Groovy Chemnitz

Groove Attached

There are jazz lovers everywhere - even in Chemnitz. And some of them are celebrating the 25th Chemnitz Jazz Festival this weekend. Among them are four young musicians who, with their band Groove Attached, are doing what is typical of jazz: trying things out, experimenting musically together and letting themselves be driven by rhythms and melodies. We spoke to singer Josefine Möbius, drummer Toni Müller, bassist Tobias Brunn and pianist Rocco Basler.

Why is jazz your shared passion?
Rocco Basler: Many jazz musicians say that, and I couldn't agree more: The great thing about jazz is that everything is allowed. As a musician, you have a lot of freedom in this style of music, you can improvise and you don't really have any set limits. Anything that's fun is allowed.

How did you come together as a band?
Toni Müller: Tobias and I know each other from our jazz studies in Dresden and we've already done lots of different projects together. I got to know Rocco at a Pink Floyd tribute show. You quickly realise with whom you fit together musically and personally and would like to do further projects.
Josefine Möbius: Each of us has played in different bands. We've been playing together in this formation since 2014. Everyone can best realise their musical ideas here. We wanted to try something new. You can't do that with just anyone.

Where does the name Groove Attached come from?
Josefine Möbius: For us, it means something like this: Every song is closely tied to the groove. Every song should be groovy - even if that doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be danceable.

Rocco adds with a smile that "Fine does dance on stage". Everyone laughs and chats about past performances. Groove Attached has been seen and heard several times at concerts organised by the Chemnitz Jazz Club, for example, as well as other smaller living room concerts in the region. Jazz standards are of course on the programme, but are rearranged. They are also working on their own songs. The musicians are proud of their three-part vocals, which are rarely heard in jazz. Josefine, Rocco and Tobias then sing together, which they "have to practise diligently".

The Chemnitz Jazz Club is 25 years old. How did you come to be playing at the Chemnitz Jazz Club's anniversary concert?
Tobias Brunn: We've known each other for a long time and have often played for the Chemnitz Jazz Club.
Toni Müller: That's where we belong musically. We're not a Top 40 band, a gala band or a dance band. We play music that can be danced to, but which we have arranged in such a way that we enjoy it.
Rocco Basler: If it grooves, then the dancing comes all by itself. (all laugh)
Tobias Brunn: We're not a band that just wants to play quietly in the background - which is unfortunately what jazz bands are often misused for.
Josefine Möbius: We do need an audience that listens to us attentively. Regardless of whether they want to dance or not.

What do you think of the Chemnitz music and jazz scene?
Tobias Brunn: To put it mildly: the jazz scene is at an embryonic stage. Those who make jazz know each other, of course. But there has been a lack of momentum so far. And at my last jam session at Weltecho, there were just two musicians. I hope that there will be more going on at the next session on 23 November.
Toni Müller: When I started making music here in Chemnitz after my studies, there was definitely something going on. Behind the Karl-Marx-Kopf in what was then Kapital, an offshoot of Weltecho, there were a lot more people at the jam sessions. We quickly made contacts there and almost became a fixture.

You describe yourselves as a Chemnitz band, even though two of you don't actually live in the city. Why Chemnitz?
Tobias Brunn: I grew up in Chemnitz and took my first musical steps here. Of course that connects us, even though I now live 20 kilometres away. I went to Dresden to study. But then I very consciously returned to Chemnitz to work with what is here. As a musician, there's no reason for me to move to another city. It's nice here. (laughs)
Rocco Basler: In principle, it doesn't matter where you live. Whether in a big city or in the village. Chemnitz is a rehearsal and creative centre for us, because this is where everyone meets. I lived in Altenburger Land, where there is hardly any jazz scene (laughs). So I just come here.

What makes you stand out as a band?
Toni Müller: We have a lot of fun improvising. We look at each other and wait to see what the others have to offer. Then everyone gets into it.
Tobias Brunn: When we play an instrumental piece, most people don't even realise that it's completely improvised.
Josefine Möbius: It's just not freaky, so that it disturbs the listener, but still harmonious and groovy.
Rocco Basler: We simply get on well - also in a musical sense on stage. And the audience can feel that too.
Tobias Brunn: There's just one difficulty: we can't find an ending (everyone laughs).

Then let's try to end with the last question: Where do you see yourselves and Chemnitz in 2025?
Tobias Brunn: The nice thing about Chemnitz is that you can always be curious to see what will become of this city. In my opinion, other cities like Dresden like to rest on their laurels. There is more movement in Chemnitz.
Josefine Möbius : For the band: We already have the goal of developing a full-length concert with our own songs and our own sound. We're all about really good live music.
Tobias Brunn: We all have jobs that involve a lot of commitments. And with Groove Attached we can just get on with it and do what we want. As long as we enjoy it that much, we'll keep at it.