Klaus Graf (musician)
Klaus Graf (born February 15, 1964 in Lauffen am Neckar ) is a German jazz saxophonist .
Life
Graf was a member of the Baden-Württemberg Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1985 (under the direction of Jiggs Whigham and Bernd Konrad ) and in 1986 (with the band Cornichon ) won first prize at the Baden-Württemberg Youth Jazz Competition . He then studied saxophone at the Cologne University of Music . In 1991 he was awarded the Baden-Wuerttemberg Jazz Prize and, as an alto player, was a permanent member of the SDR - Big Band . From 1991 Klaus Graf became a permanent member of the Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass . Since the merger of the SDR and SWF broadcasters, Klaus Graf has been lead alto saxophonist in the SWR Big Band in Stuttgart.
In 1993 Graf was a member of Mario Adorf's quintet and his personality show "Al Dente", played at the 1995 Montreux Jazz Festival with Chaka Khan and Phil Collins , and was on tour in 1996 with Ernst Mosch and his "Original Egerländer Musikanten". Since 1999 he has been leading the Daimler Big Band in Stuttgart. In 2000 he took part in a CD production by the pop band Pur . In addition to his own projects, he also played with Charly Antolini , with Thilo Wagner and with the big band and the quintet of Paul Kuhn . He has recorded jazz CDs under his own name and plays in a series of concerts by the Bobby Burgess Big Band Explosion . In 2008 he performed in Germany with Liza Minnelli and her New York band. In 2012 he becomes a member of the United Jazz + Rock Ensemble 2nd Generation with Wolfgang Dauner .
From 1994 on, Klaus Graf has been teaching at the Nuremberg University of Music , where he has been professor for jazz saxophone since 2002.
Graf is married and has two sons.
Projects
Klaus Graf Jazz Quartet
After a long career as a sideman, Graf founded his first own quartet in 2001. The music is mainly based on the compositions of the band leader. The members are Axel Kühn (bass), Meinhard Obi Jenne (drums) and Olaf Polziehn (piano). Acousticmusic released their first CD Changes in Life (2002). In 2006 the second CD "Moving On" was released by finetonmusic.
Timeless Art Orchestra
In 1991 Klaus Graf received the Baden-Württemberg Jazz Prize, after which he founded the Timeless Art Orchestra , a tenet of Baden-Württemberg jazz musicians (including Steffen Schorn , Andi Maile , Claus Stötter , Karoline Höfler ). This band performs contemporary jazz music, primarily compositions and arrangements by the orchestra members. A CD was released by Satin Doll in 1994 .
Salsafuerte
In 1999 Graf founded the Latin jazz band Salsafuerte in New York together with the pianist and violinist Gregor Hübner . Salsafuerte has released 3 CDs over the last 15 years. Other members of Salsafuerte are Veit Hübner Bass, Claus Reichstaller Trompete, Joachim Leyh Drums, Jerome Goldschmidt Percussion, Yumarya Vocals.
Awards
Youth Jazz Winner from Baden-Württemberg 1986, State Jazz Prize Winner from Baden-Württemberg 1991, Culture Prize Winner from the city of Lauffen am Neckar and the City of Ditzingen , 4 Grammy nominations with projects by the SWR Big Band
Web links
- Website and full biography of the musician Klaus Graf
- More about the Bobby Burgess Big Band Explosion
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Count, Klaus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German jazz saxophonist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 15, 1964 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lauffen am Neckar |