Roger Cicero
Encyclopedia
Roger Marcel Cicero Ciceu (born July 6, 1970 in Berlin
) is a German
jazz
musician and the son of the Romania
n pianist Eugen Cicero.
when he was 18, where he received coaching in piano, guitar and singing. Between 1989 and 1992, he appeared alongside the Horst Jankowski Trio, the Eugen Cicero Trio (his father’s group) as well as with the Bundesjugendjazzorchester (German Youth Jazz Orchestra), which was then directed by Peter Herbolzheimer. From 1991 to 1996 he studied jazz singing at the Amsterdam Academy of Arts (Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten) at Hilversum
. Since then, he has been a guest singer with the groups Jazzkantine
and Soulounge with whom he took part in the Montreux Jazz Festival
. In 2003 he founded the Roger Cicero Quartet, as well as continuing to perform with his eleven-piece big band. His style is predominantly that of 1940s and 1950s swing music, combined with German lyrics.
In 2006, Cicero was involved with the album Good Morning Midnight by jazz pianist Julia Hülsmann, and released his first solo album Männersachen in May of the same year. Working alongside thirteen composers (predominantly Matthias Haß and Frank Ramond), his music has an unusual composition. "Schieß mich doch zum Mond" is the German version of Frank Sinatra
’s classic "Fly Me to the Moon". The covered track "Zieh die Schuh aus" ("Take your shoes off"), which deals ironically with the battle of the sexes, reached number 71 in the German singles chart. The album Männersachen made it to number 3.
Cicero was Germany's participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
in Helsinki
but finished only 19th in the rankings. With his song Frauen regier'n die Welt
(Women rule the world) he won the preliminary decision in a competition against Monrose
and Heinz Rudolf Kunze
. Although he won with Frauen regier'n die Welt it peaked at number 7 in the hit parade; it stayed in the Top 10 for one week and dropped out of the Top 30 after four weeks.
On 7 July 2007 he performed at the German leg
of Live Earth
in Hamburg
.
On May 1, 2008 he became father to a son, Louis.
Cicero made his film debut in "Hilde" (2009) and received good notices for his performance as musician Ricci Blum. Directed by Kai Wessel, the film is a biography of the German singer and actress Hildegard Knef
, who is played by Heike Makatsch
. He appeared as the singing and speaking voice of Prince Naveen in "Küss den Frosch", the German dubbed version of The Princess and the Frog.
His third studio album, Artgerecht, was released on April 3, 2009. On March 20, 2009 the first single from the album, "Nicht Artgerecht", was released.
He was one of the participating artists at the concert in honor of the Dalai Lama in August 2009 in Frankfurt.
Cicero and his Big Band headlined at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on 12 July 2010. This performance introduced an English version of his song "Murphy's Gesetz" (“Murphy’s Law”), and “That you and I feeling”, a new version of his song, "Ich hab das Gefühl für dich verlor'n". The concert was recorded for a DVD, Roger Cicero - Live at Montreux 2010.
In October 2010 Cicero published a book, Weggefährten: Meine Songs fürs Leben (Companions: My Songs for Life ) reflections on songs that have personal meaning for him, revealing his memories associated with the songs, and exploring the history of the songs and their composers. The book describes Cicero’s youth in West Berlin, his musical studies in Holland, and a formative trip he made as a teenager with his father to his paternal family’s native Romania then under the rule of Ceauşescu’s government.
After appearing in promotional talks for Weggefährten at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Cicero toured in a series of concerts with his pianist and musical director Lutz Krajenski. The Roger Cicero Solo programme featured the duo performing songs from their albums, including jazz numbers Cicero and Krajenski recorded as part of the group After Hours. Along with swing and jazz, they showcased rock and soul songs in English and German, and presented new arrangements of “Every little thing she does is Magic”,”What’s Going On”, ”Let’s Stay Together” and Prince’s “Forever in My Life”. During some of the numbers, Cicero accompanied himself on piano and guitar. Reviews of the tour acclaimed Cicero and Krajenski’s virtuoso performance of Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo A La Turk”.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
) is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician and the son of the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n pianist Eugen Cicero.
