Karolina Strassmayer

Karolina Strassmayer (born February 23, 1971 in Mitterndorf , Styria ) is an Austrian jazz musician ( alto and soprano saxophone , flute ).

Life

Strassmayer comes from a music-influenced family, she learned the piano and the flute. At the age of 17, she discovered jazz through improvising Cannonball Adderley on Kind of Blue . She studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz with Karl Drewo and played in the folk fusion group Rauhnacht . After graduating, she won a scholarship to the New School for Social Research in New York City , where she was "Outstandig Musician of the Year".

She then stayed in New York and worked regularly in the band of Chico Hamilton , on whose CDs she participated. She received top reviews for her solos on saxophone and flute. She also accompanied Nancy Wilson and Diane Schuur and played with Clark Terry , Phil Woods , Claudio Roditi , Ray Anderson , Herbie Mann , Frank Wess and the Duke Ellington Orchestra . She was a member of the Diva Jazz Orchestra , an all-women big band. Strassmayer also leads her own quartet (CD KLARO!) Together with her husband, drummer Drori Mondlak , and plays in the quintet 5 Play (CD On the Brick ) made up of diva musicians by drummer Sherrie Maricle . Since 2004 she has been the first woman to be a permanent member of the WDR Big Band Cologne .

In 2004, Strassmayer was also named "Top Five Alto Saxophonist" of the year by the American jazz magazine Downbeat .