Tutor Team 2021

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Gilad Atzmon: UK (art director, saxophone)

Gilad Atzmon
Gilad

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Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). As a multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet and Flutes. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. He has been described by John Lewis on the Guardian as the "hardest-gigging man in British jazz". His albums, of which he has recorded nine to date, often explore political themes and the music of the Middle East.

Until 1994 he was a producer-arranger for various Israeli Dance & Rock Projects, performing in Europe and the USA playing ethnic music as well as R&R and Jazz. Coming to the UK in 1994, Atzmon recovered an interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. In 2000 he founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own roots in the light of his emerging political awareness. Since then the Orient House Ensemble has toured all over the world. The Ensemble includes Eddie Hick on Drums, Yaron Stavi on Bass and Frank Harrison on piano & electronics. Also, being a prolific writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published. His novels "Guide to the perplexed" and "My One And Only Love" have been translated into 24 languages. Gilad's latest book, The Wandering Who? is a study of Jewish Identity political identity.

Over the years Gilad Atzmon's music has moved more and more towards a cultural hybrid. As a bandleader and reed player he has been amazing his listeners with his powerful personal style that combines great bebop artistry and Middle-Eastern roots in a sophisticated, sometimes ironical manner. Influenced by Coltrane's powerful approach on the sax, Gilad's live performances are simply breathtaking and overwhelming.

 

Barbara Bürkle: Germany (vocals)

Barbara Bürkle
Barbara

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Whether powerful and passionate, clear and light as a feather or soft and very delicate - the soulful voice of Barbara Bürkle aims more directly to the heart. The award-winning singer Stuttgart combines absolute intonation and excellent timing with rousing enthusiasm and spontaneity. As diverse as their unique voice is also their musical spectrum. It ranges from bossa nova to gospel, from blues to swing and from bebop to pop.

The 38-year-old singer played on many studio projects and CD productions, ranging from German-pop to hip hop, from gospel to contemporary jazz. Since 2011 she is a lecturer at the School of Sacred Music in Tübingen. In addition, she led various workshops and is active as a composer and arranger. she sings in several own formations with various live appearances - including the "Barbara Bürkle Ribbon", the crossover trio "BATIST" their female band "Barbara Bürkle rates Quartet" and "Barbara Bürkle & Thilo Wagner A Fine Romance."

As a soloist Barbara Bürkle has won the 2008 prestigious competition "Voices Now-Brussels International Young Jazz Singers Competition" in Brussels. She was also 2009 semi-finalist in the "Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition" under the "Montreux Jazz Festival", and in 2010 the prestigious jazz competition in the world "Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition" in Washington, DC.

 

Marta Capponi: UK (vocals, improvisation)

Marta Capponi
Marta

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At the age of 19 she moved to Rome where she studied jazz at the prestigious Saint Louis College of Music under the guidance of some of the best Italian and international musicians and vocalists including Maria Pia De Vito, Mark Murphy, Shawnn Monteiro, Carl Anderson, John Taylor, Paolo Fresu, John Patitucci, Bob Stoloff and Norma Winstone. It was then that Marta started her professional jazz career performing in Italy, including numerous collaborations with other artists such as Giovanni Mazzarino, Massimo Farao, Bobby Durham, Javier Girotto, Fabrizio Bosso and Papik and project such as Saint Louis Big Band and Tribunal Mist Jazz Band. These last two, conducted by Antonio Solimene, led Marta to sing in some of the most prestigious Italian jazz festivals: Umbria Jazz, Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi and the Ravello Music Festival.

Italian singer, improviser and composer Marta Capponi moved to London 8 years ago, where she established herself as one of the leading vocalists on the capital's jazz scene. Capponi is known for her striking vocals and creative and exciting improvisation. Her vocal versatility has allowed her to be involved in a large variety of projects from jazz to pop, folk and Brazilian music. During the last few years, Capponi has led 3 projects herself: In A Moment; NuCleUs and Life Within. In A Moment was Marta's first project as leader and composer, and gave her the opportunity to work with a great variety of musicians, both in Italy and in London, exploring the sounds of her first original compositions. NuCleUs is an original duo project of vocals and percussion with her musical and life partner Emiliano Caroselli. Finally, Life Within is Marta's latest album, which was released on 9th march 2021.

