Firomanum live at JazzBaltica 2002

Niels Klein - Tenor Saxophone

Arne Jansen - Guitar
Eva Kruse - Bass
Nils Tegen - Drums

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune Salzau, July 2002

1. Brand 4 (Klein)
2. Cielo Argento (Jansen)
3. Ranterkant jagt (Tegen)
4. New/ Old Tendency (Tegen)
5. Firomanum (Kruse)

Last October I introduced this really great German quartet to you. This concert here was a kind of breakthough for the getting wider recognition in Germany, followed by their debut recording called "Firomanum" released in 2003 on Schoener Hoeren.

Young German Jazz live at WDR Jazz Cologne 2009

Niels Klein & Stéphane Guillaume Sextet

Niels Klein – tenor sax, bass clarinet
Stéphane Guillaume – soprano sax, flute
Claus Stötter – trumpet
Frédéric Favarel – guitar
Robert Landfermann – bass
Jonas Burgwinkel – drums

recorded live at Stadtgarten Köln, October 31, 2009

1. Three Circles (Niels Klein)
2. Crossing Tativille (Stephane Guillaume)
3. Progression (Niels Klein)
4. Last Plan On A Smile (Stephane Guillaume)
5. ?

Niels Klein, born 1978 in Hamburg, Germany, begins saxophone playing at the age of 13, first public appearences at the of 15. 1996 1st price winner in the competition „Jugend Jazzt Niedersachsen“. since 1998 studies in saxophone and composition at the Hochschule für Musik, Köln, winner of the „Jazzpodium Niedersachsen 2000“ Price. At WDR jazz.cologne 2009 he met French sax fellow Stephane Guillaume.

Robert Landfermann solo

Robert Landfermann – bass

6. Ich habe nie gelernt zu frieren

recorded live at WDR Funkhaus Köln, Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, October 31, 2009

Robert Landfermann was born 1982 in Oberwinter near Bonn. At the age of 7 he began playing classical guitar moved to e-bass and finally to the doublebass. Soon he made various musical experiences. From 2002 till 2009 he studied Jazz-doublebass in Cologne with Dieter Manderscheid and got lessons on various masterclasses with Mark Dresser, Mike Richmond, Martin Wind, John Hollenbeck, Peter Herbolzheimer, Hiram Bullock, Phil Woods a.o.
Robert Landfermann received the "WDR-Jazzpreis 2009" for best Soloist.

Jonas Burgwinkel & Omar Klein Duo

Jonas Burgwinkel – drums
Omar Klein - piano

7. 5/8 Mantra (Klein)

recorded live at WDR Funkhaus Köln, Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, October 31, 2009

Jonas started playing drums at the age of nine taking private lessons. In 1999 he entered the Conservatory of Maastricht as a young student while still attending highschool. That same year he won several Jazz competitions and was a guest of the Bundes Jazz Orchestra where he took lessons with John Riley. In 2003-2004 he enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and has being taught by Ralph Peterson and Jamey Haddad.
In 2009 he won the "BEST SOLOIST AWARD" on the "European Jazz Competition" at the "North Sea Jazzfestival" in Rotterdam and the reknown "WDR-Jazzpreis 2009" in Germany. He is furthermore a vital part and very sought after player on the scene.

Landfermann/ Burgwinkel/ Klein/ Held

Niels Klein – tenor sax
Pablo Held - piano
Robert Landfermann – bass
Jonas Burgwinkel – drums

8. Music

recorded live at WDR Funkhaus Köln, Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, October 31, 2009

Firomanum live at Jazzfest Berlin 2008

Foto © Fritz Meffert, Collage Patrick Hespeler

Niels Klein - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinets
Arne Jansen - Guitar
Eva Kruse - Bass
Nils Tegen - Drums

recorded live at A-Trane, Berlin, November 7, 2008

1. Ranterkant jagt (Tegen)
2. March (Jansen)
3. The mean Spider of Tandonrine (Kruse)
4. CPO (Klein)
5. Progression (Tegen)
6. Firomatie (Tegen)
7. New/old Tenderly (Tegen)

A band without a leader? Is that actually survivable in this fast moving age? Even more when all band members already participate in a lot of successful projects?
Half of the quartet Firomanum lives in Cologne, the other half in Berlin. Since their formation in 2000, the four work on a democratic basis: Everyone writes for everyone, all play for all, together they’re Firomanum. This distribution of power, falls in place to a balanced ensemble. In every member are those sparks that the name of the band promises. And they sparkle auspiciously. After their succesful debut album „Firomanum“ in 2003 (Schoener Hoeren) they now sovereignly come up with their second album "SCOPE", released on Traumton: