Philipp Maria Rosenberg - Rotwelsch (2025) Hi-Res

A romantic heart and a love of improvisation – Philipp Maria Rosenberg's “Rotwelsch” brings jazz and operetta together in a fascinating way.

Jazz and operetta – it takes a keen sense and a clear vision to bring these two genres together. With his project “Rotwelsch,” pianist and arranger Philipp Maria Rosenberg does more than just build a bridge between two completely different worlds. His trio gives the atmospheric melodies from great operettas a completely new, contemporary context.

The freedoms of improvisational flow unfold in the light of the sumptuous themes, their beauty, and their romantic flair. The result is an almost magical atmosphere beyond conventional routines.

The emotional radiance of Rosenberg's playing is the linchpin. You can sense that the Swiss musician, who lives in Zurich, is filled with a love for the selected, sensitively arranged melodies. “I have a romantic heart,” he admits with a smile. Nevertheless, the band's versions of songs such as “Die ganze Welt ist himmelblau” (The whole world is sky blue), “Wenn es Abend wird” (When evening comes) and “Schenk mir das Himmelreich” (Give me the kingdom of heaven) are free of clichés and predictability. The “Rotwelsch” trio with Florian Kolb (bass) and Jordi Pallarés Barberà (drums) brings something completely new and unique

to the pieces. And in doing so, they repeatedly venture into challenging territory. “Improvisation needs space,” Rosenberg knows. The spirit of the originals always resonates. Just as the Great American Songbook is an integral part of the music world, the group's song selection contributes to the creation of a Great European Songbook.

Philipp Maria Rosenberg was born in 1993. He was born and raised in Winterthur. His early passion for classical music was countered by an almost rebellious desire for freedom. This led him to discover jazz. An important role model was Keith Jarrett, “a reference in aesthetics and versatility.” After formative years at the renowned Jazzcampus Basel,

Rosenberg, who also has a keen interest in literature, moved to Zurich. There, he began to explore the enormous treasure trove of operettas in a rather playful manner. melodies. His clever, idiosyncratic arrangements became the basis for the project (and trio) “Rotwelsch”: a traditional collective term for so-called thieves' cant, whose variants were created from mixtures of different languages, dialects, and terms. The trio has given over 100 concerts since 2022. Their first album was named one of the “best jazz releases of 2022” by the renowned Japanese platform “PJ – Portrait in Jazz.” The current “Rotwelsch” will be released in fall 2025.

Rotwelsch is an extraordinary jazz venture, even when compared to the many others that seek to combine classical music—regardless of genre or weight class—with jazz. It is aconcept and a group that perfectly combines originality, collective spirit, and the highest musical class.