Music
The Groove
A Swing Band for everyone who likes to bounce.
With their 2025 show “Take three Swing-Outs and dance a Circle for free”, The Groove Merchants set out to bring lots of joy to Swing Music audiences and dancers.
Their sound reminds us of the good old Big Bands, while bringing the fresh taste of the band’s arrangers to live. A mixture of “pre-owned music”, highly inspired by Count Basie with surprising turns and original compositions. Relaxed, for those that enjoy mid-tempo Lindy, with great soloists and the frequent outburst of fast and hot.
Think of The Groove Merchants as six Jazz musicians that came to town in order to sell you on some grooves. Their deal is easy. They play - you dance - your beloved Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Shim Sham, Jam Circle and more.
Band
The Merchants
The Groove Merchants were founded by Stefan Funk and Stefan Kreuscher end of 2024. They write the music for the band in tandem and try to get the Merchants in close position to deliver the sound that makes you want to move. All Merchants share a musical friendship that dates way back, playing in various small ensembles and Big Bands.
Photo credit: Peter Kiefer Fotografie. Thanks Pete!
Frank Zeller
Trumpet
Frank loves to serve aerials and good vibes
Playing Big Band, Jazz, Pop, and touring with the Rodgau Monotones all over Germany, he just loves making listeners and colleagues smile.
Hanko Uphoff
Guitar
Hanko harmonizes the backbeat for your pleasure
He can also be heard in Frankfurt with various ensembles, as a solo artist, and with NuANCE, serving bass lines, chords and melodies.
Markus May
Drums
Markus brings you plenty of 6 and 8 count
Playing for Lindy Hoppers since the 2010s, he can also be heard with the Brasstime Big Band, where he also recorded a swing dance video for Vecona Vintage, and playing Funk-Rock with Jazzid in the Rhein Main area.
Savas Bayrak
Saxophone
Savas makes you change places into another world
A swing monster who also enjoys outside turns, he can be found teaching Saxophone, Jazz Improvisation & Ensemble at the Frankfurter Musikwerkstatt and at Waggong e.V. and be heard with his own ensemble.
Stefan Funk
Trombone
Stefan brings his love for Lindy Hop to the band
Balancing tension and release between music and swing dance, he can also be heard with NuANCE and various Jam Bands around Frankfurt. When not playing the bone, you might find him dancing Lindy Hop at socials or honing his Shag skills, which he just got started with.
Stefan Kreuscher
Upright Bass
Stefan’s swinging pulse makes you clap on 2 & 4
He can also be heard at the English Theatre Frankfurt, Brüder Grimm Festspiele Hanau and other places in the Rhein Main area playing musicals. He regularly dives into the world of chansons with the charming trio Esprit De Paris and goes Indie Rock with Reverend Schulzz.
Name
The bands name was derived from Groove Merchant (a Jazz record label with artists like Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich), as well as the song Groove Merchant by Jerome Richardson from the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. Listen to their incredible version, that is so intensely swinging while rooted in a sound and arrangement that reminds us, that swing dance consist of improvisation and surprise (just wait for the bass solo :) ).
Contact
You would like to book The Groove Merchants for one of your events? Just drop a few lines and let us know what you are up to.
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