Biography
He made his first appearance at the age of eleven supporting German singer Helen Vita. He appeared on television for the first time aged 16, alongside the RIAS-Tanzorchester, then under the direction of Horst Jankowski. Cicero joined the Hohner Conservatory in TrossingenTrossingen
Trossingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in a region called Baar, between the Swabian Alb and the Black Forest. Stuttgart is about an hour away, Lake Constance about half an hour, and the source of the river Danube can be reached in about twenty minutes by car.Trossingen...
when he was 18, where he received coaching in piano, guitar and singing. Between 1989 and 1992, he appeared alongside the Horst Jankowski Trio, the Eugen Cicero Trio (his father’s group) as well as with the Bundesjugendjazzorchester (German Youth Jazz Orchestra), which was then directed by Peter Herbolzheimer. From 1991 to 1996 he studied jazz singing at the Amsterdam Academy of Arts (Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten) at Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
. Since then, he has been a guest singer with the groups Jazzkantine
Jazzkantine
Inspired by Guru's Jazzmatazz project, the German formation Jazzkantine was founded in 1993 in Braunschweig. Their first album Jazzkantine won them the "Echo Award" in 1995, the most important German music prize....
and Soulounge with whom he took part in the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
. In 2003 he founded the Roger Cicero Quartet, as well as continuing to perform with his eleven-piece big band. His style is predominantly that of 1940s and 1950s swing music, combined with German lyrics.
In 2006, Cicero was involved with the album Good Morning Midnight by jazz pianist Julia Hülsmann, and released his first solo album Männersachen in May of the same year. Working alongside thirteen composers (predominantly Matthias Haß and Frank Ramond), his music has an unusual composition. "Schieß mich doch zum Mond" is the German version of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
’s classic "Fly Me to the Moon". The covered track "Zieh die Schuh aus" ("Take your shoes off"), which deals ironically with the battle of the sexes, reached number 71 in the German singles chart. The album Männersachen made it to number 3.
Cicero was Germany's participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
but finished only 19th in the rankings. With his song Frauen regier'n die Welt
Frauen regier'n die Welt
"Frauen regier'n die Welt" was Germany's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki....
(Women rule the world) he won the preliminary decision in a competition against Monrose
Monrose
Monrose was a German pop band, first established in November 2006. Formed on the fifth installment of the German adaption of the international television talent show Popstars on the ProSieben network, the trio consisted of singers and songwriters Mandy Capristo, Senna Guemmour, and Bahar...
and Heinz Rudolf Kunze
Heinz Rudolf Kunze
Heinz Rudolf Erich Arthur Kunze is a German writer and rock singer. His greatest hits were Dein ist mein ganzes Herz and Mit Leib und Seele in 1985 and 1986.- Biography :Kunze was born on 30 November 1956 in the refugee camp...
. Although he won with Frauen regier'n die Welt it peaked at number 7 in the hit parade; it stayed in the Top 10 for one week and dropped out of the Top 30 after four weeks.
On 7 July 2007 he performed at the German leg
Live Earth concert, Hamburg
The Live Earth concert in Germany was held at HSH Nordbank Arena, Hamburg on 7 July 2007.-Running order:In order of appearance:*Shakira - "Don't Bother", "Inevitable", "Dia Especial" with Gustavo Cerati, "Hips Don't Lie"...
of Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.
On May 1, 2008 he became father to a son, Louis.
Cicero made his film debut in "Hilde" (2009) and received good notices for his performance as musician Ricci Blum. Directed by Kai Wessel, the film is a biography of the German singer and actress Hildegard Knef
Hildegard Knef
Hildegard Frieda Albertine Knef was a German actress, singer and writer. She was billed in some English language films as Hildegard Neff or Hildegarde Neff.-Early years:...
, who is played by Heike Makatsch
Heike Makatsch
- Early life :Makatsch was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, the daughter of former German national ice hockey team goaltender Rainer Makatsch. She spent several months in New Mexico in 1988 in an effort to improve her English, and later studied politics and sociology at the University of Düsseldorf for...
