The Klaus Graf Quartet

Jazz improvisation is the process of spontaneously creating fresh melodies over the continuously repeating cycle of chord changes of a tune. The improviser may depend on the contours of the original tune, or solely on the possibilities of the chords' harmonies.

Facilitated by the Klaus Graf Quartet from Germany, this masterclass will give participants an insight into jazz improvisation including blues, rhythm-changes, and modal improvisation.

The instruments played in the quartet are drums and cymbals, piano, saxophone and bass. The masterclass will place these instruments in the context of jazz, before getting into the nitty-gritties of the technique of jazz improvisation, as well as tips for budding jazz musicians.

Klaus Graf Quartet consists of

• Klaus Graf, alto saxophone
• Olaf Polziehn, piano
• Axel Kühn, double bass
• Meinhard Obi Jenne, drums

After having played as a sideman with different national and international jazz formations, alto saxophonist Klaus Graf founded his own quartet in 2001. A large part of the music consists of Graf’s compositions which were written for the purpose of serving the quartet’s concept: jazz with the character of soul, melody-based and groove-driven for the body and mind. The musicians in the Klaus Graf Quartet are internationally recognised jazz soloists who have worked together with iconic jazz legends such as Al Jarreau, Patti Austen, Scott Hamilton, Chaka Khan, Benny Golson, Clark Terry and Phil Collins, to name a few.