Christoph Irniger (born October 30, 1979) is a Swiss

jazz saxophonist Jazz saxophonists are musicians who play various types of saxophones ( alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone etc.) in jazz and its associated subgenres. The techniques and instrumentation of this type of performance have evolved ove ...

bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or ...

and composer.

Education

Christoph Irniger studied at

Zurich University of the Arts Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK, german: Zürcher Hochschule der Künste) has approximately 2,500 students, which makes it the largest arts university in Switzerland. The university was established in 2007, following the merger between Zurich' ...

Music Pedagogy and at the

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (german: Hochschule Luzern) (HSLU) is one of seven regional, public-funded universities of applied sciences founded in 1997 in its current form. The University was called University of Applied Scienc ...

Performance Jazz with Christoph Grab and

Nat Su Nat or NAT may refer to: Computing * Network address translation (NAT), in computer networking Organizations * National Actors Theatre, New York City, U.S. * National AIDS trust, a British charity * National Archives of Thailand * National As ...

between 2000 and 2006. In the following years he stayed regularly in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

taking lessons with

Dave Liebman David Liebman (born September 4, 1946) is an American saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator. He is known for his innovative lines and use of atonality. He was a frequent collaborator with pianist Richie Beirach. In June 2010, he received a N ...

, Mark Turner and

Ari Hoenig Ari Hoenig (born November 13, 1973) is an American jazz drummer, composer, and educator. Educational materials Hoenig has taught and is on the faculty at New York University and The New School in New York. He gives clinics and lectures at music ...

Career

Beside his own Trio and his band Pilgrim, which was selected for the three-years-programm high priority jazz promotion of Pro Helvetia during 2015 - 2017, Irniger was part of several other projects. From 2007 to 2014 he was part of the conducted by David Grottschreiber, where he played with, among others, Dave Douglas, Claudio Puntin and Matthias Spillmann. His visits to Berlin and New York have led to a number of diverse collaborations, including:

Nasheet Waits Nasheet Waits is an American jazz drummer. Son of percussionist Freddie Waits, Nasheet Waits is a New York native who has been active on the jazz scene since early in his life. Before pursuing a music career, he studied psychology and history a ...

(No Reduce), Ohad Talmor (Counterpoints) Michael Bates and Don Philippe. He did concerts and recordings with a.o.

Nils Wogram Nils Wogram (born 7 November 1972) is a jazz trombonist, composer and bandleader. He began classical study at the age of fifteen. He was a member in the National German Youth Big Band, participated in classical competitions and formed his own ba ...

Hayden Chisholm Hayden Chisholm (born 27 May 1975) is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand. He performs jazz, improvised music, and contemporary classical music. Life and career Chisholm was raised in New Plymouth, New Zealand, by parents ...

, Max Frankl,

Stefan Rusconi Stefan Rusconi (born 14 February 1979) is a Swiss pianist and composer. Work Since 2004, along with Fabian Gisler (bass) and Claudio Strüby (drums), Rusconi is playing with his band Rusconi across the world. So far, they release six record ...

, Christian Weber, Chris Wiesendanger, Vera Kappeler, Jean-Paul Brodbeck and

Peter Frei Peter Frei (born 6 August 1946 in Davos) is a Swiss former alpine skier who competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics. Career He raced for the SC Davos. At the Lauberhorn ski races in 1968 he skied with the number 162 on the fifth place at the sl ...

, as also the Reggae groups Dodo & the Liberators and GG & the Informers. Irniger lives in

Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...

and teaches saxophone at the music school Konservatorium Zürich since 2004. In 2011 he initiated the jazz series Jazz im Seefeld in

and co-founded the Jazzwerkstatt in Zürich.

Bandprojects

*''Pilgrim'' (since 2009) with Stefan Aeby – piano; Dave Gisler – guitar; Raffaele Bossard – doubblebass; Michi Stulz – drums; Christoph Irniger, tenor saxophone *''Christoph Irniger Trio'' (since 2012) with Raffaele Bossard – doubblebass; Ziv Ravitz – drums; Christoph Irniger – tenor saxophone *''Cowboys From Hell'' (since 2005) with Marco Blöchlinger – bass; Chrigel Bosshard – drums; Christoph Irniger – tenor saxophone & electronics *''Noir'' (since 2012) with Don Philippe – guitar; Christoph Irniger – tenor saxophone *''Counterpoints'' (since 2012) with Ohad Talmor – tenor saxophone; Bänz Oester – doubblebass; Dan Weiss – drums; Christoph Irniger – tenor saxophone

Discography

*2008 Christoph Irniger Quartett ''Chat Noir'' (

Brambus Records Brambus Records is a small record label based in Chur, Switzerland. It was founded 1988 by Paul Rostetter. In 2013, Brambus Records celebrated 25 years of existence and his 270th released production. The record label is focused on international f ...

) *2008 Cowboys From Hell ''Monster Rodeo'' (

Altrisuoni Altrisuoni (portmanteau of the Italian words 'altri' and 'suoni', meaning 'other sounds') is an independent Swiss jazz record label created in 1993 by Romano Nardelli, Stefano Franchini and Christian Gilardi. From 2016, Altrisuoni belongs to PBR R ...

) *2010 R.I.S.S. ''Color&Style'' (Unit Records) *2011 Christoph Irniger Pilgrim ''Mt. Tongariro'' (Between The Lines) *2012 Cowboys From Hell ''Big Fish'' (Double Moon) * Noir, ''Further Reductions'' (Contemplate, 2013) *2012 NoReduce ''Jaywalkin'' (nWog Records) * Christoph Irniger Trio, ''Gowanus Canal'' (

Intakt Records Intakt Records is an independent record label, based in Zürich. History The label was founded in 1986 by Patrik Landolt.Margasak, Peter (September 2013) "Intakt's Landolt Takes Long-Term Approach to Avant-Garde". ''Down Beat''. p. 16. In the ea ...

, 2013) * Christoph Irniger Pilgrim, ''Italian Circus Story'' (Intakt Records, 2014) * Christoph Irniger Trio, ''Octopus'' (Intakt Records, 2015) * Christoph Irniger Pilgrim, ''Big Wheel Live'' (Intakt Records, 2016)

References

External links

* :Swiss composers {{DEFAULTSORT:Irniger, Christoph 1979 births Musicians from Zürich Swiss jazz saxophonists Living people Intakt Records artists