Matthias Schriefl & Moving Krippenspielers

A fast-paced dance of grandiose Christmas songs, full of quotes, races through jazz history. (Sven Thielmann, WAZ)

You've probably never heard the well-known Christmas songs like this before. Sometimes a homely three-part song sounds, reminiscent of an Allgäu Christmas parlor with a warm wood stove. Then again two tubas groove with complementary drum beats and rock up to real city riffs. Boogie, gospel, Bach – pretty much anything is possible here. Five outstanding musicians stage a nativity play that is second to none.

Inspired by mischief and masterful craftsmanship, the Moving Nativity Players create a new version of the well-known Christmas story that leaves plenty of room for creativity and interaction on stage. Around thirty instruments, Christmas carols, costumes, singing and a few folk dances – these are the ingredients for this timelessly new nativity play. Folk music meets jazz meets Balkan meets Calipso meets funk meets punk meets classical meets reggae meets disco beat meets avant-garde meets Dreigesang meets comedy. The result is anything but predictable – neither for the concertgoers nor for the performers. Their album “Moving Krippenplayers-Vol.1” was released in November 2019, and the next album is already in the works. (press release)

Since your great work, I know that a combination of Christmas and jazz can work... I wasn't sure before. (Andreas Felber)

With short dialogues, costumes and spontaneous actions, Schriefl's arrangements gradually develop into a total work of art that can best be experienced live. (Harald Holstein / Allgäuer Zeitung)

What eight jazz musicians, who know no boundaries either musically or in terms of content, come up with when they pursue the approach "The church must modernize itself" borders on note madness. (Bettina Schack)

Jazz fans laugh in tears at nativity comedy. (Sven Thielmann)

Yesterday's concert in Cologne was pure joy! Honest. Hand made. Funny. Quaint. Musically, oh brilliant anyway. Without complacency. Plastic pigs instead of ramp pigs. I have rarely laughed so much at a concert. You bring jazz to where it is (also) at home... "folk" songs (...) What you play is so refreshing and clever. And an inspiration to make more music again. Really thank you and keep it up!" after the concert in the Stadtgarten 2022, Johanna Alisch (young fan)

Program and cast

Matthias Schriefl: Trompete, Flügelhorn, Baritonsaxofon, Altsaxofon, Akkordeon, Alphorn, Posaune, Pikkolotrompete, Gesang
Anna Tropper-Lener: Violine, Keyboard, E-Bass, Gitarre, Blockflöte, Gesang
Simon Rummel: Viola, Keyboard, Klavier, Melodika, Euphonium, Blockflöte, Gesang
Johannes Bär: Tuba, Klarinette, Posaune, Euphonium, Trompete, Flügelhorn, Pikkolotrompete, Alphorn, Beatbox, Gesang
Philipp Zdebel: Schlagzeug, Gesang