Christof Griese (1957) - Saxophones/Flute

Christof is one of the most active musicians of the Berlin jazz scene.

In 1982 he founded his first own jazz band: ‘Opus Pocus’ together with Niko Schäuble followed one year later with the ‘Berliner Saxophon Quartett’. For over 20 years he has been leading the "Berlin Jazz Composer’s Orchestra JayJayBeCe", which has released six CDs to date.

In 1993, Christof’s project “Juiceful Jazz”, a collaboration of Jazz musicians with Hip Hop and Rap artists, confirming his standing as a musician at the avantgarde of creative music developments. In 1998 he continued his exploration of experimental ensembles with the "Double Bass Project".

In 1997 he received an honorable mention at the Julius Hemphill Composition Award, Boston/USA. for his composition "Polski Blues", dedicated to Jazz and Life by famous author Janosch. At the same Competition, Christof was awarded the 2nd price for his composition "Schoyblish Cues" and received a further honorable mention for the piece "Blink" in 1998.

Christof has worked with Tony Buck, Eric St. Laurent, Ed Schuller, Kirk Nurock, Leszek Mozdzer, Sandy Evans, Thomy Jordi,Paul Brody

Christof's recordings include:

"52nd Return" with Niko Schäuble, Ed Schuller, Kirk Nurock and Leszek Mozdzer

"Mogrinos" witht Niko schäuble, Horst Nnnenmacher and Leszek Mozdzer (1998)

"Electric 5" with Niko Schäuble and Eric St. Laurent (1999)

"Affinities" withSören Fischer, Paul Brody (2002)

"Double Drums"with Tony Buck and Niko Schäuble (2002)

Christof Griese-Christian Kappe Quintet “Live at Schlot” (2005)

Christof Griese-Christian Kappe Quintet “Floating” (2008)

"Double Bass Project" withThomy Jordi and Joe Williamson (1998)

“Art Of Duo”with Tal Balshai  (2007)

          Burkhard Jasper (1963) - Piano

Burkhard studied classical piano at the Musikhochschule Köln (Cologne Conservatorium) under Peter Degenhardt and works as professional musician and educator since 1991.

From 1998 to 2002 he toured Germany with "Two By Two feat. Holo” project, which combined Jazz (compositions of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus) with visual arts.

Burkhard’s continuing interest in cross cultural and stylistic collaborations is evident in his work with the "Maija-Riitta-Trio and Quintett", which plays Finnish Folk and Tango music in a modern Jazz style and concerts with poets such as Peter Rühmkorf and Hannes Demming.

From 2006 - 2008 he performed regularly in the concert series “Jazz

Tresor” in Münster. During that period Burkhard also appeared at the concert series “Queens Jazz Night” (2007) and worked as pianist in the musical “Der kleine Horrorladen”. In 2009 he performed the live score for the silent movie classic “Metropolis”.

Burkhard has worked with Alex Morsey, Christian Schoenefeldt, Stjepko Gut, Clark Terry, dem Christof Griese & Burkhard Jasper Duo, dem Jasper Klare Duo, dem Ensemble Richie Alexander & The Bop sowie dem Richie Alexander & Burkhard Jasper Duo, Jeanne Carroll, Ansgar Elsner, Nikola Materne, Ugonna Okegwo, Jochen Welle, Michael Frontzek, Ben Bönniger, Christiane Hagedorn, Wolfgang Ekholt und Dieter Kuhlmann.

Burkhard's recordings include:

"Live! auf dem Kulturgut", Jazz und Lyrik CD with Peter Rühmkorf

          Horst Nonnenmacher (1962) - Bass

Horst studied classical Double Bass at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin (1984 - 1989). He quickly established himself as an in-demand bass player in Germany. Soon, word of his artistry spread beyond his countries' borders and Horst has toured countries such as the USA, Australia, Syria, Rumania, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, England, Sweden.

In addition to playing with some of the world’s leading musicians, Horst has worked as  Composer and Arranger for the Cabaret shows "Carmen Miranda Revuepavillon", „Mythology“ with Yamil Borges & the Ceasar Twins and „Mira Miranda“ featuring Eutália de Carvalho.

Horst has been the Musical director of the  „Eckart-Witzigmann-Palazzo“ (2003-2006) and bandleader of the „Witzigmann-Roncalli-Bajazzo“ (2006/7).

Horst has worked with Sam Rivers, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Andreas Willers , Paul Bley, Yves Robert, Elliott Sharp, David Tronzo, Phil Minton, “Oloyé” , Mircea Tiberian, Eutália de Carvalho, FRIGG, Association Urbanétique, Cathrin Pfeifer, Interzone, Vladimir Karparov

Horst's recordings include:

"Background for Improvisors", Live CD with the "Improviser's Pool" featuring Sam Rivers and Alexander von Schlippenbach  ( FMP CD75)    

"Cityscape" (soundaspects) and "Experience" (Nabel Records) with Jim Black and Andreas Willers

"In The North" with Paul Bley, Yves Robert and Andreas Willers (Between The Lines)

"Dust Diary" (99 records) with FRIGG, featuring Elliott Sharp, David Tronzo

"Frigg Brecht" (Knitting Factory Records KFW-254) featuring Phil Minton and Meira Asher (produced by Elliott Sharp)

"O ZEPPELIN - POESÍA PURA" and "NOTÍCIAS DE UMA VIAJANTE" with the afrobrasilian band “Oloyé” featuring Eutália de Carvalho (United-One Records)

Further records with Association Urbanétique, Cathrin Pfeifer, Interzone, Vladimir Karparov Quartett

          Christian Kappe (1971) - Trumpet/Fluegelhorn

Christian studied jazz and classical trumpet at the Königlichen Konservatorium in Den Haag and the Konservatorium in Rotterdam (Netherlands) under Ack van Rooyen, Jarmo Hoogendijk, Eric Vloeimans and At van Zon. He graduated in 1997 with a Dip-Ed, followed by a performance degree the next year. Further studies included master classes with John Abercrombie, Markus Stockhausen, John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler, as well as theory and composition under Ed Tomassi and Greg Hopkins at the Berklee College of Music in Boston (USA) where he was able to perform with reknowned Berklee ensembles.

