|: Hard Bop African and Funk

Journey To The Source
FEAT: Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq-Rolf Zielke-Maximilian Hughes-Kenny Martin

«Journey To The Source» returns once again to the A-Trane Jazz Club, bringing their unmistakable sound back to a place that feels like home.

Formed in 1995, this long-standing jazz quartet has traveled a wide musical path, performing throughout Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, and France. From the very first notes, Journey To The Source speaks with a voice that is immediately recognizable—grounded in tradition, open to discovery, and vividly alive.
The ensemble is currently in pre-production for a new recording project, with a planned CD release toward the end of spring. This concert offers a first glimpse into that next chapter, as several new compositions will be premiered live on stage.
Rooted in the deep currents of Blues and Hard Bop, and enriched by Far Eastern, Oriental, African, and Funk influences, their music unfolds with spirit, depth, and radiant energy—an ongoing conversation between cultures, rhythms, and souls.

Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Fuasi is a seasoned multi- instrumentalist, composer, and arranger. His formative years were deeply shaped by his studies at the Union of God’s Musicians and Artists Ascension (UGMAA) Foundation, where he trained under the legendary Horace Tapscott and performed with the visionary Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. Carrying forward this spirit of creativity and cultural expression, Fuasi has developed a voice on his instruments that is both powerful and lyrical, rooted in tradition yet pushing into new horizons.

Rolf Zielke
From Hameln, Germany, Rolf is a pianist, composer, and bandleader with a rich career that spans collaborations with international jazz icons such as Charlie Mariano, Mike Stern, and David Friedman. A prolific recording artist with numerous CDs to his name, he blends a deep knowledge of the jazz tradition with his own innovative style. Rolf is also a dedicated educator, serving as a faculty member at the Jazz Institute Berlin, where he inspires the next generation of improvisers and composers.

Kenny Martin
Born in New York City, Kenny brings a dynamic force to the drums, rooted in his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and under the mentorship of legendary drummers Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, and Narada Michael Walden. His versatility has led him to perform and record internationally with groups such as Defunkt, Seed, Red Holloway, and Bob Singleton’s Golden Gospel Singers. With his driving rhythms and sensitive touch, Kenny is equally at home in jazz, funk, rock, and gospel traditions.

Maximilian Hughes
Raised in a highly musical American family in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Max grew up surrounded by a wide range of sounds and styles. Encouraged from an early age to explore all forms of music, he went on to study Classical and Contemporary Composition at the University of California, San Diego, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Berklee College of Music. A sought-after bassist with a versatile palette, Max has recorded and performed with artists including Chaka Khan, John-Paul Bourelly, Wolfgang Dauner, and Jocelyn B. Smith. His playing combines technical mastery with a deep sense of groove and musicality.

Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq – Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Rolf Zielke – Piano
Maximilian Hughes – Electric Bass
Kenny Martin – Drums