Hamilton de Holanda, the distinguished Brazilian expert on the bandolim, a kind of mandolin, immerses Kühn’s clarinet in Latin-sounding melancholy. Albrecht Mayer, international classical star and solo oboist with the Berlin Philharmonic, provides a fascinating angle with his highly sensitive playing and the rich facets of his art. Asja Valčić, the outstanding Croatian cellist, contributes her impressive, classical virtuosity and daring improvisation, as she races frantically through the notes with Kühn. Christian Lillinger, the exceptional percussionist with the Rolf Kühn Unit, adds his wild groove to the mix and – like Berlin bassist Oliver Potratz – accentuates the tense dynamic mood. Ed Motta, heavyweight Brazilian singer and megastar in his homeland, brings out his baritone to sound like a synthesizer suffering voltage fluctuations, breathing and scatting resounding word scraps into Kühn’s compositions. And as if that were not enough, Rolf's famous younger brother, pianist Joachim Kühn, weighs in with his inimitable style of playing, his rhythmic soul.

The special attraction of these 13 Spotlights emanates from the extraordinary combination of instruments and styles, and above all from the fact that a group of virtuoso artists from very different musical backgrounds have come together to participate in a a project very close to their hearts.

"I have known my little big brother Joachim for over 70 years, have been friends with Albrecht for so long; I only got to know Asja, Ed and Hamilton personally last year – and despite the fact that we are all so different, I believe there is nothing more wonderful than making music with old and new soul mates," enthuses the jazz clarinettist.

Rolf Kühn was declared Leipzig’s child prodigy on the clarinet at the age of 17. That was the first time he heard the music which would be the driving force in his life: jazz! Fired by curiosity and a spirit of adventure, Rolf Kühn packed his bags and his clarinet at 26, and plunged headlong into the shark pool of jazz: New York, where he heard Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane in the clubs. He knew he wanted what they had got; he reached for the stars. The young German was soon playing with legends like Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and Billie Holiday, and was taken on to play in the Benny Goodman Band.

Today, a whole 60 years later, Rolf Kühn is acknowledged as an icon of European jazz: a musical crossover artist who has inspired generations of young artists. One of the few really influential soloists on his instrument, whose recordings have been listened to around the world. After receiving the German Record Critics’ Honorary Prize in 2009, and the ECHO Award for Lifetime Achievement (2011), he was awarded another ECHO this year as Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year for his MPS album "Rolf Kühn Unit: Stereo", proving yet again that he is looking forward!