Klaus brother

Klaus Bruder (born September 12, 1958 in Oppenau ; † April 22, 1995 in Kirchzarten ) was a German accordionist , jazz musician and composer .

life and work

Klaus Bruder was born in Oppenau in the Black Forest and studied at the Musikhochschule in Karlsruhe. His cosmopolitan musical versatility was decisively shaped by his years of playing with the quintet of the Sinti musician Titi Winterstein in the 1980s. An important musical collaboration linked him with the double bass player Florian Henschel , which resulted in two congenial duo productions. Caravan (1989) not only redefines the value of this unusual duo line-up for jazz, but also the interpreted standards sound in a previously unheard polyphonic density and lively lightness.

In 1988, on the Freie Strasse in Basel, Bruder met the musician and Menuhin student Volker Biesenbender , with whom he had a close musical partnership until his death. The Avodah trio , consisting of Klaus Bruder (accordion), Volker Biesenbender (violin) and Florian Henschel (double bass, from 1990 double bass Wolfgang Fernow ) released two highly acclaimed records with European folk and art music in 1988 and 1990. The trio has performed throughout Europe since 1988, including at Yehudi Menuhin's summer concerts in Gstaad and together with Menuhin at a television concert in Manchester in 1988. Musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grappelli admired and valued Klaus Bruder's interpretations.

Musically, Klaus Bruder moved stylishly between jazz, classical and free avant-garde on his Hohner. In addition to the technical brilliance that makes him stand next to Richard Galliano or Dino Saluzzi , his interpretations are characterized by a captivating contrapuntal and rhythmic variety, harmonious colors and precisely designed improvisations. The tonal possibilities of the instrument are explored to the limit.

The solo album Sheng, for example, logically combines homages to Piazzolla and Jimi Hendrix with studies on blues, klezmer and the Chinese mouth organ Sheng. The shimmering sounds in the treble, which in places make the piece Sheng almost disappear into nothing, and earthy, sometimes almost brutal clusters in the lower registers in Tribute to Jimi make Sheng one of the most innovative sound designs for the accordion to date, which is still not outdated today is unparalleled in the current accordionist landscape.

In addition to his work as a soloist, duo and trio partner, Bruder played as a musical partner in cabaret programs with the actress Sibylle Birkenmeier .

In 1995 Klaus brother died of cancer.

Productions (selection)

• Djinee Tu Kowa Ziro , 1985, with the Titi Winterstein Quintet
• Live with Vanessa and Sorba , 1987, with the Titi Winterstein Quintet
• Violacord , 1986, with the violinist Antonin Ukleja
• à deux , 1987, with Florian Henschel
• Caravan , 1989, with Florian Henschel
• Avodah , 1988, with the Trio Avodah
• Live on WDR , 1990, with the Trio Avodah
• Sheng , 1992, solo recording
• Moment , 1994, with Wolfgang Fernow (double bass)

Web links

• www.klausbruder.net