The artists of the Cordial Family

Ladies and Gentlemen: It's AGENT! in the Mix !
AGENT! alias Andreas Schreck has his roots in the Golden Age of Hip Hop, becoming obsessed with ‘Black Gold’(records) at the end of the 90’s. His diverse musical background and formidable skills behind the decks, have paved the way for AGENT!’s signature, open approach to his sets.
From a long-standing residency at Club Airport in Würzburg to highly requested and respected performances in clubs such as D-Edge in Sao Paulo, Fabric in London, WOMB in Tokyo, Tresor in Berlin or Key Events such as WMC in Miami, CTEMF (Capetown Electronic Music Festival) or Corona Sunsets Parties; AGENT! is a high power Tech House act and an awesome performer; his sets have energy, precision and most of all, vibe. He mixes up styles and moods, but always remains frmly focused on the dance foor’s needs.
Inspired by his Hip Hop roots, old Funk and 90's techno music, coupled with a great understanding for danceable vibes, he began producing his own music in 2008. Releases on labels including, GET PHYSICAL, COCOON REC, DESOLAT, MOON HARBOUR, LAPSUS MUSIC and more, speak to the quality of his productions. Learn more

Andreas Schmid-Martelle aka Martelle first drew the attention of the public in 1988, being the guitarist in the famous german Jule Neigel Band. During his stay until mid 2002, the band sold about 2 Million discs.

Today, Martelle concentrates on composing, producing, recording, mixing and mastering. Since 2008, he's one of german label Popvirus's main authors, producing album after album. He plays the guitar with London based singer Tarq Bowen as well as in his own "Martelle Trio". From time to time there will be a Martelle solo album, the last one's entitled "The Doors Will Open".

1996 has been the first year of “Martelle’s Messe Show”, a special concert with various illustrious home and foreign guests during Frankfurt Musikmesse time. This special event continues each and every year until today.

Many years ago, well-known blues singer and drummer Tommie Harris has engaged Martelle to be host, singer, and guitarist for Frankfurt’s famous weekly Blues/Funk/Soul session with Tommie Harris & Friends at Orange Peel club.

In 1991 and 1994, Martelle has been hosting two very successful Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute shows. 2015, on SRV’s 25th day of death, a third one at renowned Frankfurt Palmengarten band shell.

Grammy Award winner Andrew Gouche is known for his amazing bass playing skills, his impeccable tone and for 40 years of laying the musical foundations for numerous world-class artists including Quincy Jones, Prince, Michael Jackson, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Snoop Dogg.

Widely known as the "Godfather of Gospel Bass", Andrew Gouche encountered Cordial cables at Summer NAMM in Nashville in 2018,  when he presented his signature bass model, created in collaboration with Michael Tobias, at the booth next to ours. He was immediately thrilled by the quality of the Cordial cables, which quickly led to a “cordial” and creative business relationship of which the most significant result so far is his own Cordial signature cable, the CSI PP ANDREW GOUCHE.

Axel “Ironfinger“ Ritt got his hands on the guitar for the very first time at the age of 12. His first musical influences were the british masters of the big tone like Jeff Beck, Brian May and in the first row, Gary Moore. From the age of 13, Axel entered the stage regularly and kept the straight road to develop his technical abilities as a rock guitarist. More about Axel Rit

His favorite Cordial equipment (excerpts):

• CXI PP-SNOW
• CRI PP "ROAD"
• CSI PP-METAL
• CXM FM-SNOW
• CSI PP-CRYSTAL

Truly astonishing” – Classic Rock Magazine
“F***ing amazing!” – Jeff Beck
“A REALLY good player” – Gary Moore
“So amazing!” – Beth Hart
“Killer!” – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
“Unbelievable!” – Richie Kotzen
“Exudes class & prowess” – Guitar Techniques Magazine
“Ben Poole is the full package” – Maverick Magazine
“Definitely one to watch” – Guitarist Magazine
“A really fresh sound and style” – Paul Jones (BBC Radio 2)
“This is a young man to look out for as he is no doubt a rising talent” – Blues Matters Magazine

"Just when you thought nothing else could surprise you, along comes Bigband Dachau." The Bavarian Jazz Institute is not alone in its excitement about the 25-person MassiveJazzTechno-Ensemble conducted by Tom Jahn (aka Tom Tornado).
The thrilling line-up with two full drum kits, heaps of synthesizers and keyboards, trumpets, saxophones and trombones combines the driving beats of modern electronic dance music with the pure sound force of a huge big band horn section and a healthy portion of live improvisation. With plenty of glitter and unleashed enthusiasm, Bigband Dachau electrifies listeners on the spot – whether in dance clubs, at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2017 or the EXPO Milano 2015.
Their pulsing rhythms and horn kicks, Hip Hop beats and electronic samples, thunderstorms of synthesizers and analogue bass lines is a unique combination: techno meets jazz, digital meets analogue and big band meets disco. A Bigband Dachau concert always ends with cheering crowds and sweat-soaked dancers. In 2018, the ensemble was awarded the Tassilo Cultural Prize by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Be warned: This band's wicked rhythms will drive you insane!

