Markus Geiselhart

Brazil 2026 - A look back and a word of thanks: We’ve been back for two days now, and Brazil still lingers in our minds. It was 10 intense, but also fantastic days. As part of the Erasmus+ program, @panzldavid and I taught at the @emusufba da Universidade Federal de Bahia in Salvador, thereby also building on the international relationships of the @mdwwien . A heartfelt thank you to @alfredomoura.br and Joao Liberato for their hospitality and for organizing our workshops and masterclasses. Before that, we spent four days in São Paulo. There, we led a workshop at the @souzalimaoficial.faculdade , and as the highlight of the trip, I was invited as a guest conductor to perform a concert featuring my music with the @brasiljazzsinfonica at the @bluenotesp . David joined us at this concert as a guest soloist on drums. Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who made this possible. Thanks to the trumpeter and my friend @galante_junior , the Jazz Sinfonica’s chief conductor @lgustavopetri , and the orchestra manager @acaciadourado . It was also fantastic to meet all the musicians of the Jazz Sinfonica and work with them. Among others, trumpeters @sidmarvieira and @oluiz_gabriel , trombonists @feldemanoliveira and the fantastic @jorginhonetobone , bass trombonist @yohannatamarozzi , saxophonists @jeffersonrodriguessax and @chicomacedo , and drummer @neltonessi , to name just a few. Thank you for the wonderful concert! I hope we can repeat a project like this in the future, and I’m already looking forward to my next trip to Brazil. Thanks to everyone! Photo 1: Concert with the Brasil Jazz Sinfonica Credits: @nadjakouchi | Acervo TV Cultura Photo 2: David and me in front of the Blue Note in São Paulo Reel: Our duo during our first masterclass in Salvador Photo 3: David and me on the beach #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 19, 2026 - The End: Our trip to Brazil ended with a 24-hour journey back from Salvador via São Paulo and Frankfurt to Vienna. Although I was lucky with my seat on the first flight from Salvador to São Paulo - having been moved to an emergency exit row shortly after takeoff due to a medical emergency - my luck ran out on the flight from São Paulo to Frankfurt. Since the seat selection feature on Latam Airlines’ online check-in wasn’t working properly on Friday, we didn’t check in until we arrived at the airport in Salvador. @panzldavid and I had specifically requested seats along the walkway, which we were assured we’d get, but we ended up sitting in the middle of a row of four, ten rows apart from each other. The flight was full, so even the flight attendant couldn’t offer me a different seat when I asked. Of course, we had one last caipirinha at the airport in São Paulo. In Frankfurt, security screened my trombone and David’s cymbals for explosives - welcome back to German thoroughness! At the gate in Frankfurt, we ran into @kurtelling and his band - including guitarist @charliehunterguitar (his guitar and my trombone shared space in the overhead compartment on the plane and took up less room than two carry-on bags) and drummer @stixfinnie - who are playing a concert tomorrow at the Vienna Konzerthaus. After another hour, we landed in Vienna around 2:30 p.m. Homecoming! We had an intense but wonderful time in Brazil, and it was amazing to return to this unique country after 27 years - and I hope it won’t be another 27 years until the next time! #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 18, 2026: Yesterday started very early too. Just after 7.30 am, @panzldavid and I took an Uber to Joao’s house. From there, we went for a walk with Joao to a beautiful beach, swam in lovely natural pools and drank the water from fresh coconuts. The wonderful morning passed far too quickly and we had to head back to the university, where we gave a few students some individual lessons. Afterwards, Joao showed us around the old town of Salvador, where we tasted local specialities in a restaurant. In the evening, we met up with @alfredomoura.br in the hotel bar. David gave up after his second-to-last caipirinha, so I went with Alfredo to a bar near the hotel. Now we’re already on our way to the airport to fly back to Vienna via São Paulo and Frankfurt after intense 10 days in Brazil… #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 17, 2026: Yesterday, @alfredomoura.br picked us up at the hotel at 8:20 a.m. We visited @iuripassos10 ’s percussion class to learn a little about the differences between various Brazilian rhythms. Afterward, we went with Alfredo to a café near the university for coffee and cheesecake. Before Alfredo took us back to the hotel, he drove us through the beautiful historic district of Salvador to show it to us. After a short break at the hotel, we headed back to the university. There, our workshops and masterclasses were once again on the schedule. While @panzldavid was giving individual lessons to some students, I led an arrangement masterclass, which - due to the students’ questions - ended up becoming more of a music theory masterclass. We discussed how to derive the other 7-note scales commonly used in jazz from the four basic scales, and what options there are for altered dominant chords. We also discussed various ways of harmonizing within a key. After this arrangement/theory masterclass, I spoke a little about the Big-Band-history in Germany and Austria and presented the students various recordings. The time travel began in the early 1950s with recordings of the radio dance orchestras of that era, continuing through the Kenny Clark-Francy Boland Big Band up to the Vienna Art Orchestra. For