EASY GOIN‘
EASY GOIN‘ is a group of international musicians from the Ivory Coast, Germany, Israel, Cuba, Colombia and India, formed in Berlin in 1997.
All band members contribute their compositions and ideas. At the concerts, it is a pleasure to hear the band’s lively style and accomplished solos.
Originally arranged classics are mixed with their own compositions. The varied repertoire of Jazz Classics, Bossa Nova, Afro, Reggae, Pop, Rhythm & Blues and own songs promises an exciting concert experience.
Particularly characteristic are the three female singers, who alternate and complement each other harmoniously through skilful vocal delivery.
With a stylish appearance and a wealth of musical ideas, EASY GOIN‘ fascinates at concerts, galas and festivals.
Vocal
Djatou Touré
Djatou Touré, singer from the Ivory Coast, has a deep, sonorous, soulful voice. Her repertoire ranges from the traditional songs of West Africa to Blues, Gospel, Pop and her own compositions, which gently tell the universal stories of love, passion and suffering.
In her shows she renders original self composed pop songs, African Highlife and raggae as well as cover versions of popular Miriam Makeba tunes and other international songs.
She studied music in Ecole Nationale des Arts in the Ivory Coast.
Notable accomplishments include: winning international song contests in the Ivory Coast and at the Berlin Karneval der Kulturen. Djatou has performed with internationally recognized musicians and bands, both in concert and in studio productions. For the film production of Falling Rocks, she sang the title song.
Djatou actively works for human rights with a special commitment to lending a voice to the suffering of women caused by genital mutilation. Here she supports the work of the Red Cross with the song, “Heartbeat of Africa”. She was also featured in the documentary movie, “Schnitt ins Leben” on ARTE, as well as performing at the Human Rights Festival in Vienna.
Flute/Vocal
Maja Joel
Maja Joel devotes her attention to various musical styles, including Jazz, Latin, blues, African music, experimental music, flamenco, as well as chanson.
She has been working as a voice actress in television series, cartoons and for documentaries since 1987.
As a background singer, she has had engagements at soul and gospel concerts for Queen Yahna, Martin Moss, the Berlin band „Power Unit“, and at comedy shows for the „Ades Zabel & Company“ at the BKA Theater in Berlin, among others.
Maja Joel was a member of the multi media show „Genetic Drugs Radio“ (winner of the German Rock Award, Berlin 1987).
She participated in studio productions for Cornelia and Reggie Moore (pianist, music arranger, lecturer at the Jazz Institute Berlin). The versatile New York musician Reggie Moore has been Maja’s musical companion and mentor for many years until today.
Maja Joel has performed as a guest musician with the jazz ensemble „Cross-Continental Spirit“ under the direction of New York saxophonist Ray Blue (since 2004 until today) and with Paul Morocco’s flamenco comedy show „Olé“ (2016 + 2020 Tipi Berlin). With composer and guitarist Andrew Ihring she gave numerous concerts as a duo (1987-1995). She was a studio musician for the singer and composer Mavin for the CD production „Love“, 2018 Random Records.
Since 2013 she has been giving instrumental and music lessons at the music-oriented „Gemeinschaftsschule auf dem Campus Rütli“ in Berlin-Neukölln, here all students learn an instrument of their choice, receive basic musical training and perform annually at the Berlin Philharmonic.
Maja Joel is the initiator of numerous musical projects in various formations.
She has a warm, multi-faceted and expressive voice and is convincing in her interpretations of Jazz classics, bossa nova and chansons.
As a flutist, she makes an impact with her wonderful tone, virtuoso playing and inspired improvisations.
Maja Joel studied music at the Berlin University of the Arts, majoring in classical flute and music education. In addition, she was trained at the Berlin University of the Arts in voice training, role study, and as a singer.
Guitar /Vocal
Veronika Vogel
Veronika Vogel, guitarist, singer, composer and songwriter is internationally known for her Blues, Funk, Bossa Nova and Jazz style.
Through her travels in India and studies in Freiburg, Berlin and London (Goldsmith College) with musicians from all over the world, she has developed an open ear for various music styles, leading her to also master the Saz.
She also trained and works as a music teacher for guitar and voice at Musikschule City West in Berlin.
She uses her emotive, clear voice, which was classically trained, to brilliantly interpret Jazz classics and Bossa Nova. On the guitar she accompanies and does solo work in various styles ranging from: Funk, Blues, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Pop Rock, Afro and Kurdish music.
