Born: April 15, 1978 Primary Instrument: Sax, alto
Susanne Alt is a saxophonist and composer, living in Amsterdam. She has released five CD's as a leader. Susanne received a lot media attention in 2009 with her third album which included trombone-legend Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley
b.1943
trombone
. Her video's on Youtube have been viewed more than 400,000 times.
Alt recorded a live CD at Bimhuis (October 2010) which was released in February 2011; in april 2012 the new studio album 'How to kiss' has been released.
Susanne Alt was born into a musical household. Her father, Hans-Joachim Alt is a composer, poet and piano teacher. Her mother, Maria Alt, is a guitar teacher. After learning classical piano and guitar from her parents she started to play the saxophone. Soon she successfully took part in saxophone competitions. 1993-1995, still in school, She took classical saxophone lessons at the Meistersingerkonservatorium Nuremberg. 1995-96 she studied one year there as well, fulltime. During that year Susanne began to develop her jazz skills. Also in 1996 she won the “Siemens-Jazz-Förderpreis” and moved to the Netherlands to study jazz saxophone at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (in 1996 it was still called Hilversums Conservatorium, later fused with Amsterdam). Susanne studied there from 1996-2000. At about the same time (1997-2000) she was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra Germany, conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer and John Ruocco. Because she wanted to develop her musical personality and own style further as well as to learn about composing, she studied from 2000-2003 at the Universität der Künste, Berlin, Germany at Peter Weniger, David Friedman and Sigi Busch. In 2000 she won prizes at the jazz competitions in Leiden and Breda, The Netherlands and was 2002 finalist of the Leipziger Jazznachwuchsfestival, Germany.
In 2004 she was finalist at the Dutch Jazz Competition. Also in 2004, Susanne released her debut album Nocturne. She founded her own label VENUS TUNES in 2007 and released Delight with special guest Anton Goudsmit on guitar. She released On Track in 2009 with special guests Bruno Speight on guitar (guitarist of Maceo Parker) and Fred Wesley on trombone. Fred Wesley invited her back for a little tour in the Netherlands and France to join his band Fred Wesley and the new J.B.'s. Since 2009 Susanne performed as a guest with the Jamal Thomas Band(drummer of Maceo Parker). Jamal Thomas also often plays drums with Susanne Alt and her band.
Besides playing jazz Susanne has always been doing a lot of freelance work in other musical genres and formations, and also can be heard on house vinyls and regularly performing with house and jazz DJ's through whole Europe. Some DJs she works/has worked with: Erick E, Roog, Natarcia, Promiss, Martin Damen, Leonardo, Ronald Molendijk, Marc van Dale, Cassie 6, Graham B, DJ Maestro, and the DJ's at Wicked Jazz Sounds.
How to kiss
Venus Tunes
2012
Personnel: Susanne Alt: sax, Thijs Cuppen: piano, Eran Har Even: guitar, Sven Schuster: bass, Philippe Lemm: drums, Jos de Haas: percussion, Loet van der Lee: trumpet, Thijs van Leer: Hammond L100
As a Leader
Live At Bimhuis
Venus Tunes
2011
Personnel: Susanne Alt: sax, Thijs Cuppen: piano, Sven Schuster: bass, Philippe Lemm: drums
As a Leader
On Track
Venus Tunes
2009
Personnel: Susanne Alt: sax, Thijs Cuppen: piano, Sven Schuster: bass, Philippe Lemm: drums, Fred Wesley: trombone, Bruno Speight: guitar
As a Leader
Delight
Venus Tunes
2007
Personnel: Susanne Alt: sax, Thijs Cuppen: piano, Sven Schuster: bass, Philippe Lemm: drums, Anton Goudsmit: guitar
As a Leader
Nocturne
Venus Tunes
2004
Personnel: Susanne Alt: sax, Thijs Cuppen: piano, Sven Schuster: bass, Klaas van Donkersgoed: drums
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