Michael with friends, for friends:
Christmas Jazz at its musical best
Step-by-step Michael Hammers has turned what started as a one-time evening with friends in New York City into a successful event format: With friends, for friends of jazzy Christmas carols: A Night Before Christmas.
After Michael had moved his German Studios to his his hometown Aachen, he had his first "Hey Everyone! Here we are!" evening in December 2011, bringing that special musical feeling of a New York Holiday Season to his place.
His guests were so delighted at the end of the evening that they all begged him to put on such a Night every year.
A one on a time evening
With just a year's delay, and in time for the anniversary celebration of his Swarovski Star crowning the world's most famous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City, it was then Michael´s turn in 2013 to have A Night Before Christmas in his own concert repertoire. Tom Hirtz, the artistic director of the Aachen DAS DA Theaters believed in the success of the show and was greatly rewarded.
Not only were the concerts sold out, after the first show the demand for tickets was suddenly much greater than what was even available.
Michael Hammers - A Night Before Christmas: Christmas Jazz at its musical best; played by friends for friends. Michael is the genius behind the idea and its artistic director; and on stage he's a fellow player and entertainer as well.
Right from the beginning Michael's close friend, the Berlin-based keyboarder and arranger Andi Brouwers, was in charge of the musical direction.
Angie Workman
The 2014 shows featured Angela Workman.
Angie spent 12 years of her career touring the world with one of the greatest legends of jazz: Ray Charles.
Angie says she got to know Michael 10 years ago at the New York tree lighting ceremony and since then they've grown to become just like brother and sister.
Out of Michael Hammers' 2014 "A Night Before Christmas"-production the West German Broadcasting Corporation Cologne (WDR) engaged Angie Workman for its Open-air show "Schöne Bescherung"-"Lovely Christmas Presents" live from the Old Town in Cologne on December 21, 2014:
