The Clients

A fixture on the scene for two decades, gigs galore, 4 albums, one live DVD - and now the new album "RELOADED". C’mon folks, if you didn’t get it before, now you really have no excuses anymore. If the grooves dished out by this crew don’t get your hips moving within seconds, you’re either an Indian saint, a wax figure at Madame Toussaint’s or the drunk neighbor who mistook the frozen pond for his jacuzzi last night. And the sonic heat blasting out of the speakers would sooner or later melt and move even those guys. It’s the third millennium and even ascetics, waxheads and involuntary cryonics know: Hiding at the bar isn’t sexy. You copy?

Not unlike the unignorable enthusiastic rhythmic activity coming from next door when your fictitious neighbor has defrosted and reconciles with his hot girlfriend, the solid backbeat and deep low-end served up by drummer Christian Niederer and bassist Thomy Jordi is just as much heard as it is felt. What a backdrop for guitarist Marco Figini and keyboardist Peter Wagner to lay down those mean wahwah lines and shimmering Fender Rhodes grooves, taking lengthy trips into heated solo-land whenever Dave lets them. Because Dave Feusi is the saxophonist, and when he isn’t playing those catchy themes or engaging in hip spoken-words, he likes to solo himself. And damn, does he solo. Nice beard too.

So, if you failed to make it to the next Clients gig (you waxhead), and instead just HAVE to blast out their new album “RELOADED” on your stereo until 5 AM (addictive, we know) and your fictitious neighbor finally wants to kill you – blame it all on Peter. Peter Wagner wrote all this stuff. Calmly explain to the irate cohabitant in pajamas yelling at your door with a shotgun, that this music is the dog’s bollocks and the Clients were never in for the Nobel Peace Prize anyway. Hand him some booze and ask him to come in and get loaded. Or even better, tell him to get REloaded and to head back to his eager girlfriend. After all, he has enough time to rest when he’s dead (or frozen again), doesn’t he?

Damn’ right he does. The Indian saint thinks so too. Indian saints are always right.

OM!

Dave Feusi, Saxes & Vocals

Has been drawn to music since an early age learning the clarinet. Longing for a couple of years he switched to the saxophone at the age of twelve. First thoroughly studying classical music and in later years wanting to expand his musical vocabulary through Jazz and improvisation.

While studying at the Conservatory of Zurich from 1985 -1990, he started the group Swiss Big Band Eruption which performed at some of Switzerland's most renowned festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival. Upon finishing his studies he performed with the Tonhalle Orchestra and Opernhaus Orchestra.

In 1993 he began to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston/USA with George Garzone and Bill Pierce and a year later joined the Hip Hop/Funk band Fatbag, which won the Boston Music Award for best Hip Hop band in 1995 and 1996. Relocating to New York he founded his own group Circle of Interactive Art and peformed as freelancer in different bands as Red Time, the Jen Chapin Group, the Mendes Brothers, Mister Blue and Zabumbatuq.

After returning to Switzerland in 1998 he joined several bands including Contemparabic Jazz Ensemble, Grand Mother's Funck, Funky Brotherhood, The Clients Funk Society and the Euro Jazz Big Band. He also started the groups streetkids 99 and final source.

In his career he had the opportunity to share the stage with Eddie Harris, Clark Terry, Marvin Smitty Smith, J.R. Robinson, Noel Mc Calla, Bob Moses and to open as a supporting act for James Brown, Maceo Parker, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Charlie Hunter, De La Soul, Candy Dulfer, Jamiroquai, The Meters, and P-Funk.

Marco Figini, Guitars

Has been playing the guitar since he was thirteen. Studying with different teachers during his teenage years he decided to become a musician at the age of 21. That’s when he began his studies at the Jazzschool in Berne and continued at the guitar Institute of Technology with teachers like Giorgio Diorio, Scott Henderson, Joe Pass, Robben Ford. Ever since he graduated in 1985 he has been playing in all different kinds of productions and shows in many countries: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Netherland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Lettland, Estland, Giorgia, Japan and the USA.

In his career he had the opportunity to share the stage with Tal Farlowe, Albert Mangelsdorff, Percy Sledge, Mike Stern, Rhonda Dorsey, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Mudbone Cooper, Eric Singleton, Candy Dulfer, Marla Glenn, Roy Hargrove etc.

