Faculty Langnau Jazz Nights 2025
Caroline Davis (sax / faculty curator)

Mobile since her birth in Singapore, composer, saxophonist, and vocalist Caroline Davis’s music covers a wide range of styles, owed to her shifting environment as a child. Davis is active as both a side-person and a leader in a diverse set of music communities (jazz, improvised music, modern classical, R&B, folk). Davis has worked with Lee Konitz, Angelica Sanchez, The Femme Jam, Matt Mitchell, Terry Riley, Miles Okazaki, and Billy Kaye, to name a few. Her collaborations include My Tree (with Ben Hoffmann) and Persona (with Rob Clearfield). As an educator, Caroline brings her unique knowledge of music and psychology to her teaching. She has been on the faculty at Litchfield Jazz Camp for 15 years, Stanford Jazz Institute for 6 years, and an educator at The New School, Northwestern University, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia College, University of Texas at Arlington, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Sarah Elizabeth Charles (vocals)

Sarah Elizabeth Charles is a vocalist, composer and teaching artist based in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked with artists such as Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Ajoyo, Jesse Fischer, George Cables, Geri Allen and Sheila Jordan and has released four critically acclaimed albums with her band SCOPE. In addition to her performance work, Charles is an active educator as well. She works as a lead teaching artist with Carnegie Hall’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility Musical Connections workshop, has a private lessons studio in New York City, is an adjunct professor at The New School for Jazz/College of Performing Arts and has developed an early childhood music education program with a non-profit organization in Haiti.
Marquis Hill (trumpet)

From his beginnings as one of Chicago’s most thrilling young trumpeters, to his current status as an internationally renowned musician, composer, and bandleader, Marquis Hill has worked tirelessly to break down the barriers that divide musical genres. Contemporary and classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house, neo-soul—to Hill, they’re all essential elements of the profound African American creative heritage he’s a part of. That mission to bring styles together, complemented by Hill’s absolute mastery of his instrument, is a through line connecting his many achievements. It marks the four records Hill self-released before November 2014, when he won the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz competition and became a presence on the global scene virtually overnight. And it defines the revelatory live dates by Hill’s longtime working group, the Blacktet, which the Chicago Tribune called “a remarkably polished, immensely attractive ensemble.” Hill earned his bachelor’s in music education from Northern Illinois University and his master’s in jazz pedagogy from DePaul University. He maintains a nonstop touring schedule with artists such as Makaya McCraven or Kurt Elling as well as his own group. Hill also works as a lecturer at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Wendy Eisenberg (guitar)

Wendy Eisenberg is an improviser and songwriter who uses guitar, pedals, the tenor banjo, the computer, the synthesizer and the voice. Their work spans genres, from jazz to noise to avant-rock to delicate songs; their performances span venues, from international festivals to intimate basements. Though often working solo as both a songwriter and improviser, with acclaimed releases on Tzadik, VDSQ, Out of your Head, and Garden Portal, they also perform in the rock band Editrix, and in endless other combinations of their heroes and peers including Allison Miller, Carla Kihlstedt, John Zorn, Billy Martin, and Caroline Davis. They are also a writer on music and other things, with published essays on music in Sound American, Arcana, and the Contemporary Music Review.
Mike King (piano)

Michael King, of Chicago, Illinois, began playing drums in his church band at age four. At 14, he transitioned to the piano and organ and began learning the instruments by ear. As a student at Chicago’s Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, he was selected to participate in the prestigious Ravinia Jazz Scholars program and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz National Performing Arts High Schools initiative. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, King has performed with Bobby Watson, Kevin Eubanks, Dave Liebman, Gary Bartz, Billy Hart, Rufus Reid and many others. He appears regularly on stages around the world with major artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Robin Eubanks, Theo Croker and Melissa Aldana.
Rashaan Carter (bass)

Rashaan Carter grew up in the Washington D.C. area. It was there, with the nurturing of his father (a saxophonist), and his mother (a jazz radio programmer), Rashaan forged an interest in music. After stints with various instruments, the bass became the voice for his musical expression. Rashaan worked and gained experience in the local scene in Washington D.C. and after high school, moved to New York City to attend the New School University. At the New School, Rashaan studied with Buster Williams and Reggie Workman. While attending the New School he also began to work with many of the faculty including Joe Chambers and Jimmy Owens, among others. Since moving to New York Rashaan has become entrenched in the jazz scene and has worked with Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller and Louis Hayes, Wallace Roney, Marc Cary, Cindy Blackman, Doug and Jean Carn, Antoine Roney, Sonny Simmons, and many more. He’s also studied with one of his prime influences, Ron Carter. Rashaan regularly performs with a myriad of artists in and outside of New York and can be found on various recordings as well.
Eliza Salem (drums)

Eliza Salem is an in-demand drummer, educator and composer currently based in Brooklyn, New York. As a multi-faceted musician, Eliza tries to explore and reach across the many domains of creative music. Bridging deep grooves and swing, diasporic traditions, song, and colorful improvisatory spaces. Eliza strives to embody empathy, honesty, and patience in every musical and artistic context. This philosophy has allowed them to seek out, learn from, and grow alongside some of New York’s most esteemed and truthful improvisers and artists. They have played in acclaimed performance spaces locally and nationally. Since moving to New York, Eliza has taken part in multiple national and international tours including Caroline Davis’s Alula throughout the United States and Australia, and also toured with the Marta Sánchez in India. Eliza received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan in 2021 and is also an alumnus of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, a selective program focused on composition led by Rufus Reid, Steve Wilson, and Billy Childs.
Hans Ermel (bass)

