Markus Hammer, born in Zurich in 1956, lives in Aarau, has been an indispensable member of the Jazzaar association board since 2013.

“Since my father introduced me to jazz music, I grew up with it. He often told me how in 1949 he had heard Louis Armstrong in concert in Zurich. I remember how we both whistled to jazz standards although I never learnt to play an instrument seriously in my younger years.
Luckily for the past 4 years I’ve been playing the drums together with four friends in a formation called the “Sultans of Jazz”.

I began attending the Jazzaar-Festival regularly in the 90’s as a member of the audience. I will never forget the evening with the Beatles Tribute Band.
All visitors stood up and sang all these well-known songs. Another unforgettable moment was when Dennis Montgomery III performed and sang “Oh Happy Day”. After this concert all spectators went home with a big and happy smile.

To give something back to Jazzaar after all those great moments, I volunteered and first became a driver, then a transport and logistics manager and finally a member of the association’s board.  This position gives me many opportunities to listen to the very best of Jazz and after a good concert performance to sit in and listen to the musicians tell each other stories from the world of jazz .

I will never forget these moments and I am very grateful to Helen and Fritz for all their efforts for the young musicians and jazz music.”