Klaus Doldinger
Encyclopedia
Klaus Doldinger is a German
saxophonist, especially well-known for jazz
and as a composer
of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards (Honorary Award)
.
, and entered a Düsseldorf
conservatory
in 1947, originally studying piano and then clarinet, graduating in 1957. In his student years, Doldinger gained professional performing experience, starting in 1953 in the German Dixieland
band
The Feetwarmers, and recording with them in 1955. Later that year he founded Oscar's Trio, modeled on Oscar Peterson
's work.
During the 1960s he worked as a tenor saxophonist, working with visiting American jazz musicians and recording in his own right.
Doldinger is perhaps best known for his film scores to the acclaimed German U-Boat
film Das Boot
(1981) and later The NeverEnding Story
(1984).
Doldinger married Inge Beck in 1960; they have three children, Viola, Melanie and Nicolas Doldinger. Since 1968 they have resided in Icking
, a small Bavarian village, south of Munich
.
Doldinger's recurring jazz project Passport
, started in 1971 (then called "Klaus Doldinger´s Passport"), still enjoys huge success in Germany. In its influence it was sometimes called the European version of Weather Report
.
At various times members of Passport included Peter O’Mara (guitar), Roberto DiGioia (keyboards), Patrick Scales
(bass, since 1994), Ernst Stroer (:de:Ernst Ströer) (percussion, since 1989), Christian Lettner (drums, since 2000), Michael Hornek (keyboard since 2009), Biboul Darouiche (percussion, since 1995) and others. Guests include Brian Auger
(1973), Johnny Griffin
(1973) and Pete York
(1973).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
saxophonist, especially well-known for jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and as a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards (Honorary Award)
Bavarian Film Awards (Honorary Award)
This is a list of the winners of the Bavarian Film Awards Prize Honorary award.1985 Douglas Sirk1986 Heinz Rühmann1987 Luggi Waldleitner1988 Bernhard Wicki1989 Franz Seitz junior1990 Fritz Preßmar...
.
Life and work
Doldinger was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and entered a Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
in 1947, originally studying piano and then clarinet, graduating in 1957. In his student years, Doldinger gained professional performing experience, starting in 1953 in the German Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
The Feetwarmers, and recording with them in 1955. Later that year he founded Oscar's Trio, modeled on Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
's work.
During the 1960s he worked as a tenor saxophonist, working with visiting American jazz musicians and recording in his own right.
Doldinger is perhaps best known for his film scores to the acclaimed German U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
film Das Boot
Das Boot
Das Boot is a 1981 German epic war film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, produced by Günter Rohrbach, and starring Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, and Klaus Wennemann...
(1981) and later The NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story (film)
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 German-American epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Ende. The film was directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Tami Stronach. At the time of its release, it was the most...
(1984).
Doldinger married Inge Beck in 1960; they have three children, Viola, Melanie and Nicolas Doldinger. Since 1968 they have resided in Icking
Icking
Icking is a municipality in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in Bavaria in Germany.-Townships:It consists of:*Attenhausen*Dorfen*Holzen*Icking*Irschenhausen*Meilenberg*Obere Alpe*Schützenried*Schlederloh*Spatzenloh*Wadlhausen*Walchstadt...
, a small Bavarian village, south of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Doldinger's recurring jazz project Passport
Passport (band)
Passport is a German jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger.Passport was initiated in 1971 as a jazz fusion experimental group, similar to American groups such as Weather Report. The ensemble's first recording was issued in 1971, and through the 1970s had a constantly revolving...
, started in 1971 (then called "Klaus Doldinger´s Passport"), still enjoys huge success in Germany. In its influence it was sometimes called the European version of Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
.
At various times members of Passport included Peter O’Mara (guitar), Roberto DiGioia (keyboards), Patrick Scales
Patrick Scales
Patrick Scales in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany is a German electric bass guitar player and teacher.-Biography:Patrick Scales was born in a small town in the Bavarian Alps. As the town was a recreation area for the American army, there were lots of clubs with live music around. Patrick could...
(bass, since 1994), Ernst Stroer (:de:Ernst Ströer) (percussion, since 1989), Christian Lettner (drums, since 2000), Michael Hornek (keyboard since 2009), Biboul Darouiche (percussion, since 1995) and others. Guests include Brian Auger
Brian Auger
Brian Auger is a jazz and rock keyboardist, who has specialized in playing the Hammond organ.A jazz pianist, bandleader, session musician and Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon...
(1973), Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
(1973) and Pete York
Pete York
Pete York is a rock drummer who has been performing since the 1960s.-Early life:...
(1973).