With more than 40 LPs/CDs to his name, Uli Beckerhoff has earned his place in the long list of German jazz legends.
With more than 40 LPs/CDs to his name, Uli Beckerhoff has earned his place in the long list of German jazz legends. Either as a co-leader or soloist, he has performed with both European and American artists including among others, Albert Mangelsdorff, Palle Danielsson, John Scofield, Maria Joao, Charlie Mariano, Zbigniew Seifert, Adam Nussbaum. Uli is also no stranger to the German big band scene having given guest appearances with the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, the NDR Big Band, the Michael Gibbs Orchestra, the Manfred Schoof Big Band and the jazz ensemble of Hessischer Rundfunk.
As a leader Uli is known for his 1980’s trio with John Marshall and Jasper van’t Hof and during the 1990’s for his quartet with John Abercrombie, Arild Andersen and John Marshall. In addition, he continues to lead the International Skoda All-star Band.
His current Quartet features Richard Brenner: Piano, Moritz Goetzen: Double Bass and Niklas Walter, Drums, all former students of his from the University of the Arts in Essen where he was the professor of the jazz department. His current release, on Dot Time Records, titled “Heroes” features this line-up.
In addition to his work as a performer and educator Uli for fills a number of board positions in the German jazz scene. He was appointed artistic consultant in Weimar, European Capital of Culture in 1999 and is currently artistic director of jazzahead!, Europe’s biggest jazz trade fair.
In the RoRoRo Jazzlexikon, Martin Kunzler describes Ulrich Beckerhoff as a musician who “in a short time has conquered a top position in German and European jazz, … with his unique, a dynamically fine differentiated expression whose appeal is described by critic Joachim Ernst Berendt as a match of typical sensitivity with great intensity and strength.”