Having spent the past decade establishing himself as one of the most dynamic and original improvisers to emerge on the European jazz scene in the '80s, Christof Lauer starts off the '90s with the release of his first recording as a leader.
Recorded with pianist Joachim Kühn, drummer Peter Erskine and bassist Palle Danielsson, Lauer wisely chose a highly regarded and challenged rhythm section well-versed in the post-Coltrane vernacular. The result is a confident musical statement that announces his arrival in no uncertain terms. Lauer received his first notice in the American jazz press in the June 1988 issue of Cadence Magazine. In a review of "Unison" the recording debut of the noted French bassist J.F.Jenny Clark, Milo Fine wrote: "... mention must be made of Lauer's fleeting but vital appearance ... A new voice to these ears, he is a tough, rolling, linear power-house whose tradition-orientated background is outward bound." This new and refreshing instrumental voice will be seeing his name in print more often now, especially since Lauer's eponymous debut, released in Europe during the fall of '88, recently German's equivalent of the Grammy as Best Jazz Recording of 1989.

Born near Frankfurt in 1953, Lauer started playing the saxophone in 1971. After studying tenor saxophone and music in Graz/Austria, from 1972-74, he lived in Wien and played jazz in several local groups. He returned to Frankfurt in 1979 where he was promptly named a full-time member of the Hessian Radio Jazz Ensemble led by trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff. In the years to come, Lauer would join the Joachim Kühn Quartet and appear in concert/or recording with such artists like drummers Alphonse Mouzon, Billy Hart and Billy Cobham, bassists Steve Swallow and Eberhard Weber, keyboarder Jasper van't Hof, percussionist Trilok Gurtu and saxophonist Charlie Mariano, and perform at jazz festivals in Paris, Zurich, Antibes, Budapest and Madrid.
The latter part of the '80s was a particularly productive period for Lauer and his visibility increased accordingly.

Some highlights: in 1986 he won the prestigious Jazz Prize awarded annually by Südwestfunk (Southwest German Radio). In 1987 he was guest for two duets on J.F. Jenny-Clark's aforementioned recording Unison. In 1988 he led a quartet at the 25th anniversary of the German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt featuring pianist Joachim Kühn and drummer Roy Haynes in February, and toured with the European Festival circuit that fall with the Carla Bley Big Band (Lauer's work can be heard on the live recording Fleur Carnivore/Watt records 21). Lauer's creative activity increased considerably in 1989 beginning in February when he was invited by Swiss National Television to headline a band with Al Foster, Buster Williams, Geri Allen and Robin Eubanks. He than led a trio in Paris with Jenny-Clark and Billy Hart before entering the studio for a recording in April with Danielsson, Erskine and Kühn. He toured Europe last fall in support of this project with Kühn, Erskine, Miroslav Vitous and Michel Portal.
In February 1991 finally there is a two week tour with Danielsson and Billy Hart, in November he is member of Joachim Kühn Jubilee Band (with Adam Nussbaum, Palle Mikkelborg, Michel Portal, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Albert Mangelsdorff a.o.). This band is presented during the Maastricht Jazz Mekka and Paris Jazz Festival.
He gets an invitation for a tour thorugh America with Billy Hart, Ron McClure and Richie Beirach in January '92.
In March 1992 he tours with Bobo Stenson, Palle Danielsson and Anders Kjellberg thorugh Europe; in summer '92 there are festival concerts with Maria João and Mario Laginha in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.
Since 1994 he is member of the United Rock and Jazz Ensemble which combines musicians like Albert Mangelsdorff, Kenny Wheeler, John Hiseman, Barbara Thompson, Wolfgang Dauner a.o. His actual projects under his own name are the Quartet with Wolfgang Puschnig, Michel Godard and Thomas Alkier (drummer from Vienna Art Orchestra) and his trio with Daniel Humair and Anthony Cox.

Biography courtesy of Uli Fild Concertbüro.