Axel Zwingenberger, Boogie Woogie Pianist
Home   For Promotors   Shop   Links DeutschEnglish
Axel Zwingenberger: A stage. A man at the piano. The music: boogie woogie
News | Tour Dates | Axel Zwingenberger | Axel's Music | Photography & Trains | Contact
Axel Zwingenberger
 
 

 

 

 

 

Axel Zwingenberger's hobby

are steam engines!


Axel Zwingenberger has been fascinated by steam engines since his early childhood. When he received his first camera at the age of ten, his second film was already filled with photos of these steel dragons. Railway stations were visited at any possible occasion, and if his parents' car had to stop and wait for a passing train at a closed barrier, he felt it was a lucky coincidence. When he was still in school, he set up an archive of his self-processed black and white photos, which still create enthusiastic reactions today amongst his railway friends.


This »old love« has never vanished since then, although it moved a bit into the background when boogie woogie piano hit him in his late teens. For a couple of years his interest switched almost completely from loco sheds to jazz clubs and concert halls.
There were only scarce nostalgic train trips, which thrilled him almost as much as the old times at the tracks. By the end of the 1980s, Axel's interest in train photography returned. After the decline of the Iron Curtain, many steam engines that operated in the former East Germany, suddenly became accessible and could be experienced »live«. Soon, Axel bought a large scale camera and started to take night images with sophisticated flash installations.


His table top picture book »Vom Zauber der Züge« (»The magic of trains«) shows about 200 of these images. Meanwhile, it became the best ever selling train book of its category in Germany.


In order to help steam engines to be presented in full running order for the future, Axel Zwingenberger co-founded the company Dampf Plus GmbH, which carried out the restoration of several engines. This company organizes special trips and cultural events on rails, like exhibitions, concerts in loco sheds and trains, etc. Moreover, Axel shaped the concept of the »Konzertexpress« ("Concert Express"), a musical festival on rails, which successfully made its debut in 2004.


In 2006, Axel Zwingenberger set up a non-profit foundation for the preservation of monuments on rails including the fastest operable steam engine in the world, No. 18 201.


Although his profession allows him only limited time for his hobby due to touring and performing, he likes to take a seat at his small model railroad, letting a few trains turn at the table, or, even more favorably, takes an entire day out  aboard a steam powered express train!


© Eva Hennigs 2008



»Boogie Woogie Session '76 - live in Vienna« The Complete Recordings

»Boogie Woogie Session '76 - live in Vienna« The Complete Recordings

New release of a legend: digi box with 2 CDs plus one DVD:
Axel Zwingenberger with Hans-Georg Moeller, Martin Pyrker, Torsten Zwingenberger and Vince Weber

only € 29,99 including VAT
plus shipping
buy now   details


to top     print page

 
Imprint | Data Protection | Webdesign: SMP media