff, violin; Bert
van den Brink, piano; Henk Haverhoek, bass; John Engels, drums).....The concert
went like a dream, with inspired playing.....with obvious enjoyment.....
Gelderlander
- .....The violinist shone in the brilliant ensemble playing with the bassist
Henk Haverhoek and the pianist Bert van den Brink as sensitive accompaniment
for the vocalist Uli Wewelsiep. The three musicians inspired each other to
ascend their accompanying roles to create colourful solos, without disturbing
the vocal context.....
Wuppertaler Generalanzeiger
- .....The well-focussed intensity of Michael Gustorff's playing, in close
dialogue with Uli Wewelsiep, unifying voice and violin.....
Jazzpodium
- .....The German Michael Gustorff exploited all of the possibilities of his
violin: from Salonmusik via hot jazz to a scratch duet with piano (modern
classical?).....
Eindhovens Dagblad
- .....and compliments to Panhandle Swing, a band with excellent musicians,
including a fantastic fiddler, who knows exactly how western swing should
sound.....
Country Gazette
- .....the magnificent playing of fiddler Michael Gustorff was a revelation.....
Country Gazette
- .....Fortunately she (Sara Jory) gave the fiddler of Panhandle Swing, Michael
Gustorff sufficient room to create contrast. This was an excellent decision,
he is a welcome addition to the band.....
Country Gazette
- .....Michael Gustorff Kwartet (Michael Gustorff, viool; Frank Sichmann,
gitaar; Henk Haverhoek, bas; Joop van Erven, drums).....zeer swingend.....indrukwekkende
set, waarbij bewondering voor het groepswerk hand in hand ging met respect
voor de individuele kwaliteiten. Stuk voor stuk leverden de vier vakwerk,
waarbij de in alle gevallen grote technische kwaliteiten steeds in dienst
van de muzikaliteit bleven staan.....
Arnhemse Courant
- .....Ik begrijp nu waar de term hot viool vandaan komt.....Michael beheerst
zijn moeilijk instrument volledig dankzij een gedegen conservatorium opleiding
en een combinatie van muzikaliteit, goede smaak en originaliteit. Nergens
probeert hij zijn grote voorgangers als Stephane Grapelli, Joe Venuti of Stuff
Smith (zijn favoriet) te imiteren.....
Leusder Krant
- .....De vioolsolo was met zijn fraaie lange lijnen afgewisseld met snelle
zestienden een van de geslaagdste van de avond. Gustorff heeft een sterke,
volle toon, die goed opgewassen is tegen het geweld van de andere instrumenten.....
Jazzfreak
- .....Naast de solo's van Dick de Graaf genoot ik het meest van de vioolsolo's:
vooral die op de prachtige Drie Gravinnen, waarin Gustorff fraseert als een
sax, is een hoogtepunt.....
Jazz Nu
- .....Michael Gustorff speelde kitsch-vrije moderne jazz zonder cliché's.
Terwijl veel violisten op de automatische piloot matenlang doorfiedelen, laste
hij op de juiste momenten adempauzes in, als ware zijn viool een besnaard
blaasinstrument.....
Amersfoortse Courant
- .....Opvallend is de meeslepende vioolsolo van Gustorff.....In het ruigere,
snelle TGV staat Gustorff op het kruispunt van de kompositie: na een opwindende
rit, ingeleid op slagwerk en voortgezet door afwisselend tenor en piano, zorgt
hij met tere, verstilde onbegeleide flageoletten voor de broodnodige rust.....
Jazz Freak
- .....Jazzviolist Michael Gustorff stal de harten van het publiek.....Michael
Gustorff wist op subtiele wijze te laten zien, dat hij zijn instrument volkomen
beheerst. Diverse strijktechnieken werden gedemonstreerd, zodat zijn spel
leek op een heldere bergbeek: volkomen zuiver van intonatie;enorm veel muzikaal
gevoel eenerzijds en onstuimig karakter anderzijds werden tentoongesteld.
Juist het toepassen van zoveel verschillende technieken en zijn goede gevoel
voor dynamiek zorgden ervoor, dat jazzminnend Leusden aan zijn voeten lag.....
Leusder Krant
- .....Uitstekend debuut kwartet Gustorff (Michael Gustorff, viool; Bert van
den Brink, piano; Henk Haverhoek, bas; John Engels, drums).....liep het concert
van het Michael Gustorff Kwartet als een trein; er werd geïnspireerd
gespeeld, muzikaal gebeurde er veel en het speelplezier was groot.....het
muzikale spel van Gustorff.....
Gelderlander
- .....De Duitser Michael Gustorff benutte alle mogelijkheden van zijn viool:
van salonmuziek via hot jazz naar een gekrast duet met piano, zoals we dat
kennen uit de moderne klassieken.....
Eindhovens Dagblad
- .....Alle lof overigen ook voor Panhandle Swing, een band met voortreffelijke
muzikanten, waaronder een ijzersterke fiddler, die precies weten hoe western-swingmuziek
wel en niet moet klinken.....
Country Gazette
- .....Een openbaring voor mij was het grandioze spel van fiddler Michael
Gustorff.....
Country Gazette
- .....Opvallend was ook dat ze (Sara Jory) de fiddler van Panhandle Swing,
Michael Gustorff ruimschoots de gelegenheid gaf voor enig kontrast te zorgen.
De keuze was zonder meer terecht (een prima aanwinst voor de band).....
Country Gazette
- .....Bedankt voor de eer dat ik mee mocht doen. Wat een band, wat een muzikanten.
TOPKLASSE !!!.....
Cor Sanne, CMS Productions
- .....en de improvisaties van Gustorff zijn zonder meer top
Jo Didderen, Poptijdschrift Heaven
- .....zelebriert Zigeuner-Jazz vom Feinsten..... Gustorff erntet immer wieder besonders großen Scenenapplaus.....
Westfälische Zeitung
- .....Unter der Leitung von Mirko Kohlmann bereicherten die Streicher den
BigBand-Sound um eine neue Dimension, so bei Lalo Schifrin's 'Mission Impossible',
bei dem auch ein weiterer Gast des Abends ein ausgereiftes Solo brachte: Michael
Gustorff, Profi-Violinist, der sich der Jazz-Violine verschrieben hat, zeigte
den Abend über immer wieder seine virtuosen Soli.....
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
- .....Der Violinist glänzte hier im Zusammenspiel mit dem Bassisten
Henk Haverhoek und dem Pianisten Bert van den Brink, die sich als Begleitband
überaus empfindsam auf den Sänger (Uli Wewelsiep) einstellten. Über
das begleitende Spiel hinaus schwangen sich alle drei Musiker gleichermaßen
zu differenzierten Soli auf, die dabei aber nie den Kontext der gesanglichen
Anlage der Stücke sprengten.....
Wuppertaler Generalanzeiger
- .....Auf den Punkt gebracht geschlossen agierte Michael Gustorff im direkten
Zusammenspiel mit Uli Wewelsiep, Stimme und Geige als Einheit.....
Jazzpodium
