Kolsimcha - Biography
Since their formation in 1986, the unique sound of Kolsimcha has captivated and enthralled the demanding audiences at New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall as well as those at the most renowned jazz, classical and world music festivals on three continents. Through their original musical language, sheer enthusiasm and virtuosity, they create a concert atmosphere unlike any other group. It is guaranteed to have the listeners cheering on their feet.
Hailed by the LA Times as the 'fantastic five', this incredible ensemble pairs a front line of clarinet and flute with a super tight rhythm section of acoustic bass, drums and piano to create a groundbreaking mix of thrilling jazz improvisations, dazzling symphonic sounds and exotic Mediterranean melodies alternating with poignant ballads and sensuous Eastern European rhythms. Their music has been described as everything from 'a new world music' (The Independent) to 'anatomically impossible' (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).
As well as appearing at most of the major European venues and festivals, Kolsimcha has provided the music for celebrated international theatre, dance and movie productions. They have played on the soundtrack for Caroline Link's Oscar-nominated drama “Beyond Silence”, and have composed the soundtrack for Academy Award winner Xavier Koller's film “Gripsholm”. They also played on several ballets and theatre productions, composed by pianist Olivier Truan, such as “Ballettabend II” by Marc Ribeaud, “Mayday” by Joachim Schlömer, and “Ghetto” by Josua Sobol.
In addition to performing as a 5-piece band, they also have an original repertoire for quintet and symphony orchestra, “Symphonic World”, which crosses musical boundaries and attracts a wide audience. In 2013 the band made a fantastic recording of this repertoire with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.
OLIVIER TRUAN – Piano, Composition
Olivier Truan studied piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received a BM in music. After further studies at the Manhattan School of Music and the Academy of Music in Basel, he collaborated on a number of recordings and concerts with, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lew Soloff and Rick Margitza and many others.
He was also composer and musical director of many theatre plays in Germany and Switzerland, including “Bullets over Broadway”, “Ghetto”, “Der Revisor”, “Die Vögel”, and “Hochzeit” at the state theatres of Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Düsseldorf.
Olivier Truan composed the Jazz musical “Marilyn” for the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in München, and the ballet “La Fermosa”. He also composed music for the choreographies “Mayday” and “Ballettabend II” at the state theatre of Basel. He wrote the soundtrack to the motion pictures “Gripsholm” by academy award winner Xavier Koller , and “Anna annA” by Jürgen Brauer.
As a classical composer he has written many concertos and pieces for small ensembles, which have been performed throughout Europe. He was commissioned by the “Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt” to write 4 concertos that will be played by François Leleux, David Frühwirth, Beni Santora, Ariel Zuckermann, and Michael Heitzler.
Apart from this, Olivier Truan has also become one of the world's leading sound programmers. His award winning sample CD-ROMs are regarded as standard works in digital piano libraries and are used by artists such as Elton John, Chick Corea, Prince and Stevie Wonder.
Olivier is founding member of Kolsimcha, and has been with the band since 1986.
DANIEL FRICKER - Bass
Daniel Fricker studied classical music and jazz at the Basel conservatory at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern. After completing his studies he quickly became one of the busiest bass players in Switzerland, mainly due to his ability to perform in all musical styles. He has played in all kinds of musical projects such as: jazz bands, musicals, rock bands, and classical orchestras.
He has performed and/or recorded with well known international musicians with whom he toured all five continents. In Europe he has performed with artists such as Adam Nussbaum, Danny Gottlieb, Tony Scott, Lionel and many others great artists.
Daniel has been a regular member of Kolsimcha since 1990.
MICHAEL HEITZLER – Clarinet, Composition
Michael Heitzler studied classical clarinet with Professor Dieter Klöcker at the Academy of Music in Freiburg, Germany, and jazz with Dave Liebman at the Mannes College in New York. He has performed with the “Baden-Baden Radio Orchestra”, the “Klezmatics”, Itzhak Perlman, Albert Mangelsdorff, and frequently toured with the “European Symphony Orchestra” conducted by Antal Dorati, with whom he played concerts in Moscow, Dresden, Berlin, and London. He was a founding member of the wind ensemble “Deutsche Kammerharmonie” and has also performed with “Ensemble Moderne” and at the State Theatre of Karlsruhe.