Life Within is Marta Capponi's first release under her own name, where she explores the music that has guided her career since an early age and where she feels connected with her roots and her love of jazz. This project features some of the UK's finest jazz musicians - Jo Caleb on guitar, Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and piano, Dario Di Lecce on double bass and Emiliano Caroselli on drums.

 

Ulrich Glaszmann: Netherlands (bass)

Ulrich Glaszmann
Ulrich

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Ulrich Glaszmann studied classical music at the "Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Heidelberg-Mannheim" from 1993-1996 and completed his prediploma on double bass and piano. Then in 1996 he began jazz studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague on double bass, which he completed in 2001 with the master degree. After completing his studies, he taught classical jazz on double bass and electric bass at the Koorenhuis Music School in The Hague, where he gained a lot of experience in working with beginners of all ages, but also in combo supervision. Between 2001 and 2015, Ulrich Glassmann played numerous concerts in the Netherlands and Europe, ia. with colleagues like B. Xavier Vercher, Adam Nussbaum, Prof. Klaus Graf, Prof. Olaf Polziehn.

He has given a number of workshops to amateurs as well as music students and groups of musicians (eg the Daimler-Chrysler Big Band). In Spain, together with the teacher Ana Soler Gimenez, he directed John Zorn's improvisation piece "Cobra" in a workshop for children. As musician he plays since his arrival in the Netherlands in various groups, such as Edgar van Asselt Trio, Philip Harper, Rachel Gould, Steve Altenberg and Sergei Ostromoumov, among others, include the Wim Bronnenberg Quintet, the Freejazz Quartet "Take the Duck" and Edgar van Asselt Trio.
Ulrich plays (e) regularly with musicians such as Ack van Rooyen, Tilmar Junius, Rob van Kreeveld, Frans Elsen, Jorge Vistel, Martien Oster, Marco and Wim Kegel, Harmon Franje, Owen Hart, Juraj Stanik, Hein van der Gaag. Since 2013 Ulrich is a combo teacher at the jazz school The Hague.

 

Jim Hart: UK (drums & vibraphone)

Jim Hart
Jim

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Jim Hart is one of the most in demand musicians on the European jazz and alternative music scene as a soloist and sideman on both drums and vibraphone. Now living in Alsace, France, Jim was resident in London from 1996 - 2014. After studying at Chethma's School of Music and the Guildhall Scholl of Music and Drama, Jim first started making a name for himself in the UK as the drummer for NYJO and on vibes with Martin Drew's New Jazz Couriers, Gwilym Simcock's Elftet and the Christian Brewer Quintet. He has become a very established musician on the British Jazz scene playing in the groups of Stan Sulzmann, Sir John Dankworth and Cleo Laine and Alan Barnes and worked with the likes of Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Julian Arguelles, Mike Walker, Liane Caroll and Peter King to name a few. He is a five time recipient of a British Jazz award.

He started his own group Gemini in 2003 with whom he went on to become a founder member of London's LOOP Collective. He has recorded five albums under his own name with his bands Gemini, The Jim Hart Quartet and his current project The Cloudmakers Trio which features long-standing associates Michael Janisch on bass and David Smith on drums. As well as being a bandleader he also plays regularly in Marius Nesest's Birds (vbs), Julien Lourau's Electric Biddle (drs), the Ivo Neame Quintet/Octet (vbs), Stan Sulzmann's Neon Quartet (vbs) and Duo Plus (vbs + drs). Outside of the jazz world his drumming has kept him busy with a number of projects including Sister Mary and the Choirboys and he has been involved in several projects exploring music of West and North African Origin including Dan Nichols' Point X, Bex Burch's Vula Viel, Fofoulah and Electric Jalaba.

Jim has toured extensively with visiting American musicians in the last few years including Ralph Alessi (with whom Cloudmakers Trio recorded their first album Live at the Piazza Express), Joel Frahm, Jaleel Shaw, Terrel Stafford, Logan Richardson, Richie Barshay and in 2010 he was a special guest with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra as part of their London residency with the Barbican Centre. In 2013 and 2012 Jim was nominated in the Downbeat Magazine Reader's Poll' in the vibraphone category and was nominated for Musician of the Year in the 2011 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. He also won the Young Jazz Musician of the Year Award from the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

As well as his busy performance schedule, Jim is also very active in education. He holds a post at the Royal Academy of Music and has led masterclasses and been a visiting tutor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds College of Music, Chetham's School of Music, The Purcell School and Well's Cathederal School. He is also a tutor on the National Youth Jazz Collective summer school. Jim is a Mike Balter Artist and uses their vibraphone and Marimba mallets.

 

Giorgos Kontrafouris: Greece (piano)

Giorgos Kontrafouris
Giorgos

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Giorgos Kontrafouris was born in Athens, Greece in 1967. He studied classical piano at the National Conservatory in Athens. At the age of 16, he turned his interest to jazz music and he followed up jazz improvised lessons with Markos Alexiou. He studied also with Jim Beard and Jarmo Savolainen. He holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Sibelius Academy in Finland.

Kontrafouris has become known as a talented and versatile musician. He has performed as piano or organ player with many famous and outstanding musicians such as: Mark Johnson, Arild Andersen, Marcus Stockhausen, Louisiana Red, Keith Copeland, Andy Sheppard, Ralph Peterson Jr., Bob Brozman, Carla Cook, Alvester Garnett, Stepko Gut, Olivier Gatto, David Liebman, Houston Pearson, Eric Alexander, David Sills, Lou Donaldson, Sam Newsome, Jamie Hadad, Deborah Davies, Benny Golson, Tim Hagans, Bob Shepard, Carmen Lundy, Sheila Jordan, Jukkis Uotila, Wade Mikkola, Takis Paterelis, Stratos Vougas, Dimos Dimitriadis, Lydia Fylipovic, T. Spasov and A. Pacatius.

He has been teaching jazz piano and organ for several years in Ionian University and in Athenaeum Conservatory in Greece and in Sibelius Academy in Finland. He has already given Master Classes in various schools in Greece, Ireland, Indonesia, and Estonia so far.

 

Claus Krisch: Germany (piano)

Claus Krisch
Claus

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Claus Krisch is present on the european jazz scene for more than 40 years. With his brothers Martin "Dizzy" Krisch and Thomas Krisch he formed the successful Krisch-Junior-Quartett as early as in the sixties. After having completed high school studies in Pedagogy he decided for a full time musicians life, and also works as a jazz teacher at "Freie Kunstschule Saarlouis".

 

Tony Lakatos: Hungary (saxophone)

Tony Lakatos
Tony

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He was born in a musician family in Budapest, Hungary. His Father was a famous gipsy violinist as well as his younger Brother Roby. The musical study began on the violin at the age of 6. Began to play the saxophone when he was 15 years old, and became a professional musician when he won a national jazz competition in 1977. He graduated from the jazz department of the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest 1979.

Shortly after he moved to Germany in 1981, became one of the most respected saxophone player in Germany as well as worldwide. He performed as a saxophone soloist in numerous jazz/pop/rock recordings and concerts. Tony has played the saxophone about 350 LP/CD recordings as a leader or as a sideman. He has been living in Germany since 1981, Frankfurt am Main since 1993 and working as a soloist in the H. R. Big band - Radio station. Tony Lakatos was the first Hungarian musician who appeared on the Gavin Report Top Ten in the American Jazz Music Radio with his CDs.

In 1997 a CD "Generation X" (jazzline) came out with American world star trumpeter Randy Brecker. He is continually touring in Japan with his own formations, and signed an exclusive contract with SKIP RECORDS in year 2002. Tony Lakatos has been touring in all countries of Europe, in the USA,Canada, Japan, South Africa, Lebanon,India,Thailand, Singapore,Taiwan,China and many other parts of the world.