dinner, we went with Joao to another excellent restaurant near the harbor. And, as was to be expected, David and I ended the day back at the hotel with a caipirinha. #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 16, 2026: Yesterday, after breakfast, @panzldavid and I started the day with a capoeira workshop led by @joaogiganteartes2020 . It was, so to speak, a professional development for us and a bit of artistic research. First, we got an introduction to playing the berimbau, before he showed us how to play samba and capoeira on the pandeiro. After that, we played together and he danced capoeira to the rhythm. At the end of the workshop, I bought a pandeiro and David bought two shekeres. After the lunch break, we continued with our workshops and masterclasses. In his drum workshop, David discussed the basics of drum set playing. He also explained the role of the drums in ensemble playing within the rhythm section. I led a composition masterclass, during which I presented several of my own compositions and discussed the various compositional techniques I used. Among other things, we discussed how to use the theories of the Second Viennese School for compositional work in a jazz context, various possibilities for harmonization, as well as different rhythmic concepts that I employ in my compositional work. In connection with these topics, I presented my compositions “Obrigkeitsungehorsam,” “Airport St. Petersburg,” “Homecoming,” and “My Instrument is the Orchestra.” Afterward, I answered the students’ questions in detail on topics related to composition. For dinner, we had a traditional Brazilian churrasco and spent a very nice evening with Joao, @alfredomoura.br , and @alciobone . As has become a tradition, David and I then rounded off the day with a caipirinha at the hotel bar. #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 15, 2026: Yesterday was our second workshop/masterclass day at the Escola de Música da Universidade Federal de Bahia in Salvador. I gave a trombone masterclass for Alciomar Oliveira’s students. By the way, I was happy to meet @alciobone and I’m looking forward, as he is coming to dinner with us tonight, to talking to him a little about trombone-stuff. In the masterclass, I first presented my warm-up and flexibility concept. Afterward, I answered questions from the students, and then we talked about the broad topic of improvisation. I also discussed the improvisational development of trombonists and demonstrated a few examples: starting with Kid Ory and Jack Teagarden, through J.J. Johnson, Carl Fontana, and Frank Rosolino, all the way to Albert Mangelsdorff and Ray Anderson. @panzldavid led a drum masterclass, focusing on how to apply drum rudiments to the drum set and various styles and incorporate them into one’s own playing. For dinner, we went with Joao and @alfredomoura.br to another excellent restaurant near the harbor. Back at the hotel, we found some post waiting for us. @neltonessi , the drummer for the Brasil Jazz Sinfonica Big Band, had sent us a package containing CDs, DVDs, and his instructional materials on Brazilian rhythms. Thank you so much, Nelton! Today starts a little earlier than usual; we’re on our way to a capoeira workshop - a bit of professional development and artistic research - before continuing with our workshops at the university this afternoon… #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

A Brasil Jazz Sinfônica Big Band recebeu o compositor, arranjador e trombonista alemão Markus Geiselhart para uma noite dedicada à sua obra. O concerto  “A Música de Markus Geiselhart” foi um verdadeiro espetáculo no palco do Blue Note SP! 👉 Passe para o lado e confira os registros. 📸 @‌nadjakouchi / Acervo TV Cultura. 🔔 Ative as notificações e siga @brasiljazzsinfonica #BrasilJazzSinfônica #TVCultura #SomosCultura #Música

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 14, 2026: Yesterday marked the start of the second part - the pedagogical part - of our trip. As part of the Erasmus+ program, we will be teaching at the @emusufba da @universidadefederaldabahia in Salvador through Friday, thereby also strengthening the international relations of the @mdwwien . At 12:30 p.m., Joao picked us up at the hotel and we drove to the university, where our first masterclass began at 2:00 p.m., with about 50 interested and enthusiastic students and faculty members in the audience. We started the masterclass as a duo - trombone and drums - certainly an unusual combination, but an exciting one. We played my composition “Obrigkeitsungehorsam“. As I didn’t know how to translate “Obrigkeitsungehorsam” into English, I spontaneously named the composition - it is a 12-tone piece - “If Arnold Schoenberg was a jazz composer” - and then explained the 12-tone concept of the Second Viennese School, which was a perfect introduction to the masterclass. Joao had arranged that some Brazilian musicians join us, and it was a pleasure to play with guitarist @alex_mesquita_oficial , pianist @ocaioferreira , and bassist @alexandrevieiramusica . Together we played “Warm Canto” by Mal Waldron, originally recorded by Eric Dolphy, the jazz standard “Love Me or Leave Me,” and the composition “Scotch and Water” by Joe Zawinul. In between, @panzldavid and I introduced our musical backgrounds and discussed our concepts regarding composition, improvisation, and rhythm. Since this was the first time we played together with our Brazilian colleagues at the workshop without a rehearsal, we were also able to show the students how important it is to master the key elements of the “language of jazz” in order to be able to make music together as