Michael Heitzler lived in New York for 8 years, where he performed with Phil Markowitz, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure Band, Kevin Hayes, Billy Hart, Frank Brambera, and Don Friedman. He also led his own group with which he played many concerts around New York.
Michael is founding member of Kolsimcha and has been with the band since 1986.
ARIEL ZUCKERMANN – Flute, Conducting
Ariel Zuckermann studied in Munich with Paul Meisen and András Adorján. He attended master classes with Alain Marion and Aurèle Nicolet and has won numerous awards in international competitions. He has played with the “Bavaria Radio Orchestra”, “Münchner Philharmoniker”, “Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” and the “Münchner Staatsorchester” conducted variously by Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta and Ricardo Muti. As a soloist, and in chamber music groups, he has toured Israel, Europe and Asia.
Ariel Zuckermann began his second career as a conductor studying with the legendary Jorma Panula and became assistant in 2003 / 2004 to Ivan Fischer, chief conductor of the “Budapest Festival Orchestra”.
He has since conducted many orchestras including the “Israel Philharmonic Orchestra”, “Sinfonieorchester Basel”, “Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon-Lezion”, “Münchner Symphoniker”, and the “Bayerisches Staatsorchester”. In 2007 he became the principal conductor of the “Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt”.
Ariel has been a regular member of Kolsimcha since 2000.
CHRISTOPH STAUDENMANN - Drums
Christoph Staudenmann was born 1969 in Biel/Switzerland. As a child he loved to accompany songs on the radio on pans, kettles and all kinds of kitchen accessories. Finally he got a real drum-kit and started a drumming career that lead him to his first semi-professional experiences with the rock band ‘New Point’. His musical taste turned more and more towards jazz which finally led him to study at the Jazzschule Luzern in 1993, graduating 1997.
Christoph’s playing benefits from his wide knowledge of many different kinds of musical styles and his sensitivity of interpretation, always in control of taste and technique. Therefore – and not by mistake – he is one of the leading Swiss drummers, working with renowned musicians such as George Gruntz, Herbie Kopf, Marco Figini and many others.
1998 he joined the ensemble of the Swiss saxophonist Jan Brönnimann ‘Brink Man Ship’. In this environment Christoph took the opportunity to experiment with sampling grooves and modern beats. This project has toured internationally visiting festivals in Vancouver, Montreal, Tallinn, Jamaica, Willisau and others.
Christoph is the newest member of Kolsimcha, and has been part of the band since late 2007.
Hailed by the LA Times as the 'fantastic five', this incredible ensemble pairs a front line of clarinet and flute with a super tight rhythm section of acoustic bass, drums and piano to create a groundbreaking mix of thrilling jazz improvisations, dazzling symphonic sounds and exotic Mediterranean melodies alternating with poignant ballads and sensuous Eastern European rhythms. Their music has been described as everything from 'a new world music' (The Independent) to 'anatomically impossible' (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).
As well as appearing at most of the major European venues and festivals, Kolsimcha has provided the music for celebrated international theatre, dance and movie productions. They have played on the soundtrack for Caroline Link's Oscar-nominated drama “Beyond Silence”, and have composed the soundtrack for Academy Award winner Xavier Koller's film “Gripsholm”. They also played on several ballets and theatre productions, composed by pianist Olivier Truan, such as “Ballettabend II” by Marc Ribeaud, “Mayday” by Joachim Schlömer, and “Ghetto” by Josua Sobol.
In addition to performing as a 5-piece band, they also have an original repertoire for quintet and symphony orchestra, “Symphonic World”, which crosses musical boundaries and attracts a wide audience. In 2013 the band made a fantastic recording of this repertoire with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.
OLIVIER TRUAN – Piano, Composition
Olivier Truan studied piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received a BM in music. After further studies at the Manhattan School of Music and the Academy of Music in Basel, he collaborated on a number of recordings and concerts with, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lew Soloff and Rick Margitza and many others.
He was also composer and musical director of many theatre plays in Germany and Switzerland, including “Bullets over Broadway”, “Ghetto”, “Der Revisor”, “Die Vögel”, and “Hochzeit” at the state theatres of Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Düsseldorf.
Olivier Truan composed the Jazz musical “Marilyn” for the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in München, and the ballet “La Fermosa”. He also composed music for the choreographies “Mayday” and “Ballettabend II” at the state theatre of Basel. He wrote the soundtrack to the motion pictures “Gripsholm” by academy award winner Xavier Koller , and “Anna annA” by Jürgen Brauer.
