Uli Lenz
Encyclopedia
Uli Lenz is a German
composer
, pianist
, and producer creating music in the modern jazz genre.
and Cello
at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt/Main and played jazz at bars and strip joints.
In the '80s Lenz toured thru France, Spain, Italy and Israel as accompanist of well known saxophonists. In Berlin he took in the club scene and performed solo at the JazzFest Berlin in 1986.
Also in 1986, he toured Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean as solo pianist. In 1987, he took in the New Yorker club scene.
In 1988, Lenz recorded Live at Sweet Basil with bassist Cecil McBee
and drummer Joe Chambers
. In 1989, he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival
with bassist Guenter Lenz and drummer Allen Blairman
In the '90s, Lenz worked with Steve Grossman
and Abbey Lincoln. He spent the '90s as a mainstay on the festival circuit, playing numerous gigs all over the world. He also recorded with a variety of collaborators: saxophonist Johannes Barthelmes (1992's Konzert der Verlorenen Söhne and 1993's Trane's Tree), vocalist Patricia Nomakosazana Dhlamini (1993's Trouble in Paradise), and bassist Ed Schuller
and drummer Victor Jones
(1997's Echoes of Mandela), as well as solo (1995's Love Channel). In 1997, Lenz formed a trio featuring bassist Pepe Berns and drummer Thomas Alkier, who would accompany him through his European appearances. In 1999, Lenz signed with New York's Arkadia Jazz label and recorded an album with
bassist Ira Coleman (musician)
and drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez. Featuring guest spots from saxophonist TK Blue, Rainmaker's Dream was released in 2001 to high praise from the U.S. jazz community.
Lenz continued recording duets with Nomakosazana and
trio jazz with Ed Schuller and John Betsch
. In 2005 he began working and recording duets with French saxohonist François Jeanneau. With duo partner Jeanneau he toured numerous countries including India and Pakistan. In 2007, Lenz founded the 105 Jazz with bassist Gerhard Kubach and drummer Zam Johnson. In 2010 he founded a performing and recording duo with bassist Ed Schuller. At present, Lenz continues performing with François Jeanneau, Ed Schuller, 105 Jazz and as solo pianist. He is also touring on behalf of
the German Auswaertige Amt, the German Goethe Institut and the French Alliance Française
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and producer creating music in the modern jazz genre.
Background
Born in Frankfurt am Main, he began taking piano lessons at the age of four. In the seventies he studied music composition for classical PianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and Cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt/Main and played jazz at bars and strip joints.
In the '80s Lenz toured thru France, Spain, Italy and Israel as accompanist of well known saxophonists. In Berlin he took in the club scene and performed solo at the JazzFest Berlin in 1986.
Also in 1986, he toured Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean as solo pianist. In 1987, he took in the New Yorker club scene.
In 1988, Lenz recorded Live at Sweet Basil with bassist Cecil McBee
Cecil McBee
Cecil McBee is an American post bop jazz bassist, described by the Guinness Who's Who of Jazz as "a full-toned bassist who creates rich, singing phrases in a wide range of contemporary jazz contexts." Allmusic called him "One of post-bop's most advanced and versatile bassists".-Biography:McBee...
and drummer Joe Chambers
Joe Chambers
Joe Chambers is an American jazz drummer, pianist, vibraphonist and composer. He attended the Philadelphia Conservatory for one year. In the 1960s and 70s Chambers gigged with many high-profile artists such as Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, Lou Donaldson, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Giuffre...
. In 1989, he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
with bassist Guenter Lenz and drummer Allen Blairman
Allen Blairman
Allen Blairman is an American jazz drummer best known for his collaboration with Albert Ayler and Mal WaldronAllen Blairman is living in Heidelberg, Germany since 1971.-Career:...
In the '90s, Lenz worked with Steve Grossman
Steve Grossman
Steve Grossman is an American jazz fusion and hard bop saxophonist.Grossman was notably Wayne Shorter's replacement in Miles Davis' jazz-fusion band. Then, from 1971 to 1973, he was in Elvin Jones's band....
and Abbey Lincoln. He spent the '90s as a mainstay on the festival circuit, playing numerous gigs all over the world. He also recorded with a variety of collaborators: saxophonist Johannes Barthelmes (1992's Konzert der Verlorenen Söhne and 1993's Trane's Tree), vocalist Patricia Nomakosazana Dhlamini (1993's Trouble in Paradise), and bassist Ed Schuller
Ed Schuller
Edwin G. Schuller is an American jazz bassist and composer.Schuller was born in New York City; his father is Gunther Schuller and his younger brother is drummer George Schuller. Schuller learned clarinet and guitar as a child and switched to bass at age 15; that same year he had his first...
and drummer Victor Jones
Victor Jones
Victor Purnell Jones is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the twelfth round of the 1988 NFL Draft....