quickly as possible. For dinner, we went to a really good restaurant at the harbor, where we rounded off the evening with another caipirinha. Today, David will give a masterclass in drums/percussion and I will give a masterclass in trombone. Afterward, we will give private lessons. #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 13, 2026: Yesterday, after breakfast, @panzldavid and I had to pack our bags. After some fantastic days in São Paulo and working with the @brasiljazzsinfonica Big Band, we were now heading to Salvador, Bahia. Here, we’ll be giving workshops and masterclasses at the university over the next few days. Before our flight to Salvador, we had a caipirinha at the airport, and I followed the soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV via live updates and the „VfB fan radio“ — much to my delight, VfB won 4–0. Because yesterday was VfB-game-day, I naturally dressed in a VfB T-shirt. After a delay of nearly an hour, we finally landed in Salvador, Bahia, shortly before 6 p.m. yesterday evening. Since I’d already been lucky enough to get a seat with legroom on my flight from Munich to São Paulo, I was lucky again on today’s flight and got a seat by the emergency exit. @alfredomoura.br had arranged that his stepson Diogo and his niece Flávia would pick us up at the airport. On the way to the hotel, they drove us through the entire city of Salvador and showed us the sights (including the Farol da Barra — the oldest lighthouse in South America), giving us a first impression of the city. We also made a quick stop to have one more caipirinha and eat acarajé, a traditional Brazilian dish. After that, we checked in at our hotel (Hotel da Bahia by Wish), and it turned out that Michael Jackson had also stayed there in February 1996 — but back then, the “King of Pop”-suite was on the 11th floor, while our „Jazz Suites“ today are on the 9th floor. Because I teach at an institute for popular music, here’s a brief look at pop history: Michael Jackson was in Salvador in 1996 to shoot the video for his hit “They Don’t Care About Us.” You can watch the video on YouTube, and it also gives you a glimpse of Salvador: https://youtu.be/QNJL6nfu__Q?si=zyVWFVzjGNY0QsBq We ended the day with a light dinner and another caipirinha at the hotel bar. Today, Joao will pick us up at the hotel and then the teaching part of our trip will begin… #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 12, 2026: Yesterday started relaxed. I slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, and then prepared the moderations for the concert in the evening. In the afternoon, I went for a walk around the hotel with @panzldavid , and we grabbed a bite to eat at a restaurant. A samba band was playing there—wow!!! It was unbelievable how they grooved! After that, I took a quick nap at the hotel, and then it was off to the @bluenotesp for the soundcheck. The concert with the @brasiljazzsinfonica Big Band began at 8 p.m. The band had great energy, the soloists played outstanding solos, and the audience was truly thrilled. David also gave it his all on drums as a special guest. It was a great pleasure for me to be able to play my music here in São Paulo with this fantastic big band, and I hope we’ll see each other again soon for a new project. I’d like to thank everyone who made this concert possible: @galante_junior , who got everything started in the first place; @lgustavopetri , the chief conductor of the Brasil Jazz Sinfonica, who invited me to be the guest conductor for this concert; and Acacia Dourado, the orchestra manager, who organized everything so well. And, of course, a big thank you to the musicians of the Brasil Jazz Sinfonica Big Band for the rehearsals and the energetic concert! Thank you so much! The concert was streamed on the Blue Note São Paulo YouTube channel and can be viewed at the following link: /live/1eVurEvFb20?si=O4hX6X1lrYo9fKyP Enjoy! After the concert, we went out to dinner with Gustavo and Junior, exchanged ideas, and talked about possible future projects. We’ll see what the future holds! David and I had a fantastic time here in São Paulo over the past few days. This afternoon, our journey continues to Salvador, Bahia… #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt

Tour Diary - Brazil 2026 - April 11, 2026: Yesterday started with a slight hangover after our first intense caipirinha tasting the night before. After breakfast, we headed to the @souzalimaoficial.faculdade . There, @panzldavid and I were invited by Brazilian guitarist @lupa.santiago to lead a masterclass. We worked with a student band on things like ensemble playing, interaction, timing, and introduced various improvisation concepts and how to incorporate them into daily practice. The students were at a good level and very interested. After that, we had our second rehearsal with the @brasiljazzsinfonica Big Band. We started by working on a few details before running through the entire concert program. The band sounds really good and has some outstanding soloists! In the evening, we met for dinner with @alfredomoura.br , who is largely responsible for our activities next week in Salvador and who traveled all the way from Salvador to São Paulo just to hear tonight’s concert. Today is a relaxed day, before the concert featuring my music and the Brasil Jazz Sinfonica Big Band starts tonight at 8 p.m. at the @bluenotesp . David will be joining on drums as a special guest for a few tunes. I’m really looking forward to it! I’m not sure if the concert will be streamed on the Blue Note São Paulo YouTube page; if it is, it would be at 1 a.m. in Vienna… #mitjazzundguterlauneumdiewelt