• CPM FM
• CSI PP-METAL
• CSM FM-CRYSTAL

“Crazy” Chris Kramer – the many-sided harp-player

Chris went out into the world to “redefine the context of contemporary harp playing”, so says Götz Alsmann, who is a very famous artist in Germany and doctor of musicology, when he was asked to give a comment on Kramer’s music.

One thing is that Chris is at home when it comes to Blues und he is living it out like only few do in Germany but then again, he is a creative trouble spot giving the word trouble a good connotation. He always comes up with something new no one thought about doing, that’s why colleagues started to call him “Crazy” Chris.

And now after being a professional artist for more than fifteen years he can not only retrospect on much more than a thousand gigs and ten CDs but also on the fact that he always accepted a new challenge.

His most-loved project is called “Chris Kramer and his Groove Hands”. The line-up seems to be unusual. But the sound of violin together with Chris’ harp is fresh, independent and still powerful and virtuoso. Here, Chris can show all of his talent, right through all kinds of styles and rhythms no matter if it is gypsy-swing as of Django Reinhart, Funk, Swing, Bossa Nova or Country. Chris always hits the right tone and is master of all styles music has to offer.

On his CD with the title “Komm’ mit!” (2008) he again enters fresh ground singing the Blues in his native language, German. He asserrts that he emulated his musical idols for much too long finding now finally to himself as an artist. To express the variety of feelings that are part of his songs in one’s mother-tongue is much more comfortable for Kramer. Consequently, he digged his own way, his more than 400 harps always by his side, not caring about clichés.

Turn of the year 2008/2009 should be an absolute highlight on this way. He travelled to the USA to record his new album “...unterwegs”. “Crazy” and brave enough to contact some of his musical heroes, he managed to unite them on this record. So every single song could be taped with the instrumentation of his dreams. Amongst others he got the support of: Mel Gaynor - world class drummer of Simple Minds, Chuck Leavell - keyboard Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Allman Bros. Band, and as he wanted to catch the authentic Chicago blues in his album he made no compromises: He brought the original musicians of the Muddy Waters Band on board.

Last but not least he visited Mick Taylor in London, who adds his fulminant slide-guitar as a proper opener for the cd.

During this trip Chris was also performing on countless stages together with other artists.

Always on his side: a camera team to film all the highlights and bring it to the cinemas as a documentary.

Alongside to his occupation as an author, he offered all kinds of harmonica workshops. Chris Kramer is also established in the European music scene as a singer and guitar player giving solo and duet concerts as well as going on tour with a band line-up usually consisting of an additional guitar, piano, drums and bass.

A performing Artist/Producer/Vocal Coach and a voting member for the Grammy Awards for 24 years.

Chuck Plaisance is an international musician with performances in the USA, Japan, Germany, Hawaii, Brazil, India, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Grand Turk Islands, Spain, Holland and Belgium.

Chuck Plaisance was born near New Orleans Louisiana. At the age of 13 was touring as frontman, lead singer and guitarist doing theatrical rock with the bands Flyght, Halifax, Impulse VII and Voyager.

He also worked as concert producer on bigger concert productions such as: Air Supply, Kansas, Cheap Trick, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers & The Meters, to name a few.

After his move to Hollywood, in the mid 80’s, he was hired as a full time Hollywood Vocal Instructor at Musicians Institute and held that position for 18 years.  During this time, Chuck performed with fellow instructors for Live performing workshops called “the Hollywood Pro Series”. This MIT teachers band included Tim Bogert, Doanne, Perry, Steve Dudas, Howard Laravea and Steve Bailey.

Chuck has performed at most of the famous venues in Hollywood such as,

Universal Amphi-theatre (Duet with Diana Ross), The Hollywood Bowl, The Greek Theatre, The John Ansen Ford Theatre, The Wiskey Ago-go, The Troubadore, The Viper Room.

In 1989 he was hired by Chris Currell of the Michael Jackson “Bad” band to manage his Synclavier studio and provide tour support for the last leg of the Michael Jackson “Bad” Tour. He was also sent to Japan to serve as production co-ordinator for Ozaki Yutaka and Gwinko on the Epic/Sony and CBS/Sony labels.

