Roger Hanschel
saxophone
© Armin Zedler
Born in Wolfsburg, this internationally sought-after saxophonist and composer studied at the University for Music in Cologne from 1981-85, where he founded »Nana« in 1983, which later evolved into the »Blau Frontal« group. Composing is central to this musician's life since that time, which is well documented by 70 of his works that are available on CD. He went to further his studies at the School for Fine Arts in Banff/Canada in 1986 and joined the »Kölner Saxophone Mafia« in 1987, an ensemble that won four Germany recording critics' prizes and the SWR Jazz Prize. Roger Hanschel, Lu Hübsch and Jörn Schipper founded the »Planet Blow« group in 1994, with whom he performed all over the world until 1999. He appeared in concert with the Dutch cellist Ernst Reijseger from 1994-98, joined the Steffen Schorn Septet, played with the Klaus König Orchestra and presented his compositions for saxophone and string quartet under the title Years of the fifth period. Roger Hanschel, Steffen Schorn and Dirk Mündelein formed the »Triosphere« group in 2000. Their first CD was released in 2004 and won a German Recording Critics' Prize. The »Roger Hanschel's Heavy Rotation« quartet was founded in 2006. He's been appearing solo again since 2007, and a CD was released in 2010. He works with leading ensembles including the NDR Bigband, the Norwegian Wind Ensemble, Gotlands Musiken and the Zürich Jazz Orchestra and founded »Trio Benares« and the »Laia Genc & Roger Hanschel Duo«. This versatile musician was awarded the WDR's 2018 Jazz Prize. He's been teaching the saxophone at the University for Music in Cologne since 2010 and has given workshops at many music universities in Germany and Austria.