Biography
Drummer, composer and bandleader Mareike Wiening has distinguished herself bringing “a planar modulating harmonic language and a propulsive drift” (Giovanni Russonello, New York Times) to the most compelling jazz music of today. Ms. Wiening’s music was described as “thoroughly modern, progressive jazz, Mareike Wiening’s album Crosswalk has many layers that unfold with each repeated hearing; she will most definitely become a leading part of the jazz scene in the years to come.” (All About Jazz)
Her new album Future Memories, which follows her critically acclaimed debut album Metropolis Paradise, will be released on November 12th 2021 through Greenleaf Music.
Wiening is based in New York as well as Cologne, Germany and has performed with artists throughout the United States, Europe and South America. She has appeared with John Zorn’s COBRA, German Jazz Youth Orchestra and multiple Off-Broadway Shows. Wiening has worked with renowned musicians such as Rich Perry, Stefon Harris, Dan Tepfer, Dayna Stephens, Fabian Almazan, Johannes Enders, Ben Wendel, Florian Weber, Adrian Mears, among others.
Besides leading her own quintet featuring Rich Perry, Glenn Zaleski, Alex Goodman and Johannes Felscher, Ms. Wiening is also an in demand side-woman in the New York jazz scene and in Europe. Venues and festivals such as New York’s Winter Jazzfest, Atlanta Jazzfestival, Elbjazz Hamburg, Juan Le Pins, The Jazz Gallery, Blue Note NYC, German Consulate and the Carnegie Hall and Bird’s Eye Basel are only a few of her regular performance places. She is endorsed by Meinl Cymbals and Meinl Sticks&Brush exclusively.
A native German, Ms. Wiening received her bachelor of music degree from the University of Performing Arts Mannheim and the Rhythmic Conservatory of Music Copenhagen. She received her master of music degree from the University of Performing Arts Mannheim and New York University.
Ms. Wiening attended the Banff International Jazzworkshop and the International Annual Jazz Meeting with musical director Dave Liebman in Sao Paul, Brazil. She studied with Stefon Harris, Michael Küttner, Tony Moreno, Guillermo Klein, Henry Cole, Marilyn Mazur, among others.
Biografie
Die Schlagzeugerin und Komponistin Mareike Wiening hat sechs Jahre in Brooklyn, New York gelebt und gearbeitet. Seit 2019 pendelt sie zwischen Amerika und Köln. Neben ihrer freischaffenden Tätigkeit als Jazz-Musikerin in verschiedenen internationalen Projekten und Ensembles in New York und Europa, leitet sie ihr eigenes Jazz-Quintett. Mit dieser Band spielt sie ausschließlich ihre Kompositionen, mit denen sie ihre bisherigen musikalischen und persönlichen Erlebnisse verarbeitet und erzählt.
Die Band besteht aus Mareikes langjährigen musikalischen Partnern: Rich Perry am Saxophon (Maria Schneider, Village Vanguard Orchestra), Glenn Zaleski am Klavier (Ravi Coltrane), Alex Goodman an der Gitarre (1. Platz beim Montreux Wettbewerb) und Johannes Felscher am Bass (Roman Rofalski).
Nach ihrem weltweit erfolgreich Debüt-Album Metropolis Paradise erscheint am 12. November 2021 ihre zweite CD Future Memories (Greenleaf Music).
Konzerte führten sie durch ganz Deutschland und nach Dänemark, Frankreich, Schweiz, Slowenien, Norwegen, Litauen, Brasilien und die USA. Sie gab Workshops und Konzerte u.a. in der Carnegie Hall, Blue Note NYC, Jazzgallery NY, Jazzclub Unterfahrt, A-trane Berlin, New York Winterjazzfest, Atlanta Jazzfestival, Elbjazz Hamburg. Außerdem wirkte Mareike bei zahlreichen Musical- und Theateraufführungen in Europa und bei Off-Broadway Shows in New York City, mit. Zusammengearbeitet hat sie mit namhaften Musikern wie John Zorn, Stefon Harris, Dan Tepfer, Dayna Stephens, Fabian Almazan, Johannes Enders, Adrian Mears, Ben Wendel uva. Sie ist Kulturförderpreisträgerin ihrer Heimatstadt Herzogenaurach und des Landkreises Erlangen- Höchstadt. Sie nahm als Stipendiatin am international renommierten Jazz-Meeting „Banff“ in Kanada teil und belegte den zweiten Platz bei der Audition des Theolonius Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. Mareike ist MEINL-Endorserin für Becken und Sticks.