As a pioneer in the field of 3D Sound recording, Chuck recorded the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra “Gershwins in Hollywood”, The Gadin Shartse Monks “Sacred Earth”, Ernestine Anderson “Live at the BB King Club” “Blues Dues and Love News”. He also served as 3D Sound consultant for Stixx Hooper and Gary Wright.

In 1993 Chuck founded 3D Sound Inc. and created the world’s first 3D Virtual Instrument presets for stereo samplers. “The Piano”, “The Dreamweaver” (co-produced by Gary Wright), “3D Drums” Samples and “3D Industrial Sound Events” Samples.

Together with Suzanne Doucet he published over 200 CD’s for relaxation, meditation and sleep aides which topped the charts worldwide and still rank high in the New Age charts in several countries. These Series were: “Sounds of Nature” Series, “Tranquility” Series, National Park Adventures” Series, “Extreme Weather” Series, “Extreme Nature” Series plus many more.

From 2004 to 2006 he was manager of an Orchestral Film Scoring Live room working  with clients such as: Dream Works, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Disney and Johnny Hallyday as clients.

After living in total 25 years in LA working with such artist as Alice Cooper, Gary Wright, Michael Jackson, Ernestine Anderson,  to name a few, Chuck moved to Germany in 2006. Since then he is mostly touring as a solo performer but is also performing with other artists such as: Martin Engelien on four Go-Music “All Stars” tours and a few Go-Music specials, Bobby Kimball (Toto), Tommy Denander, Kirk Fletcher, the late Ricky Lawson, Curt Bisquera, Bruce Gaitsch, Mel Gaynor, Kai Strauss, Tommy Harris, Christian Bleiming, a concert Tour in India with Nadja Kossinskaja and more.

Chuck owns a very large 3D Sound library which he intends to publish in the future and is always searching for new and exciting projects to record and produce.

• www.PlaisanceMedia.net
• www.3DNatureSounds.com
• www.facebook.com/ChuckPlaisance
• Chuck@PlaisanceMedia.net

David Langley starting to teach himself at the age of 9, David soon found his love and passion for the guitar, then playing shows and Honky Tonks at 15 years of age, he fell in love with performing. With the passing of his Mother at 17 years old (something he could never let go of), took David off in a difficult direction, withdrawn and confused, turning more and more to his guitar and music. Eventually, he discovered his passion for singing, as well as entertaining and being the front man of his own shows. Mehr dazu auf der Storytellers/David Langley Homepage.

If you would measure him by his musical career, DENNIS HORMES ought to be an old bone of at least seventy years. But with only 34 springs on the clock, the guitarist from North Rhine-Westphalia, who is also active as a producer, songwriter and singer, looks already back on a career of almost two decades. In this time he has played on world tours with artists like T.M. Stevens, Fettes Brot, DJ Bobo, Tom Beck, Luxuslärm, Roachford, The Boss Hoss, Marc Terenzi, Daliah Lavi, Mark Medlock, Dieter Falk and Richard Sanderson – to only name a few. Learn more

Jan Stix Pfennig has been the first-call drummer of German rap star SIDO since 2008 and is solidly established in the German hip hop scene. Born in Arnsberg, he moved to Berlin to study jazz drumming at the Hanns-Eisler Music University and is meanwhile also an integral part of the instructing team at the Berlin Drum Institute Drumtrainer Berlin. Since Summer 2017 he performs as live Drum&Bass DJ-Drummer STIXONSPEED with his Electronic Drums and Electronic Setup. In addition to numerous recordings, performances and concerts with well-known artists such as SIDO, Andrew Roachford, Jimy Somerville, Nik Kershaw, Marteria, Mark Forster and many more, it s especially his band THE SWAG that has made him one of the most in demand drummers when it comes to modern styles and hip hop drumming. He also gives regular workshops and seminars on these topics. Learn more.

His favorite Cordial products (excerpts):

• CFU_PP
• CPI_RR
• CFY_VPP
• CFM_FM

During a family celebration in Cologne, a special musical career began. Jolina Carl found an old guitar and discovered her love for music. Many years of self taught study on guitar and vocals followed, as well as various bands, different styles of music, vocal training and countless stage performances. Learn more (Homepage Jolina Carl)

There’s really no question as to why Mark Alan Cash entered into this thing called the “music business.” On the day that Mark was born, his father, Tommy, the youngest brother of Johnny Cash, was already getting some airplay on the radio, and was touring the country playing his own brand of country music. Learn more: Storytellers/Mark Alan Cash Homepage.

