Born: December 25, 1972 Primary Instrument: Sax, tenor
…the music flows like a stream…drags along different influences…taking them to new banks to become something new…the power of the groove works like a maelstrom on the sound...the sounds break through this torrent…fertile ground for new musical colours and shapes is emerging…the musicians’ diverse experiences affect each other…one takes from another…the source springs from different arms…the mouth is one…
((grosskopf)) … who’s this? One might say that ((grosskopf)) (meaning 'big head') is to compare with a funnel in which all kind of musical influence and style is inserted and out of his saxophone’s bell comes HIS music … jazz-funk spiced with drum’nbass and ambient sounds! This stylistic description of ((grosskopf))’s work would be too simple if you look at his diverse projects and the compositions of the last years. The juries, awarding him the 'Leipzig Jazz-Award 1999', the 'Art Award Of The City Of Friedrichshafen 2002' and the scholarship for the 'Skidmore Jazz Institute New York” did so, because of the huge stylistic diversity in playing and composing. In his projects involved are musicians like percussionist Hakim Ludin, New York-based singer Miles Griffith, singer Lois from Vienna, dj Raphneck from Leipzig and Hungarian drummer Kaszas Peter from Budapest among others.
Even though ((grosskopf)) calls himself a player by instinct he is too curious not to find out 'what music’s all about'. After attending the 'Academy Of Contemporary Music' in Zurich, where he learned the basics in Jazz-improvisation, he went to the 'College Of Music' in Leipzig with a short stop at the 'Skidmore Jazz Institute' in 1995.
He travelled through Europe, North America and Asia to play his music. On his tours he has not only performed his material but came together with local musicians to experiment on the base of their own traditional music … “Music is a raw material you can work with just as you like.” … is his answer to how to fuse his own style with Nepalese influences on his travel to Kathmandu.
Being asked what music means to him, he says: “freedom, energy and the joy of life!” these are the important principles for ((grosskopf)) … nothing else counts! … also the press realized he is “energetic and powerful” … “sheer soundpower” … “ going his own way”
In 2002 ((grosskopf)) found his label (type:g)records to produce his music and to the freedom to do whatever he wants to do! In this time about 40 songs were released by (type:g)records … and there are lots more in the ((grosskopf)) !!!
“music is the kerosene for my engine!” … so ((grosskopf)) speaks with deep breath
Awards:
"Art-Award of the City of Friedrichshafen" (2001) "Leipzig Jazz-Award" (1999) scholarship for "Skidmore Jazz Insitute" (1995)© bob davis / soul-patrol.com
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Primary Instrument:
Sax, tenor
Location:
Leipzig
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
