Benjamin Schaefer: rhizome

Benjamin Schaefers’ concert series »rhizome« weaves together improvisational jazz with Korean Gugak music and Samulnori drumming into a unique sound fusion. On stage, live improvisations emerge using rare instruments such as the bamboo flute Daegeum and the Ondes Martenot, sounds that have never been heard before. The musicians—including Hyelim Kim, Friedrich Paravicini, Bo-Sung Kim, and Sun-Mi Hong—collaborate on equal terms, transparently sharing the creative process with the audience and integrating their feedback into further development.

This inclusive approach also shapes the accompanying school workshops: during intermissions and discussions, artists exchange ideas with young people about music, role models, and societal possibilities. Regardless of origin, age, or gender, young people receive impulses to explore artistic and professional paths beyond traditional patterns. The presence of female musicians on stage, in particular, opens up new perspectives.