(1997's Echoes of Mandela), as well as solo (1995's Love Channel). In 1997, Lenz formed a trio featuring bassist Pepe Berns and drummer Thomas Alkier, who would accompany him through his European appearances. In 1999, Lenz signed with New York's Arkadia Jazz label and recorded an album with
bassist Ira Coleman (musician)
Ira Coleman (musician)
Ira Coleman is an American jazz bassist.He appears on four albums by Paris-based pianist Laurent de Wilde and has worked with artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Milt Jackson, Ulf Wakenius, John Esposito, Joanne Brackeen, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams....
and drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez. Featuring guest spots from saxophonist TK Blue, Rainmaker's Dream was released in 2001 to high praise from the U.S. jazz community.
Lenz continued recording duets with Nomakosazana and
trio jazz with Ed Schuller and John Betsch
John Betsch
John Betsch is an American jazz drummer.Betsch began on percussion at age nine, and attended Fisk University, Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. After playing in organ trios, he released an album as a leader, Earth Blossom, in 1975...
. In 2005 he began working and recording duets with French saxohonist François Jeanneau. With duo partner Jeanneau he toured numerous countries including India and Pakistan. In 2007, Lenz founded the 105 Jazz with bassist Gerhard Kubach and drummer Zam Johnson. In 2010 he founded a performing and recording duo with bassist Ed Schuller. At present, Lenz continues performing with François Jeanneau, Ed Schuller, 105 Jazz and as solo pianist. He is also touring on behalf of
the German Auswaertige Amt, the German Goethe Institut and the French Alliance Française
Alliance française
The Alliance française , or AF, is an international organisation that aims to promote French language and culture around the world. created in Paris on 21 July 1883, its primary concern is teaching French as a second language and is headquartered in Paris -History:The Alliance was created in Paris...
.
Discography
- Midnight Candy, 1986, Enja 5009
- Live at Sweet Basil, 1989, Enja 6008, with Cecil McBeeCecil McBeeCecil McBee is an American post bop jazz bassist, described by the Guinness Who's Who of Jazz as "a full-toned bassist who creates rich, singing phrases in a wide range of contemporary jazz contexts." Allmusic called him "One of post-bop's most advanced and versatile bassists".-Biography:McBee...
(b), Joe ChambersJoe ChambersJoe Chambers is an American jazz drummer, pianist, vibraphonist and composer. He attended the Philadelphia Conservatory for one year. In the 1960s and 70s Chambers gigged with many high-profile artists such as Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, Lou Donaldson, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Giuffre...
(d) - Life at the Montreux Music Festival, 1991, B&W 005/006, with Günter LenzGünter LenzGünter Lenz is a German jazz bassist and composer.- Activities :First he learned, assisted by Carlo Bohländer, playing guitar and since the mid-1950s, he played jazz in the clubs of the U.S. Army. During the 1959/1960 national service, he switched to the bass...
(b), Allen BlairmanAllen BlairmanAllen Blairman is an American jazz drummer best known for his collaboration with Albert Ayler and Mal WaldronAllen Blairman is living in Heidelberg, Germany since 1971.-Career:...
(d) - Konzert der verlorenen Söhne, 1992, Konnex 5035, with Johannes Barthelmes (ts, ss)
- Trane's Tree, 1993, Konnex 5057, with Johannes Barthelmes (ts); Preis der Deutschen SchallplattenkritikPreis der deutschen SchallplattenkritikThe Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik is an annual prize presented for achievement in recorded music.It was inaugurated in Germany in 1963 by publisher Richard Kaselowsky with the aim of recognizing the "most rigorous standards for supreme achievement" in the field of recording.The awards...
1994 - Trouble in Paradise, 1993, Tutu 888144, with Nomakosazana (v)
- Love Channel, 1995, Bellaphon 45100
- Echoes of Mandela, 1997, Tutu 888180, with Ed Schuller (b), Victor JonesVictor JonesVictor Purnell Jones is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the twelfth round of the 1988 NFL Draft....
(d) - Rainmaker's Dance, 2001, Arkadia Jazz 71031, with Ira Coleman (b), Horatio "El Negro" Hernandez (d), T. K. BlueT. K. BlueT.K. Blue is an American jazz saxophonist from New York City. His parents were Jamaican and Trinidadian, and he has used their Afro-Caribbean musical styles in his own work. He has worked with, among others, Don Cherry and the South African pianist Dollar Brand.T.K...
(as) - Tenderness - The Art of the Duo, 2004, Tutu 888198, with Nomakosazana (v)
- Good-bye Venus, 2007, Tutu 888218, with Ed Schuller (b), John Betsch (d)
- Walking in the Wind, 2008, Tutu 888226, with François Jeanneau (s)
- Is there a life after Bradley’s ?, 2011, Tutu 888238, with Ed Schuller (b)
- Une Fille pop, 2011, Vila Mariana, with Emmanuel Tugny and the Lady Guaiba's Swing Band