composition, piano, ensemble

Composer, pianist and conductor Christian Elsässer is one of the most important figures in contemporary jazz in Europe.

He works frequently with the most renowned large ensembles of the international scene like the Metropole Orchestra (3 Grammys), the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, all German Radio Big Bands (WDR, HR, NRD und SWR) and the Munich Radio Orchestra. Among his musical partners are many stars of the scene like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Mike Stern, Vince Mendoza, Mike Mainieri and many others.

In 2012 his album Seemingly received the ECHO Jazz award. Christian Elsässer’s projects as a bandleader range from trio to 19-piece large ensemble, the Christian Elsässer Jazz Orchestra, which was awarded the Bavarian Arts Award in 2016.

Recently, he released the CDs The Mirror Suite with the Jazzrausch Bigband and Flying in Circles with the NDR Bigband. He is a professor of composition and jazz piano at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Munich.

* Foto: Thorsten Scheffner