Geboren im fränkischen Erlangen begann Mareike Wiening ihr musikalisches Leben zunächst am Klavier. Danach folgte die Querflöte und der Gesang bevor sie mit 15 Jahren schließlich zum Schlagzeug wechselte. Frühe Erfolge waren etwa das Bundesjugendjazzorchester, Jugend Jazzt und das IASJ Meeting (Leitung Dave Liebman) in Sao Paulo, Brasilien. Mareike hat einen Bachelor of Music von der Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Mannheim, vom Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium Kopenhagen und einen Master of Music von der Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Mannheim. Sie ist zweifache Stipendiatin des DAAD und hat dadurch ebenfalls einen Master of Music der New York University. Zu ihren Lehrern und Förderern zählen namhafte Musiker wie Stefon Harris, Michael Küttner, Tony Moreno, Guillermo Klein, Henry Cole und Marilyn Mazur.
PRESS QUOTES
“It’s basically the jazz equivalent of Manhattanhenge: lush and romantic, but also subdued and very tasteful.”
– Phil Freeman, Stereogum
“Metropolis Paradise is an impressive debut. Wiening’s compositions are rich and varied.”
– Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz
“In the ongoing conversation about best debut album of the year, I hope due consideration goes to drummer Mareike Wiening. … Every piece on Metropolis Paradise is a Wiening original, and they cover an appealing range of style — from Brad Mehldau-esque waltzes (For a Good Day) to knotty polyrhythmic workouts (Misconception).”
– Nate Chinen, WGBO
“Clearly this recording – a celebrated one by the enormously gifted Mareike Wiening – offers musical riches together with performances by all at hand to rival the very best; and this should delight listeners eager for something both musically substantial and free-swinging as well.”
– Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama
“Metropolis Paradise merits special attention. … Wiening’s subtle melodies like “2 in 1” and “Viewpoints” are elaborated by shifting unisons, layered harmonies and cycles of call and response. Her classical background is also apparent in the formal notated piano patterns woven through her charts. It may even be audible in her clean, orderly, understated drumwork.”
– Thomas Conrad, New York City Jazz Record
“Stylish modern jazz.”
– Brooklyn Rail
“Ms. Wiening … plays original music with a planar, modulating harmonic language and a propulsive drift. Her language is part chamber jazz, part big-boned rock percussion, part free improvisation.”
– Giovanni Russonello, New York Times
Discography
Future Memories
Personnel: Mareike Wiening – Drums, Rich Perry – Tenor Saxophone, Glenn Zaleski – Piano, Alex Goodman – Guitar, Johannes Felscher – Double Bass
Greenleaf Music, 2021
Metropolis Paradise
Personnel: Mareike Wiening – Drums, Rich Perry – Tenor Saxophone, Dan Tepfer – Piano, Alex Goodman – Guitar, Johannes Felscher – Double Bass
Greenleaf Music, 2019
Free At Last- From Martin Luther to Martin Luther King Jr.- eine Symbiose in Jazz
Personnel: Yara Linss – vocals, Florian Mueller – guitar, Markus Harm – saxophone, Alex Bayer – bass, Mareike Wiening – drums
Self-released, 2018
Crosswalk
Personnel: Rich Perry – tenor sax, Alex Goodman – guitar, Patricia Franceschy – vibraphone, Angelo Di Loreto – piano, Marty Kenney – bass, Mareike Wiening – drums
Self-released, 2014
Also appears on:
- Rachel Therrien – Vena (Bonsaï Music, 2020)
- Johannes Ludwig Quartet feat. Johannes Enders – The Druid’s Song (Nagel & Hayer Records, 2012)
- Christoph Neuhaus Quintet feat. Adrian Mears – Directions (Unit Records, 2013)
- Yngvil Vatn Guttu – On The Crosswalk (Kachemack Records, 2014)
- Generations Unit feat. Adrian Mears – Tease My Shoes (TCB Records, 2010)