He studied jazz at Arizona State University (USA) and graduated in Jazz Studies from University of Mannheim. In the year 2000 he founded the record labels JAZZ’n’ARTS and RODENSTEIN RECORDS. He is working and recording as a freelance saxophonist as well as teaching at Mannheim Music School and currently is doing many projects with the Mannheim National Theatre. His CD with the band JazzXchange was published on the famous BLUE NOTE RECORDS Label. Check out his performances and recordings at www.olafschoenborn.com
There are several bands with various musical styles which Olaf took part of, such as Olaf Schönborn’s Q 4 (melodic jazz quartett with originals), Melody, Rhythm and Tap (trio with saxophone, drums and tap dance), Trio Variety (jazztrio feat. drummer Allen Blairman), Fridge People (Fusion quintet), Cocada (Brazilian Jazz), Xiaomei Deng International Ensemble (world music ensemble with Chinese erhu, strings, percussion, vibraphone and saxophone), Sarah Kaiser Band (German singer), Triologie (French chansons, musette and swing with accordion and acoustic guitar), Hi Voltage Sextet (Tribute to Hank Mobley), Changes (Modern Jazz, originals), Acoustic Affaire (Latin/Jazz/Pop-Originals), Kicks’n Sticks (BigBand), Blairman / Schönborn / Simpson (organ groove trio) , Fresh&Cool (funk&soul coverband) and many more.
Olaf recorded several CDs with his bands and also for himself too, he also constantly performs in internationally well-known festivals and events, such as North Sea Jazz Festival Den Haag, Montreux Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Jazzfestival Toulon (France), Deutsches Jazzfest in Frankfurt, Jazzfestival Szeged (Hungary), Perugia, Festival d’Estate (Italy), Leipziger Jazztage.
He had gigs with many famous musicians such as Kenny Wheeler, Maria Schneider, Joe Gallardo, Herb Geller, Don Menza, Emil Mangelsdorff, Ack van Royen, Carolyn Breuer, Allen Blairman, Al Martino, Bill Ramsey, Sabine Meyer, Xavier Naidoo, Thomas Siffling, Bobby Burgess BigBand Explosion, Russ Spiegel BigBand, Jochen Brauer, Thilo Wagner, Vitoslav Rek, Dirik Schilgen Quartett, Rainer Tempel BigBand, Kicks’n Sticks (BigBand), Fritz Muenzer, Tentet (Swing / Cool Jazz), and SWR Symphony Orchestra. Also workshops with Lee Konitz, George Garzone, Dave Liebman, James Moody, Jimmy Cobb, Peter Erskine, Ack van Royen, Bobby Shew, Bobby Burgess, Ernie Watts, Greg Osby, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Rascher Quartett, Antonio Hart, Maria Schneider, Joe Lovano, Herb Geller and David Friesen.
Olaf is playing Antigua Power Bell alto saxophone AS4240AQ and Model 25 alto saxophone AS4348CU.