In 1997 Christian won the International Competition for up-and-coming bands in Leeuwarden, Netherlands with the Florian Zenker -Christian Kappe 4tet and in 1999 he won both 1st prize (a CD production) and the audience award for Best Soloist at the International Jazz Competition in Bilbao. In 2005 he also won the 1st prize at the Jazz & Blues Award in Berlin, again with the Florian Zenker -Christian Kappe 4tet.

Christian has worked with Bundesjazzorchester (mus. dir.Peter Herbolzheimer), Florian Zenker, Slide Hampton, Hugh Fraser and Ian McDougall, Barbara Dennerlein, the ensemble „Hotlips“ of pianist and keyboarder Jasper van’t Hof, the Marc Brenken – Christian Kappe Quartett and the Christof Griese – Christian Kappe Quintett.

Christian's recordings include:

“Live at Quasimodo”, Jasper van't Hof & Hotlips

“Floating”, Christof Griese - Christian Kappe Quintett

“Eight Short Storys”, Marc Brenken - Christian Kappe Quartett

“Cosmic Waltz”, Hans - Martin Limberg & Christian Kappe

“Live at Schlot”, Christoph Griese - Christian Kappe Quintett

“NeverNeverLand”, Jasper van't Hof & Hotlips

“It's Green”, Florian Zenker/Christian Kappe 4tet

“Jazz & Lyrik: Peter Rühmkopf”, Peter Rühmkopf & WAF Jazz Ensemble

“The Marry-Go-Round After Dark”, Florian Zenker / Christian Kappe 4tet

“Live At The Luna Bar” (DVD), Gregor Hilden Band

“Jazz & Lyrik” with August Stramm, Andreas Ramstein, Marc Brenken

“Live in Getxo”, Spain '99, Florian Zenker / Christian Kappe 4tet

“Diversion”, Ansgar Specht Group

“The Flow”, Peter Muller

“News From Babel”, Clockworkgod

“Jazz & Lyrik” with Reinhard Döhl, Andreas Ramstein, Marc Brenken

“On The Move”, Ansgar Specht

“Blue In Red,” Gregor Hilden

“northern plains”, Andreas Heuser

“Blue Hour,” Gregor Hilden

“MDR Jazz – Nachwuchspreis 1997”, Florian Zenker / Christian Kappe 4tet

“Shout It Out”, Frank Mead

“M-Vibez”, Peter Muller

“Swingbeats”, JazzPodiumRuhr

“The Exhibition”, European Jazz Project

“Focus on Vocals”, Jazz Bujazzo

“... and friends”, North Sea Big Band (with Ack van Rooijen, Ferdinand Povel, Chuck Findley a.o.)

          Adrian Sherriff () - Bass Trombone/Shakuhachi

Adrian is a performer, composer, teacher and multi-instrumentalist (brass, winds, percussion and voice).  His early experiences as the child of missionaries in West Papua led him towards a world view constructed from widely disparate cultural experiences; Anglo-Australian home life, indigenous Dani stone age tribal culture, American-Internationalist schooling and broader Indonesian cultural values.  This cultural perspective has subsequently informed his ongoing development as an artist.

Adrian’s musical foundation is in his study of European classical, Afro-American jazz, South Indian classical, Japanese shakuhachi and Balinese gamelan music traditions.  In each of these traditions, Adrian has studied and performed with master musicians of international calibre. Adrian has studied and performed with musicians from Sumatran, Latin American, North Indian and African traditions.

Since 1995, Adrian has been a frequent performer at the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane arts festivals as well regionally throughout the eastern seaboard and to Western Australia.  Internationally, Adrian has performed throughout India, Indonesia, Singapore, Europe and in New York. In January 2007, Adrian was appointed the musical director of the Australian Art Orchestra for a highly successful tour of India in conjunction with the Sruthi Laya ensemble.  Adrian’s recently completed commissions include a work for the Australian Art Orchestra with a quartet of South Indian soloists (”Trimurti”), a folk opera, “The Butterfly Seer”, based on West Sumatra randai conventions and a set of arrangements of gamelan music for brass band. 

Previous works include the acclaimed Into the Fire for the Australian Art Orchestra, works for gamelan, scores for dance/theatre collaborations including Malache for the Arena Theatre Company with Tara Rajkumar and works for classical and jazz chamber ensembles.

Adrian has worked with Australian Art Orchestra. Australian Art Orchestra & Sruthi Laya Ensemble, Madras (musical director),, Bennett’s Lane Big Band, Roger Pell, Tripetaka (a hip hop-gamelan fusion group), Yarra Edge Trio (piano, saxophone andtrombone), Panchabhuta (an improv-electroacoustic-South Indian classical dance project, featuring Sandy Evans and Rajeswari Sainath, India), Oynsemble Melbourne (14-20 piece post Coltrane improvising ensemble), Bone Clan (10 piece trombone choir), Prrim (multicultural trio with Satsuki Odamura and Tunji Beier) and Byar (Balinese gamelan quartet). Andrea Keller Bartok Project, Musikki Oy, Blow, Peter Knight’s 5+2, Grand Union Orchestra,  Black Jesus Experience (Ethiopian hiphop), Wide Alley (Chinese music project) and Valanga Khoza (South African songwriter), as well as musicians from Sumatra, Latin America, North India and Central and West Africa.