TV Shows: SF DRS «Takito» mit Candy Dulfer, Emel, Jule Neigel, Hanna Boel, Udo Jürgens, Jonny Logan, Delmar Brown, Garland Jeffreys, Scatman John, Marco Masini, The Soultans, David Hasselhoff, Allure, Jonathan Butler, Halloway uva.

Concours Eurovision De La Chanson; Filmsoundtrack: «Das Trio» mit Götz George.

Peter Wagner, Keys

Was born in Basel, Switzerland in 1963, and started piano lessons at the age of nine. As a teenager he fell in love with jazz, learned to play by listening to records and started to compose.

In his early twenties he made professional experiences working with many musicians of jazz, funk and pop and started recording and producing.Frequently on tour and not beeing able to practice the piano, he learned to play guitar, bass and drums in hotelrooms, using his bandmembers as teachers.

Becoming a multi instrumentalist positioned him composing and producing for many artists. Meanwhile his work can be listened to on about 50 CDs of various groups and styles.

Thomy Jordi, Bass

2009: Gewinner des Distinguished Translation Award beim 7. Internationalen Übersetzungswettbewerb Shizuoka, Japanisch-Deutsch. 2009: CD release und Tournee mit Düde Dürsts psychodelic-funk Band Back to the Groove. seit 2006: Bassist von Adrian Weyermann. seit 2005: Regelmäßiger Gastbassist bei Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin. seit 2002: Mitglied der deutschen Popband Rosenstolz. 1999: Mitglied in Helge Schneiders Rockprojekt The Firefuckers. seit 1998: Studium der Japanischen Sprache. 1996–1998: Bandleader der Hard-Funk Crossover Band Jordis Greed. 1993–2006: Lehrbeauftragter an der Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. 1993: Gründungsmitglied des türkischen Funkprojekts Burhan Öcal Group. 1988: Wohnortwechsel nach Berlin. / Mitglied in der Band der New Yorker Sängerin Jocelyn B. Smith. 1987–1996: Bandmitglied der Free-Funk Band The Intergalactic Maidenballet. 1986–1988: Gründungsmitglied der Fusion Band Stiletto. / Mitglied in Max Lässers New Age Band Ark. 1984: Gründungsmitglied der Free-Funk «Kultband» Donkey Kong's Multiscream. 1983–1984: E-Bassstudium am Musicians Institute of Technology in Los Angeles bei Jeff Berlin. 1981–1983: Kontrabassstudium an der Swiss Jazz School in Bern bei Erich Peter. Geboren am 14.08.63 in Zürich, Schweiz.

Christian Niederer, Drums

Was born 20th Oct. 1971 in Zurich, Switzerland. He began playing the the drums at the age of 14, after playing the guitar for three years. His first teachers in highschool were F. Schmid and K. Rast, who’s experience and deep knowledge of jazzdrumming had an important impact on Chris.

He became a member of the „K.T. Geier“ Workshop for over six years. K.T. Geier is a bassplayer and a Jazz Legend known throughout Switzerland, France and Germany, who played with Kenny Clarke and Dexter Gordon. These Years felt like a “First Jazz School“ to Chris and this experience was probably the most important education in playing jazz.

Meanwhile Chris took lessons with Andy Brugger at the Jazz School Zurich. In summer `96 he studied at the „drummer’s collective“ in New York. Eventually, he began his studies at the Jazzschool Lucerne (Switzerland) in autumn `96. The teaching staff included C. Doran, B. Spörri, N. Su, H. Känzig, H. Feigenwinter and other great musicians. Chris also appreciates M. Halbheer and N. Pfammatter for being great drumteachers.

After graduating in Lucerne, he was working as a freelance musician, mostly in the Jazz and Funk style. He became part of „the clients funk society“ in spring 2002. This position helped him to establish as a wellknown groove drummer and strong musician.

In addition to this band, Chris is having his own trio „tré“ and is working as a sideman in projects like „dubspencer“ and „greasy“. He is also wellknown for being a very good freelancer for studio sessions and projects in any style of music. That’s why he almost played with any artist in the swiss music scene.