Composition & Arrangement

NEW BOOK // Micro-Studies #004 - Melodic Minor in Motion

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I’m happy to announce that my latest micro study, #004 – Melodic Minor in Motion, is now available! After focusing my previous micro-study mainly on saxophonists, this new one explores a topic relevant to all improvising musicians — the melodic minor scale and its modes. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a systematic and practical approach to studying this material, combining theory, exercises, compositions, and études to make it both structured and inspiring.

The book (PDF, 90 pages) is available in English and German on MELAX MUSIC.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback once you’ve had a chance to explore it!

2nd Single | new album | ABSENT - live at LOFT

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The second single from my upcoming album ABSENT was released today. This composition is inspired by two of my greatest influences, Chris Speed and Paul Motian. At the time, I was deeply immersed in Chris’s solo album “Light Line“ and “Paul’s “Lost in a Dream“ — both of which are profoundly moving to me. With this simple ballad, “Don’t“, I wanted to showcase the clarinet’s clear and pure tone. Felix, Chris, and Fabian weave gracefully around the melody, creating a mysterious and fragile atmosphere that still captivates me every time I listen.
SKS - tenor sax | Felix Hauptmann - piano | Chris Lightcap - bass | Fabian Arends - drums

Listen here

1st Single | new album | ABSENT - live at LOFT

in ,

The first single from my upcoming album Absent was released today. Thank you to everyone who helped create this little beauty. Recorded live at LOFT, Cologne, November 2024. The tune is a composition I wrote especially for this occasion, inspired by the music of Chris Lightcap's BIGMOUTH band, which I had been arranging for the Subway Jazz Orchestra at the same time.
SKS - tenor sax | Felix Hauptmann - piano | Chris Lightcap - bass | Fabian Arends - drums

Listen here

Single releases | YOU ARE THE UNIVERSE

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2 singles of my upcoming Bigband album with the Subway Jazz Orchestra have already been released on all streaming platforms. The compositional process as well as the whole production of the music has been an intense journey that took two years. I’m very happy with the outcome and hope the listeners can find beauty and inspiring moments in the manifold details of this piece. Album release will be June 16th.

SJO\CGN Video - live at Jazzschmiede Düsseldorf

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Earlier this year we had the pleasure of performing at the Jazzschmiede again with the Subway Jazz Orchestra. My new suite for jazz orchestra - YOU ARE THE UNIVERSE - was performed here for the first time (the corresponding album is in the works :-).

We also played my piece FLY, which can be found on our current album "Still Screaming" (float music 2020). Here is a little video of it. Many thanks to Lars Wallat and the Jazzschmiede!

YOU NAME IT, WE PLAY IT! VOL II - Subway Jazz Orchestra

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Here's a little impression of our 'YOU NAME IT, WE PLAY IT! VOL II' concert with the Subway Jazz Orchestra from last April. At the beginning of this year we asked the audience to tell us their favorite tunes. Eight fantastic composers from Cologne picked one tune each and arranged it for the band. In the video you hear Martin Gasser's version of the Björk title 'Black Lake' (with a long tenor solo of mine in the middle :-)