Ulita Knaus

Ulita Knaus 2016

Ulita Knaus (born July 8, 1969 in Salzgitter ) is a German singer who initially emerged primarily in the field of modern jazz .

Live and act

Knaus grew up as the daughter of a German immigrant family in Salzgitter. Her father was born in Bulgaria, the mother lived in Venezuela. Her father, himself a classically trained singer, introduced her to the world of opera. At the age of six she had piano lessons and very soon began to compose her own pieces on the piano.

In 1988 she played with the Havana Salsa and Latin Orchestra for the first time . She sang on two Havana albums and toured Germany for 12 years. From 1989 to 1994 and 1995-1996 she studied jazz singing at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (Hilversum Conservatory) . After completing her studies with two degrees, she founded a singing school in Hamburg and played in various bands and orchestras. She also worked as a lecturer at the Hamburg University of Music as well as the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg and the Thalia Theater .

In 1998 she founded her own band with Mischa Schumann, Gerold Donker and Heinz Lichius. She subsequently released four jazz albums. She worked u. a. with Gabriel Coburger , Jonas Schoen , Sandra Hempel , Stefano Di Battista , Herb Geller , the JazzHaus Orchestra, Orange Blue etc.

From 2003 she appeared on stage with Udo Lindenberg and his revue Atlantic affairs all over Germany as well as in Shanghai and Beijing.
In 2009 she took part in the Bobble project performed in Switzerland with and by Bobby McFerrin .
The album Tambor , which was produced by Frank Ramond , followed in 2010 on the 105Music label . It is their first album with exclusively German-language lyrics.
In 2014 her album The Moon on My Doorstep was released on the Must have Jazz label (membrane), on which she sings in English again, with the exception of one song (Peter Fox '"Ich Steine Du Steine").

Since 2014 Ulita Knaus has mainly appeared in a trio with Tino Derado (piano) and Tupac Mantilla (percussion).

Prizes and awards

In 2009 Knaus received the Hamburg Jazz Prize .
2015 ECHO JAZZ nomination for "The moon on my doorstep"
2018 ECHO JAZZ nomination for "Love in this time"

Discographic notes

Cuisa (2002), Schoener Hören Music
So Lost Like Peace (2004), Minor Music
Sea Journey (2005), Minor Music
It's The City (2007), Minor Music
Tambor (2010), 105 Music
The Moon on My Doorstep (2014), Must Have Jazz / Membrane
Love in this Time (2017), MustHaveJazz / membrane

Lexical entries

Jürgen Wölfer : Jazz in Germany. The encyclopedia. All musicians and record companies from 1920 until today. Hannibal, Höfen 2008, ISBN 978-3-85445-274-4 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Knaus, Ulita
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German singer
DATE OF BIRTH	July 8, 1969
PLACE OF BIRTH	Salzgitter