trumpet
»Trumpeter Claus Reichstaller, born in Munich Germany, is one of the most exiting jazztrumpeters one the scene in the style of Benny Bailey and Woody Shaw«. (Nathan Davis)
Reichstaller had his first contact with the trumpet at the age of nine. His musical talent was already evident as a teenager. Reichstaller won a first place in the competition »Jugend musiziert«, followed by studying classical trumpet at the »Richard Strauss Conservatory« in Munich.
During his studies, »Jazz« became a focus of Reichstaller's work through studying with internationally known jazz trumpeters such as Benny Bailey and Al Porcino, and prepared the path for his later music career.
His international breakthrough was made possible by tenor saxophonist and mentor Nathan Davis. He recognized and promoted Reichstaller's great musical potential and hired him in 1989 for the Paris Reunion Band, originally a formation of American Jazz Giants living in Paris around Kenny Clarke. This was followed by a Europe-wide concert tour with Curtis Fuller, Kenny Drew and Nat Adderly, among others, as well as an engagement in the world-famous »Blue Note« Jazz Club in Tokyo feat. Robin Eubanks, John Handy, Idris Muhammad, Jimmy Woode and Kirk Lightsey.
After numerous successful concert tours with the Paris Reunion Band, Reichstaller founded his own Jazz Quintet »Conception« in 1993 with Axel Kühn, Tizian Jost, Paulo Cardoso and Mario Gonzi. At this time Reichstaller's debut album »Conception« was created.
It was from this idea that Reichstaller's formation developed in 1999, with international jazz greats such as Kirk Lightsey and Keith Copeland. The album »Arrival«, which was produced a year later, is still a milestone in Reichstaller's compositional and solo work.
Reichstaller also has great success as a sideman. During his many years of work with the SWR Big Band, he was involved in productions with Sammy Nestico, Bob Curnow and Bob Florence, all of which were nominated for the »Grammy«. With the program “Swing Legenden with Paul Kuhn, Max Greger and Hugo Strasser«, Reichstaller spent several years in big concert halls in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
One of his greatest musical successes as a sideman was the »We remember Clifford« tour with the Benny Golson sextet feat. Al Foster, Buster Williams, Mike LeDonne and Randy Brecker in 2006/2007.
Parallel to his work as a musician, Reichstaller also composed theater music. His most successful work for the Residenztheater in Munich was the music for »Leichtes Spiel by Botho Strauss« under the direction of Dieter Dorn, which premiered in autumn 2009.
Another highlight was the regular collaboration with a string quartet of the »Munich Philharmonics«. A CD of this formation with jazz quartet and string quartet was released in autumn 2009.
In 2009 Reichstaller was appointed professor and head of the Jazz Institute at the »University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich«.
Since then he has headed the institute and, in his function on the subject of Jazz, has launched several series of events such as »Jazz in Concert«, »Workshop Concert« and the »Kurt Maas Jazz Award«. Students are also involved in many places and clubs in the City of Munich scene with concerts and jam sessions.
In cooperation with Gasteig GmbH (Cultural Center Munich), Reichstaller's extensive musical contacts made it possible to organize an international Jazz Masterclass for outstanding amateurs and students in December 2010, the »JAM: M Jazz Masters Munich«. Lecturers included Randy Brecker, Nathan Davis, Patrice Rushen, Abraham Laboriel and Billy Cobham.
A newly formed jazz quintet around the trumpeter Claus Reichstaller with an international, top-class cast celebrated its premiere at the »International Jazz Day« in 2016. This all-star formation with New Orleans-born Jesse Davis on alto saxophone, Antonio Farao, a piano virtuoso from Rome, double-bass player from Macedonia Martin Gjakonovski and Munich-based Guido May on drums and Claus Reichstaller on trumpet guaranteed a highly dynamic and exciting concert experience.
Through his university activities, Reichstaller always discovers talented young jazz musicians and offers them a platform on stage.
»Always open to new things and change« is certainly one of Reichstaller's main topics in teaching and on stage.
© Foto: Jazz Institut, HMTM