She has toured with bands in Switzerland, France, Morocco, US, Israel, Hong Kong, Egypt, London and Edinburgh as well as on cruise ships.
Piano
Tal Balshai
Tal Balshai, piananist, composer and arranger from Israel, studied classical music in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Berlin and New York.
His accomplishments include: producing the contemporary Israeli music for the chamber music ensemble “Karpizma”; composing stage music for the acrobatic show “Vivace” in New York-Broadway; reinterpretting Friedrich Heymann’s lost score for the 1927 silent movie “Der große Sprung”, as well as accompanying live on piano the performance of the film; and producing and releasing his CD “Ein halbes Leben” in 2014—to name a few.
Of special interest to him is the music of Jewish composers forced to leave Germany in 1933. He has made new arrangements of their work and performs them at festivals like the Salzburger Festspiele, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Berliner Ensemble, Deutschen Theater and other prominent venues.
As a Jazz pianist he combines classical precision with lively, creative improvisation, regardless of the genre.
Bass
Ramani Krishna
Born and raised in Bangalore, India, Ramani Krishna started out playing guitar in church, before picking up the bass and paying his dues in hotels & clubs. He began his professional music career in 1982, playing western pop music in Eilat, Israel. In 1984 he moved to Egypt and worked his way into the Egyptian & Nubian top forty music industry, as a session and touring player performing all over the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and Japan. He moved to Berlin, Germany, in 1995 where he has since been a freelance bass player. His performance credits include Maynard Ferguson, Gary Wiggins, John Lee Hooker Jr., Mike Russell, Greg Phillinganes, Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett, Tina Tandler, Aly Keita & Donna Brown.
Saxophone
Regis Molina
Regis Molina is a musician and composer from Havana / Berlin.
Since the age of nine, when he began his classical training, his primary instrument has been the alto saxophone. Now a multi-instrumentalist, he plays the baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet and Afro-Cuban percussion as well.
Based on Cuban traditional rhythms and Jazz, his playing style is flexible, with strong improvisation skills in any genre, be it World Music, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Soul or Pop.
His passion and dedication to music has seen him receive several awards as well as share the stage and the studio worldwide with several renowned musicians and bands, such as Ojos de Brujo, Aloe Blacc, Jimi Tenor, Tony Allen, Chucho Valdez, Stars of Buena Vista Social Club, Afrocuban Allstars, Helene Fischer and Samy DeLuxe.
Drums
Javier Reyes
Javier Reyes was born in Bogotá, Colombia. From 1995 to 2000 he studied music at the University Javeriana. The first three years of his studies he concentrated on classical percussion. He then switched to jazz studies and graduated with honors in 2000.
After graduating, Javier Reyes was immediately hired as a lecturer in percussion at the University Javeriana and the University Bosque, also in Bogotá. In 2003, the drummer moved to Berlin to expand his jazz knowledge and studied at the Jazz Institute Berlin (Hans Eisler/UDK), where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2008, majoring in percussion/music education with honors. The following year, Reyes also successfully completed his master’s degree with a focus on composition at the Jazz Institute Berlin. Since 2009, he has been teaching percussion and ensemble at the Jazz Institute Berlin. Since 2020, he has been teaching in the School Music Department at the UdK.
He has played in Germany and worldwide with various bands:
Tree-O, David Riano’s Ambrodavi, Viktor Wolf’s Panorama Peng, Easy Goin‘, Twana Rhodes, Marie Séférian Quartet (in 2009 the band won first prize at the Berlin Jazz Prize), Tobias Morgenstern’s Morgenstern vom Ipanema, Itay Dvori, and with international saxophonist Peter Weniger (performances in Montenegro, Pakistan). As a highlight, he played with Samuel Torres (Richard Bonna, Arturo Sandoval, Lilia Downs, Shakira) and with David Gilmore (Steve Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Joss Stone).
Javier Reyes performed with the Detroit jazz band Tribe in 2009 (with great musicians such as Wendell Harrison (saxophones), Phil Randelin (trombone) and Marcus Belgrave (trumpet), the latter known for his work with Ray Charles) at the Jazz à la Villete jazz festival in Paris. In 2013, Javier performed with great success in the world premiere of the Brazilian bed opera „Opera do Malandro“ at the Neukölln Opera House.
Javier has also performed with the famous German actress and singer Katja Ebstein.
The great passion and creativity that Javier Reyes conveys in his playing is what distinguishes his playing and makes him irreplaceable in any of these bands.