. He appeared as the singing and speaking voice of Prince Naveen in "Küss den Frosch", the German dubbed version of The Princess and the Frog.
His third studio album, Artgerecht, was released on April 3, 2009. On March 20, 2009 the first single from the album, "Nicht Artgerecht", was released.
He was one of the participating artists at the concert in honor of the Dalai Lama in August 2009 in Frankfurt.
Cicero and his Big Band headlined at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on 12 July 2010. This performance introduced an English version of his song "Murphy's Gesetz" (“Murphy’s Law”), and “That you and I feeling”, a new version of his song, "Ich hab das Gefühl für dich verlor'n". The concert was recorded for a DVD, Roger Cicero - Live at Montreux 2010.
In October 2010 Cicero published a book, Weggefährten: Meine Songs fürs Leben (Companions: My Songs for Life ) reflections on songs that have personal meaning for him, revealing his memories associated with the songs, and exploring the history of the songs and their composers. The book describes Cicero’s youth in West Berlin, his musical studies in Holland, and a formative trip he made as a teenager with his father to his paternal family’s native Romania then under the rule of Ceauşescu’s government.
After appearing in promotional talks for Weggefährten at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Cicero toured in a series of concerts with his pianist and musical director Lutz Krajenski. The Roger Cicero Solo programme featured the duo performing songs from their albums, including jazz numbers Cicero and Krajenski recorded as part of the group After Hours. Along with swing and jazz, they showcased rock and soul songs in English and German, and presented new arrangements of “Every little thing she does is Magic”,”What’s Going On”, ”Let’s Stay Together” and Prince’s “Forever in My Life”. During some of the numbers, Cicero accompanied himself on piano and guitar. Reviews of the tour acclaimed Cicero and Krajenski’s virtuoso performance of Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo A La Turk”.
Albums
- 2003: The Essence Of A Live Event (with Soulounge)
- 2003: Jam It Up! (with Nils Gessinger)
- 2004: Home (with Soulounge)
- 2005: There I go (by After Hours and Roger Cicero)
- 2005: Sunrise & Rainbow, Song: Can You Feel It (Rivera Rotation)
- 2006: Good Morning Midnight (with Julia Hülsmann)
- 2006: Changing Colours, Song: The Look Into Your Eyes (Matthias Vogt Trio)
- 2006: Männersachen (GER #3, AUT #58, SWI #96)
- 2007: Beziehungsweise
- 2009: Artgerecht
- 2009: A Tribute to Die Fantastischen Vier, Song: Geboren
- 2011: In Diesem Moment
Singles
- 2006: Zieh die Schuh aus (GER #71)
- 2006: So geil Berlin
- 2006: Ich atme ein (GER #74)
- 2006: Murphys Gesetz (Promo Single)
- 2007: Frauen regier'n die Welt (GER #7, AUT #51, SWI #64)
- 2007: Guess who rules the world (Online Single)
- 2007: Die Liste
- 2007: "Bin heute Abend bei dir" (Online Single)
- 2008: "Wovon träumst du nachts?" (Online Single)
- 2008: "Alle Möbel verrückt" live
- 2009: "Nicht Artgerecht"
- 2009: "Seine Ruhe"
- 2010: "Tabu"
- 2011: "In Diesem Moment"
DVDs
- 2007: Roger Cicero: Männersachen Live! (Recorded on Feb. 18th, 2007 in Frankfurt/Main)
- 2008: Roger Cicero - Beziehungsweise Live (Recorded on Feb. 13, 2008 in Berlin)
- 2010: Roger Cicero - Live at Montreux 2010 (Recorded on July 12, 2010 at the Montreux Jazz Festival)
Films
- 2009: Hilde
- 2009: Küss den Frosch (German dubbed version of "the Princess and the Frog")
Books
- 2010: Weggefährten. Meine Songs fürs Leben, Rowohlt, Berlin ISBN 978-3-499-62652-4.