Musical stations

My musical career started when I was 10 years old, which is when I got my first instrument: a flute. Soon enough I had an electric organ and an acoustic guitar. At 13 I discovered the bass and got one for my 14th birthday. Four years later an upright bass followed suit. Since then I have been playing both instruments, yet starting in 1982 the E - bass has been my main instrument of choice. Learn more (Martin Engelien Homepage)

Mrs. Greenbird - honest, handmade and maybe a little bit weird.

The folk pop duo Mrs. Greenbird from Cologne (Germany) provided one of the very rare music business success stories. Starting off as wedding singers in 2006, singer Sarah Nuecken and guitarist Steffen Brueckner played their way through bars, restaurants and laundromats to chisel their skills and build a solid fanbase. Mrs. Greenbird’s music is multifaceted, blending their strong harmony vocals with their very own musical style - they summed up in one simple word: Singersongwritercountryfolkpop. Learn more (Mrs. Greenbird Homepage).

Their favorite Cordial products (excerpts):

• CXI PP-SKY
• CXI RP-SNOW-SILENT
• CSM FM-CRYSTAL

Oliver Steller, Jahrgang 1967, hat seine Liebe zur Literatur nach der Schule wiederentdeckt. Seitdem vertont er Gedichte. Im Anschluss an ein Musikstudium in den USA und einem Jahrzehnt als freischaffender Musiker, gab der Gitarrist und Sänger 1995 sein Debüt als Rezitator. Die FAZ bezeichnet Oliver Steller heute als „Stimme deutscher Lyrik“. Mehr dazu auf der Oliver Steller Homepage.

"Besonders gerne verwende ich das CM TOP 222 für die Mikros, das CSI PP Gold für die Gitarren sowie das CGK 175 Metal-Transparent für die Dobro."

Mehr dazu auf der Patrick Kronenberger Homepage.

On the musical side, from the tender age of three, Rachel grew up singing her family and herself to sleep. Later on, she took her passion for music anywhere she could, from biker saloons to church choirs, and recently, on a tour in Germany with Mark Alan Cash and David Langley. Rachel is a singer/songwriter with a unique vocal style all her own. Ranging from Blues, Folk, Rock, and Country, her vocal range covers it all, from Stevie Nicks to Patsy Cline! Learn more: Storytellers/Rachel Dawson Homepage.

THE WHISKEY FOUNDATION, a quintett formed around the charismatic singer MURAT KAYDIRMA was found in Munich in 2011. 

The band that released ‚Take The Walk’, a widely acclaimed debut album presented in 2013, keeps fascinating - not at least caused by their powerful live performances.

Their classic setup of guitar(s), Fender Rhodes / Hammond, bass, drums and vocals/harmonica – and the passion of the five musicians (live and recoreded) form an outstanding sound.

This also counts for their second album ‚Mood Machine’, on which you can hear stilistic excourses into rock music of the late 60ies and early 70ies. Playing the typical sound of this era, they never loose their authentic modern style and keep developing the blues instead of covering it. MOOD MACHINE’s 11 songs can be classified as a mix of rock, blues and psychedelia, somewhere between THE DOORS (Morrison-Hotel-Phase) and THE BLACK KEYS. 

In Summer 2015 they excited huge audiences all around Germany as they were supporting the world famous rock legends of AC/DC. In Fall 2015 the band was also invited to open up a few shows for the not less famous band DEEP PURPLE in Czech Republic. 

Now, the band is ready to present their third album ‚Blues and Bliss’, which has been released in October 2017. Again, the 8 new songs are borne by MURAT KAYDIRMA’s unique voice and again, the 5 musicians, who know each other for the most of their lives, create an extremly harmonious ensemble. But yet, it is technically more sophisticated - the audience is more than ever reminded of the roots of blues and psychedelic rock, though the music still has its independent and unmistakable touch, which overcomes the boundaries of the past decades.

The favorite cables of The Whiskey Foundation (quote): "Road & Metal (especially Silent) because they are almost indestructible and look great!"

The question whether our life is determined by destiny or mere chance will remain unanswered here. But when one considers the biography of the musician, producer, composer and, currently, label-owner, briefly that of music freak Uwe Bossert, one is at least inclined to admit the possibility of divine providence. For instance, there was that Reamonn thing: When Bossert founded the Reamonn band with Sebi, Gomezz, Ray and Phil, he had just completed his studies of the Jazz guitar in Freiburg and prepared to face a precarious financial future among the undergrowth of the local jazzers. Bossert had no illusions about monetary rewards from music - regardless of talent. Nevertheless he wanted to study nothing else. Because he could do nothing else? Wrong! There was nothing else he wanted.Let us get the facts straight: Uwe Bossert might have been pretty happy employed as a badly paid guitar teacher and hanging out with a few semi-professional jazz bands. But then Reamonn happened. The band's story has been told countless times and is marginal topic here. But after the musicians had signed the recording contract in 1999, things started to happen in quick succession: Tours played to full houses, hundreds of thousands of records sold, the Echo prize for their social commitment, numerous hits and interesting projects with other musicians. There can be no doubt: Reamonn is and has been one of the most successful and without doubt also one of the most important German bands of the last fifteen years.