 

Nicolas Meier: UK (guitar)

Nicolas Meier
Nicolas

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In just a few short years, UK-based guitarist Nicolas Meier has carved a reputation out as one of the UK's most original and uniquely talented guitarists. Drawing from a love of Turkish, Eastern & Middle Eastern music, Flamenco, Tango and more -- all mixed with jazz -- his versatility and musical fluency extends well beyond that ... so much so, that his considerable talents drew the attention of rock guitar legend, Jeff Beck, who has since made Nicolas a mainstay in The Jeff Beck Group, carrying him on two world tours during the course of the last several years.

Meier originally hails from Switzerland; born in 1973 to parents who are great lovers of the arts, with wide-ranging musical tastes extending to the Classical, Jazz, Latin, Flamenco, Rock and (even) Pop genres. A true gypsy spirit with a disciplined maestro's touch, Nicolas has embraced a number of different cultures and studied their music forms, nuances and idiosyncrasies.

During the course of his six-string baptism and global sojourns, Nicolas has been the recipient of numerous awards. A truly dedicated student of the instrument, he has pursued advanced studies at Switzerland's prestigious Conservatoire de Fribourg, and subsequently earned a scholarship to Boston's illustrious Berklee College of Music. His burning passion for both rock and jazz persists to this day.

Never short on ambition, Meier founded his own record label, MGP Records, in 2009. To date, he has produced ten albums: as a solo artist; in various group formats (The Meier Group; Nicolas Meier Trio; Eclectica!); with his heavy metal band, Seven7, and; in a duo format, with UK jazz maestro guitarist, Pete Oxley. (Their most recent 2015 release, "Chasing Tales," is a masterful, benchmark album, in the dual-guitar format.)

Having made a lasting impression on gentlemen the likes of Jeff Beck, Bill Bruford and Steve Vai -- just to name a few! -- Nicolas Meier is unquestionably one of today's most well-rounded, ambitious, masterful up-and-coming talents on guitar. At the time of this writing, Vai's Favored Nations Records is set to release Nicolas' brilliant new solo album, "Infinity," featuring fellow virtuosos, veteran Jimmy Haslip, on bass, and one of the world's great timekeepers, Vinnie Colaiuta.

 

Johannes Müller: Germany (saxophone)

Johannes Müller
Johannes

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Johannes Mueller, born in 1981 in Saarlouis, studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Mannheim with Juergen Seefelder and Johannes Enders. He graduated in 2006. Since 2007 he holds his master's degree in music.

His bio is characterized by a wide range of international engagements and productions. So from 2002 to 2005 he was a member of the German National Jazz Orchestra (BuJazzO). He is co-initiator of the project "Euro-jazz" with the HR BigBand, where he often plays as a guest. Furthermore, he is involved in numerous theater productions. As a soloist, he plays internationally at major jazz festivals such as San Jose, London, The Hague, Brussels, Cape Town, Mumbai, Delhi, Sapporo, etc.. In 2005 he won the soloist prize in the BigBand-Competition of universities of the Federal Republic of Germany. Müller also performs in the most prestigious jazz clubs around the world such as Ronnie Scott's London (UK), Bimhuis Amsterdam (NL), Yoshi's Oakland (USA), Jazz Alley Seattle (USA), Sundside Paris, Bird's Eye Basel etc. On tours and concerts, he has played so far in 27 countries around the world (including the US, India, South Africa, Malaysia, China, Namibia, Russia, Britain, etc. )

But also in the studio Müller could ask his talent. Until today he appeared on about 30 recordings. His experience made him a welcome sideman to various artists such as Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Amina Figarova, Michel Camilo, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Ingrid Jensen, Rebekka Bakken, Don Braden, Ack van Rooyen, Peter Herbolzheimer, Lalo Schifrin, Jean Louis Rassinfosse, HR BigBand, SWR Radio Orchestra, etc..

