The Singers of Small Kingdom

Johanna Schneider

Johanna Schneider, originally from Bamberg, impresses with a musical maturity that goes far beyond her years. As an adventurous yet precise singer, she effortlessly moves between different genres. While deeply rooted in jazz tradition, she also enjoys pushing its boundaries and expanding it with her creative openness. Influenced by legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Schneider has developed her own distinctive style, blending elegant lyricism with fearless improvisation. Moreover, she embraces the challenge of exploring other musical styles, constantly proving her versatility.

Schneider has performed worldwide, including in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, the USA, Cyprus, Turkey, Finland, Estonia, France, and Ethiopia. Recently, she traveled to Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of the German Embassy. A two-time WDR Jazz Award winner, she was honored in 2013 as a member of the Youth Jazz Orchestra of North Rhine-Westphalia and again in 2021 as a co-founder of the feminist jazz collective PENG. She has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Rick Margitza, Kevin Mahogany, Ack van Rooyen, and Tony Lakatos. In addition to her stage work, Schneider is a board member of the German Jazz Union and serves as a jury and advisory board member for the German Jazz Award. In doing so, she shapes the contemporary jazz scene not only as an artist but also as a leading figure in German jazz.

Zamajobe

A recording contract followed. She worked on her debut album with friend and producer Eric Pilani, and the album Ndawo Yami was released in 2004. It earned Zama, still only 19 years old, the Best Newcomer award at the 2005 Samas. Ndawo Yami went on to dominate the charts, spawning no fewer than four hit singles. Audiences fell in love with her fresh fusion of Afro-jazz, soul and funk. It was followed in 2008 by Ndoni Yamanzi, which disappointed some of her fans. She released Trailblazer on independent TMP label in 2012. In 2013, to celebrate 10 years in the music industry, she released Journey, a compilation of her old songs, as well as four brand-new tracks.

The Band of Small Kingdom 2024/25

Ron Spielman (vocals, guitar)

Ron is a driven one: He travels the music world from singer / songwriter through folk, pop, jazz, blues to rock, letting him relax with his own music. He is one of the great unknown acquaintances of the German music scene. In Berlin, where he has lived for almost 15 years, his performances in changing formations have long enjoyed cult status.

is an award-winning composer, accomplished jazz pianist, and educator. He is currently a member of the Chaka Khan Band and has worked with renowned artists such as Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, and Trilok Gurtu. In 2007, he received the WDR Jazz Prize for Composition, with the jury praising him as a “remarkably mature talent” with a deep understanding of American jazz traditions.

Born into a musical journey, Milliner began violin lessons at the age of four. In 1983, he joined the Rheinische Musikschule in Cologne, where he initially focused on piano before adding bass as a second major. From 1992 to 1996, he studied jazz piano at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. He later pursued advanced studies in jazz composition at the Cologne University of Music (1998–2001) and film scoring and sound design at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (1996–1999). He also studied under Bob Mintzer and David Liebman at the Manhattan School of Music. In 2006, he earned his doctorate in Miami with a dissertation titled Exploring Musical Forms in Jazz.

Milliner’s innovative compositions often feature thematic sections presented a cappella by different instrumental groups, reflecting his distinctive approach to big band arrangements. He has also composed music for films.

In the fall of 2007, Milliner was appointed professor and head of the Jazz and Popular Music department at the Mainz School of Music. Since February 2011, he has served as vice rector of the institution.

June 2024 he performed with Chaka Khan at Tiny Desk Tiny Desk Concert.^[1]

Sebastian Peszko

is a multi-genre Violist, Violinist, Composer and Studio-Musician, based in Berlin, Germany, who started learning music from a young age. After graduating from the Royal College of Music in London and from the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he obtained his Master’s Diploma, he worked as a freelancer with different orchestras and chamber music ensembles.

He has performed and recorded with many international artists, bands and jazz ensembles like – Moka Efti Orchestra, Nightmares on Wax, Kurt Rosenwinkel,

Karin van Kooten (NL)

ist eine klassisch ausgebildete und breit orientierte improvisierende Geigerin mit eine große Leidenschaft für (Gipsy) Swing, Jazz sowie rumänische und ungarische Volksmusik.
Im Moment unterrichtet und tritt sie in verschiedenen Settings auf, sowie in ihrem eigenen Jazztrio. Außerdem ist sie Dozentin beim Grappelli-Django Camp in den Niederlanden.

Regis Molina (sax/flute)  

is a charismatic musician and composer from Havana, I’m working with for many years. Besides doing his visual portfolio, me and my camera are accompanying him to concerts, so that in the course of time I created an extensive archive of his work.

Andy Winter (drums and percussion)

The Austrian drummer Andy Winter received his musical education at the Vienna Conservatory and gave concerts early on with greats of the local scene such as Karl Ratzer, Harry Stojka, Wolfgang Puschnig, u.v.a. In 1988 he went to New York to study at the New School and has since worked with jazz musicians such as Larry Goldings, Brad Mehldau, Ron Carter, Mark Whitfield, Peter Bernstein, Scott Colley, Chris Potter, Ben Monder, Donny McCaslin, and others.

Lee Caspi (Cello)

started to play the cello when she was 6 years old. In 2012 she obtained her music degree at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University. During her studies she participated in international music masterclasses and was rewarded the America-Israel Cultural Organization Scholarship.

she also plays with international artists like: Michael Bublé, 2CELLOS, Sister Sledge, Lenny Williams, Odyssey, Donna Missal, and Helene Fischer

Andreas Henze (Double Bass)

studied at the music academy of the city of Kassel classical double bass. In addition to his busy activity as a theater musician at various institutions (Berliner Ensemble, Kurfürstendamm Theater, Kleines Theater, Schauspielhaus Hamburg) he traveled the world with many ensembles of different styles such as jazz, Latin American music and Singer / Songwriter.