As a classical composer he has written many concertos and pieces for small ensembles, which have been performed throughout Europe. He was commissioned by the “Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt” to write 4 concertos that will be played by François Leleux, David Frühwirth, Beni Santora, Ariel Zuckermann, and Michael Heitzler.
Apart from this, Olivier Truan has also become one of the world's leading sound programmers. His award winning sample CD-ROMs are regarded as standard works in digital piano libraries and are used by artists such as Elton John, Chick Corea, Prince and Stevie Wonder.
Olivier is founding member of Kolsimcha, and has been with the band since 1986.
DANIEL FRICKER - Bass
Daniel Fricker studied classical music and jazz at the Basel conservatory at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern. After completing his studies he quickly became one of the busiest bass players in Switzerland, mainly due to his ability to perform in all musical styles. He has played in all kinds of musical projects such as: jazz bands, musicals, rock bands, and classical orchestras.
He has performed and/or recorded with well known international musicians with whom he toured all five continents. In Europe he has performed with artists such as Adam Nussbaum, Danny Gottlieb, Tony Scott, Lionel and many others great artists.
Daniel has been a regular member of Kolsimcha since 1990.
MICHAEL HEITZLER – Clarinet, Composition
Michael Heitzler studied classical clarinet with Professor Dieter Klöcker at the Academy of Music in Freiburg, Germany, and jazz with Dave Liebman at the Mannes College in New York. He has performed with the “Baden-Baden Radio Orchestra”, the “Klezmatics”, Itzhak Perlman, Albert Mangelsdorff, and frequently toured with the “European Symphony Orchestra” conducted by Antal Dorati, with whom he played concerts in Moscow, Dresden, Berlin, and London. He was a founding member of the wind ensemble “Deutsche Kammerharmonie” and has also performed with “Ensemble Moderne” and at the State Theatre of Karlsruhe.
Michael Heitzler lived in New York for 8 years, where he performed with Phil Markowitz, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure Band, Kevin Hayes, Billy Hart, Frank Brambera, and Don Friedman. He also led his own group with which he played many concerts around New York.
Michael is founding member of Kolsimcha and has been with the band since 1986.
ARIEL ZUCKERMANN – Flute, Conducting
Ariel Zuckermann studied in Munich with Paul Meisen and András Adorján. He attended master classes with Alain Marion and Aurèle Nicolet and has won numerous awards in international competitions. He has played with the “Bavaria Radio Orchestra”, “Münchner Philharmoniker”, “Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” and the “Münchner Staatsorchester” conducted variously by Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta and Ricardo Muti. As a soloist, and in chamber music groups, he has toured Israel, Europe and Asia.
Ariel Zuckermann began his second career as a conductor studying with the legendary Jorma Panula and became assistant in 2003 / 2004 to Ivan Fischer, chief conductor of the “Budapest Festival Orchestra”.
He has since conducted many orchestras including the “Israel Philharmonic Orchestra”, “Sinfonieorchester Basel”, “Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon-Lezion”, “Münchner Symphoniker”, and the “Bayerisches Staatsorchester”. In 2007 he became the principal conductor of the “Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt”.
Ariel has been a regular member of Kolsimcha since 2000.
CHRISTOPH STAUDENMANN - Drums
Christoph Staudenmann was born 1969 in Biel/Switzerland. As a child he loved to accompany songs on the radio on pans, kettles and all kinds of kitchen accessories. Finally he got a real drum-kit and started a drumming career that lead him to his first semi-professional experiences with the rock band ‘New Point’. His musical taste turned more and more towards jazz which finally led him to study at the Jazzschule Luzern in 1993, graduating 1997.
Christoph’s playing benefits from his wide knowledge of many different kinds of musical styles and his sensitivity of interpretation, always in control of taste and technique. Therefore – and not by mistake – he is one of the leading Swiss drummers, working with renowned musicians such as George Gruntz, Herbie Kopf, Marco Figini and many others.
1998 he joined the ensemble of the Swiss saxophonist Jan Brönnimann ‘Brink Man Ship’. In this environment Christoph took the opportunity to experiment with sampling grooves and modern beats. This project has toured internationally visiting festivals in Vancouver, Montreal, Tallinn, Jamaica, Willisau and others.
Christoph is the newest member of Kolsimcha, and has been part of the band since late 2007.
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