But Bossert became aware that there are other things that interest, occupy and inspire him. At the end of 2010, when Reamonn split up for a break after twelve years, the time had come for him and the others to consider their personal dreams unfulfilled so far. Bossert comments, "I have always been very happy in the band. But when you have been dependent on four other people for twelve years, it's quite satisfying to be your own boss for a while."
In this situation fate once more knocked at his door: With Reamonn he had met the renowned producer Greg Fidelman in the USA, who did studio work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, U2 and Johnny Cash among others. While working with this experienced American studio professional Bossert realized, "That's it! My future lies in producing." Back in Germany the guitarist set up his own studio in Munich that he has continually expanded in the past few years. And suddenly everything started moving: Bossert produced and wrote songs for other musicians and himself, enlarged the production firm "achtung music" founded as early as 2007 with his own publishing company and recording firm - "achtung music Records".
The most ambitious project to date in Uwe Bossert's second career is his band "DrahtSeilAkt". And once more we must consider the role of destiny: That Uwe Bossert met the singer Nora Grisu with whom he composed the songs for DrahtSeilAkt's debut is a particularly fortunate stroke of fate. Because at first glance these are two musicians who apparently do not match - and therefore complement each other even better. On the one hand the popstar Uwe Bossert of long spotlight experience, on the other cabaret song writer of almost introverted character Grisu. Together they tell stories untold so far in German Pop music. "DrahtSeilAkt may possibly not be right for the large stage like Rock im Park with an audience of 30,000, but that is not always the case." says Bossert - been there, done that.
DrahtSeilAkt's debut is the first album that Bossert in cooperation with Nora Grisu has entirely developed in his project workshop achtung music: from initial idea to song-writing and producing and that will be published under his own label. But DrahtSeilAkt is not the only production of the new Uwe Bossert; the versatile musician recently cooperated on the soundtrack to Pepe Danquart's film "Joschka und Herr Fischer" - he is presently in the process of publishing it on achtung music Records. Apart from that he is producing and writing an album for the Rumanian pop star Loredana Groza, was guest lecturer at a School for Music Management last summer, cooperated with Nelly Furtado and "the Graf" of "Unheilig".
Yet it is not only the big names that are of interest for Uwe Bossert. The musician in him desires to move freely, the glamour and tinselly stardom always annoyed him in big business. "Sometimes I get the feeling that it's being a star that is important for so many people today," he says. "Nobody says he wants to be a great guitar player any more, it's just being famous that they want." He has already achieved fame, now Uwe Bossert aims to support young bands with flexible strategies that fit in with the enormous changes in music's landscape under the influence of Internet.
Developing songs and visions - that is Uwe Bossert's metier. And that is perhaps a genuine definition of his activity: balancing on a tightrope! There is a man who has left the safe harbour of the band awarded numerous platinum records and dared to enter not just one, but several experiments. But shouldn't music in its essence always be concerned with venture and exploratory spirit? The concept of the music man totally immersed in music and capable on all levels is less familiar here than elsewhere - Uwe Bossert is endeavouring to give him new significance. In his own, gentle, but highly sustainable and effective way.
In spite of his numerous projects Bossert is still fruitfully involved with his former colleagues. Evidence of what good friends the Reamonn musicians still are can be seen in their imminent tour under the name Stereolove with Gomezz, Rauenbusch and Padotzke. It will be a shorter club tour with the singer Thom Hanreich. The music will be stronger rock that that produced by the later Reamonn. And what is it all about? Certainly not to compete with the main band but: Fun. The word is correct. At the end of the day the composer, producer and labelman Uwe Bossert is above all intent on having a good time. And it is to be hoped that this is heard and comes across to the audience.

Talking about the Belarusian guitarist, Victor Smolski, you soon discover that it's impossible to restrict yourself to just one superlative if you want to do justice to the unusual talent and the artistic diversity of this unique musician. He has made his mark not only as a guitarist and songwriter with the German metal act, Rage. His song "Straight To Hell", for example, has served as the soundtrack for two German movie productions and earned heaps of praise in the process. Smolski also continues to impress fans, colleagues and critics alike as a solo musician. Learn more (Victor Smolski Homepage).