As a teacher, he taught at the International Jazz Werkstatt Saarwellingen 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014 and he gave master classes at the University of Cape Town and Durban. From 2013 to 2016, he played the lead-alto in the police(big)band of the Saarland, since 2014 he teaches jazz saxophone at the University of Music in Saarbruecken. Since 2016 he is steady member of the 'Big Band der Bundeswehr' (the german army big band).

"The saxophone playing of Johannes Müller is the epitome of elegance for me. He has an incredible sense of design. Each individual tone has in itself something very special, unmistakable. Even if the HR BigBand plays loudly i can easily identify him." (Dr. Peter Kleiss, jazz journalist, Saarland state radio)

 

Yaron Stavi : UK (bass)

Yaron Stavi
Yaron

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Yaron Stavi plays double bass and electric bass in various styles of music including Jazz, Rock, Classical and World Music. He studied Classical music in Berlin and played with numerous orchestras and conductors around Europe, North America and Asia. He was principal bass player of the Mahler Youth Orchestra, playing under Seiji Ozawa, Pierre Boulez, Marris Jansons, Sir Neville Mariner, Ivan Fischer and others.

In 2002 Yaron moved to London. He is a member of Gilad Atzmon's band The Orient House Ensemble which regularly tours Europe and won best CD in the BBC Jazz awards in 2003. He has played with the violinist Nigel Kennedy in his Jazz band and Jazz musicians including Larry Coryell, Peter King, Jarek Smietana, Leszek Mozdzer, Gary Husband, John Ethridge, Julian Siegel, Gene Calderazzo, Stephen Keogh, and Estelle Kokot.

Yaron played on Robert Wyatt's albums Cuckooland and Comicopera and recorded two albums for John Zorn's label Tzadik with Koby Israelite. He appears on Phil Manzanera's (Roxy Music) albums 6PM, Vozero and 50 Minutes Later, recorded an album with David Gilmour in 2005 and instrumental album with Phil Manzanera in 2007.

 

Thilo Wagner: Germany (piano)

Thilo Wagner
Thilo

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Thilo is one of the most sought-after pianists in mainstream- and bebop-jazz in Germany. Running his own trio he is as successful as a sideman for jazz stars like Benny Waters, Scott Hamilton, Emil Mangelsdorff, Charly Antolini and many more. Thilo Wagner lives in Stuttgart, Germany.

 

Enzo Zirilli : Italien (drums)

Enzo Zirilli
Enzo

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Born in Turin 1965, he started playing drums when he was 8 years old and studied piano at G.Verdi Conservatory in Turin. He got in touch with jazz music, meeting the great tenor sax Larry Nocella and many others important musicians as Franco Cerri, Benny Bailey, Hal Stein, Gianni Basso, Flavio Boltro, Antonio Faraò. He was in tour with Gloria Gaynor in '91 and lately, since '96, he worked with the Italian pop-jazz singer Rossana Casale.

At the same time, he played in many important festivals, theatres and jazz clubs in Italy and Europa with great musicians like Steve Grossman, James Moody, Robert Bonisolo, Luigi Bonafede, George Garzone, Randy Brecker, Dado Moroni, Enrico Pieranunzi, Ares Tavolazzi, Stefano Di Battista, Ira Coleman, Larry Schneider.

Enzo moved to London in 2004 and quickly became one of the most in demand drummers in UK, as well as in Europe. He recorded and toured all over the world with artists from Jazz, world music, Latin, funk and pop, such as Tom Harrell, Bob Mintzer, Dado Moroni, Enrico Pieranunzi, James Moody, Gloria Gaynor, Gary Bartz, Hamish Stuart, Liane Carroll, Omar MBE, Pietro Tonolo, Peter Bernstein, George Garzone, Flavio Boltro, Dominique Di Piazza, Jim Mullen, Stan Sulzmann, John EtheridgePeter Washington, Marco Pereira, John Parricelli and Jason Rebello. In 2014 he formed his own band "ZiroBop": "I love this music! Enzo and his great band approach a wide range of material with such creativity, taste and soulfullness. A beautiful album" (LARRY GOLDINGS)

He's a regular member of the Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensamble and he teaches at the Conservatory "G.Verdi" in Turin.