Swing Manouche: Diknu Schneeberger & Bakanic Quartett

“Avanti, Avanti” was the title of the Schneeberger & Bakanic Quartet’s debut album, released in 2023. It laid a spectacular foundation that also serves as the starting point for the journey they are now embarking on with “Bella Via.” That is the title of their upcoming program, which serves as a continuation of their first album—both in terms of lineup and style. “Alpin Swing” was the motto before, and they remain true to it here as well. Gypsy jazz meets tango, alongside influences from new folk music and world music. Any reservations? Not a chance. Virtuoso flights of fancy alternate with catchy melodies; atmospheric pieces that invite contemplation give way to groovy vibes that invite you to dance. The compositions are created through close collaboration between Diknu Schneeberger and Christian Bakanic. This results in some curiously creative stylistic fusions: “We play a tango on the Styrian harmonica or an Alpine folk dance that turns into an Afro-Latin number. We experiment with musical styles, but we never lose sight of our roots—gypsy jazz.” It’s impossible to resist the joy this album brings: the joy of dancing, the joy of traveling, the joy of discovering new (musical) landscapes. “Bella Via” is a road trip in the best sense of the word, culminating in a rendition of “Besame mucho” that indulges the longing for love. 

The Schneeberger & Bakanic Quartet has long since made a name for itself in recent years and can look back on performances at the Wolkenturm Grafenegg, the Bruckner Haus Linz, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Salzburg Festival. The musicians’ creative and musical potential seems to know no bounds. 

The “Swing Manouche” series iscuratedbyJulia Hornung, a renowned voice in European Gypsy Swing, who invites top international musicians to Starnberg with a keen eye for talent.