Jazz Workshop: Theory (basic level)
Band Workshops
Hans Ermel was born in Eggiwil, Emmental in 1971, studied at the Jazzschule Luzern with Heiri Känzig but also took classes for classical double bass with Béla Szèdlak. He attended workshops in Switzerland and abroad with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Miroslav Vitous, Marc Johnson, Ray Anderson und Dave Liebman. Hans Ermel is involved in various projects, including ‚Die Vier Tenöre‘, Padre Padrone, 007 Only. He is also a member of different classical ensembles (Ensemble 7) and was part of musical- und theater productions (Der kleine Horrorladen, Evita, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, West Side Story). Hans Ermel was born in Eggiwil, Emmental in 1971, studied at the Jazzschule Luzern with Heiri Känzig but also took classes for classical double bass with Béla Szèdlak. He attended workshops in Switzerland and abroad with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Miroslav Vitous, Marc Johnson, Ray Anderson und Dave Liebman. Hans Ermel is involved in various projects, including ‚Die Vier Tenöre‘, Padre Padrone, 007 Only. He is also a member of different classical ensembles (Ensemble 7) and was part of musical- und theater productions (Der kleine Horrorladen, Evita, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, West Side Story).
Christoph Siegenthaler (piano)

Junior Jazz Workshop Orchestra
Band Workshops
Christoph studied performance and educational science with William Evans (amongst others) at the Hoschschule der Künste Bern, Swiss Jazz School. He participated in master classes with musicians such as Michael Brecker, Bruce Barth, Art Lande, Paul McCandless, Darmon Meader, Ernie Watts, Janek Gwizdala, Bill Cobham und Enrico Pieranunzi. He is very comfortable with playing Jazz, however is also at home playing Pop, Rock and Soul music. He plays at numerous festival and club tours in Switzerland and abroad.
Rolf Häsler (sax)

Junior Jazz Workshop Orchestra
Band Workshops
Rolf Häsler was born in 1962 in Interlaken and started playing the clarinet when he was 10 years old. 3 years later he added the saxophone. 1989 he graduated from the Swiss Jazz School Bern where he studied with Andy Scherrer. He participated in workshops with Dick Oatts, Jerry Bergonzi, Hannibal, Don Menza, Sal Nistico, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, George Gruntz, Chris Hunter. He is teaching saxophone and clarinet at the music schools Oberland Ost and Region Thun. He is the responsible for the jazz workshop Interlaken and the jazz band of the gymnasium Interlaken. Leader of the Second Line Big Band, Big Band Musikschule Region Thun (1999-2011). He has plaid with musicians such as Joe Haider, Günther Kühlwein, Tim Hagans, Ron Mc Clure, Steve Fishwick, Steve Brown, Margie Evans, Gene Mighty Flea Connors, William Evans, Thomas Moeckel, Bruno Spoerri, Umberto Arlatti, Lars Lindvall, Mr. Blue and others.
Ivo Prato (sax)

Sax instrumental class basic level
Junior Jazz Workshop: playing theory, band workshops
Ivo Prato lives in Bern and has been working as a musician and music teacher since 1988. Initially a clarinettist, he studied saxophone at the Swiss Jazz School (HKB/BFH). He is open to different styles of music and plays several instruments in various formations, bands and projects. He was employed at a music school for over 16 years and now offers courses at the University of Arts. He has been teaching at the international Jazz Workshop Langnau Jazz Nights since 2008 and at the Jazzworkshop Interlaken since 2017.
Marianne Keel (vocals)

Junior Jazz Workshop Orchestra
Band Workshops
Marianne Keel was born in 1979 in Bern. She studied jazz singing at the Basel University of Music, Department of Jazz with Susanne Abbuehl and Lisette Spinnler. In 2007 she successfully completed with a teaching diploma. She was the winner of a scholarship from the Friedl-Wald-Foundation. In 2005 she spent half a year in Copenhagen and took singing lessons with Josefine Cronholm. She took lessons in composition and arrangement with Araxi Karnusian. Her musical spectrum ranges from jazz and pop to baroque crossover projects and makes her an exciting singer in various stylistic projects. In 2012 her debut album with her band "Marianne's Bag" was released by Meta Records. She is a vocal and choral conductor at the Oberemmental Music School.
Niculin Christen (piano)

Responsible Takeoff Concerts
Born in 1981 in Thun. He graduated from the Hochschule für Musik Basel where he studied piano with Hans Feigenwinter and Malcom Braff. Exchange year at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, classes with Karel Bouhle.
His sound spectrum goes from Jazz to Pop even to Klezmer. For the past few year he has started to play the Akkordon which makes him an in demand musician for many different projects. Current projects: Bait Jaffe Klezmerorchester, Matthias Siegrist, Little Pocket.
Pius Baschnagel (drums)

Drums instrumental class basic level
Band Workshops
Born 1970, lives in Zurich, educated in Los Angeles CA.
Kulturförderungspreis of the City of Illnau-Effretikon 2004
Teaching rhythm and drums at the ZHdK
Performances with Joshua Redman, Barbara Dennerlein, NDR Bigband, Benny Golson, Daniel Powter, Till Brönner, Chico Freeman, Rhoda Scott, Scott Robinson, George Gruntz, Franco Ambrosetti, Benny Bailey, Swiss Army Big Band, Jimmy Woode, Nubya, Picason, Swiss Jazz Orchestra and others.
Bands: Zurich Jazz Orchestra, Herbie Kopf, Marianne Racine, Müller-Kramis-Baschnagel, Christoph Grab's Reflections
Own projects: Baschnagel Group, P. B. s Latinworld, Pius' Latinchoice
Festivals: Drumfestival Switzerland, Art on Ice, Caliente, Jazz no Jazz, Willisau, Schaffhausen
Tours abroad: Lithuania, Greece, Greece, Oman, Israel, Germany, China, Holland, Romania, the Netherlands, Ukraine