{"id":9,"date":"2026-02-23T16:32:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/neu-rolfzielke.de\/?page_id=9"},"modified":"2026-02-23T16:43:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:43:25","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rolfzielke.de\/","title":{"rendered":"about me"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u2018Since I first moved to Berlin in 1996, I’ve been collaborating on international contemporary jazz projects \u2013 with Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Arab and Anatolian musicians. My work has been greatly influenced by my experiences of building musical bridges between jazz and the music of South America and the Middle East. My ‚classical‘ and ’new music‘ compositions are also created from this musical perspective.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pianist and composer Rolf Zielke\u2019s music is a reflection on contemporary jazz, Latin and Brazilian jazz, and music of the \u2018Middle East\u2019.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Technically he knows all the tricks\u2026 The man from Berlin presents himself as a pianist who is able to surprise the overcrowded trio-genre with a fresh, new sound.\u2019 (Jazz thing)<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The listener experiences piano-trio-jazz of the highest order: Zielke, winner of many awards and a man who has worked with musicians from many cultures, presents four top-class compositions of his own (\u2026) Because of these compositions and the musicians\u2019 intuitive understanding this brilliant performance is an exciting masterpiece from beginning to end.\u2019 (Jazzpodium)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the mid-eighties, Rolf Zielke has been an active member of the international jazz scene, presenting his own projects and accompanying renowned artists such as Charlie Mariano. Through years of intensive concert touring in Germany, Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA he has developed an individual but international sound.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018As long as there are musicians like Rolf Zielke and Herbie Hancock, who display such far-sightedness during their concerts, one needn\u2019t fear the lack of innovation in the jazz scene.\u2019 (Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Festivals:
<\/em><\/strong>French German Jazz Series<\/em>, Washington DC (USA), \u2018Dedication to Maestro Festival\u2019<\/em>, Hermitage, St. Petersburg, (Russia), \u2018Tear Down that Wall\u2019<\/em>, Tijuana (Mexico), European Festival of Culture<\/em> in Algier (Algeria), German-Kurdish Culture Days<\/em>, Erbil (Iraq), music festivals in Bejing, Nanjing and Fuzhou (China),  Interna\u00adtional Jazz Festival<\/em> \u2013 lasi (Rumania), \u2018Ohrid Summer Festival\u2019<\/em> (Macedonia), \u2018Jazz on the Oder\u2019<\/em> \u2013 Wroclaw, International Jazz Fair<\/em> \u2013 Poznan, Dialogue of Cultures<\/em>, Lodz, \u2018Mozartiana\u2019<\/em>, Gdansk (Poland), \u2019Martin\u016f Festtage\u2019<\/em>, Basel (Switzerland), \u2018Rheingau Musikfestival\u2019<\/em>, \u2018Schleswig Holstein Musikfestival\u2019, \u2018Jazztage\u2019<\/em> Hannover, \u2018Masala\u2019 World Music Festival<\/em> Hannover, \u2018Jazztime\u2019<\/em> Hildesheim (Germany)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerts \/ CD-Recordings with:<\/em><\/strong>
Charlie Mariano, Thomas Quasthoff, Mike Stern, Ed Motta, Hendrik Meurkens, David Friedman, Peter Weniger, Ed Schuller, Bireli Lagrene, Jiggs Whigham, Benny Baily, Red Holloway, Scott Hamilton, Krzesimir Debski, Stacy Kent, Judy Niemack, Sergej Starostin (\u2018Moskow Art Trio\u2019<\/em>), Kaigal-Ool Khovalig (\u2018Hun Huur Tu\u2019<\/em>), Nahawa Doumbia, Urna Chahar-Tugchi, Eda Zari, ‚DSO‘<\/em> – Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, \u2018RIAS\u2019-Big Band<\/em> Berlin \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tours: <\/em><\/strong>
<\/em>USA (New York, Texas, Florida, Washington DC), Cuba (Havana), Mexico (Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez), Africa (Algeria, Cameroon), Asia (China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Iraq) and in 15 European countries (including concerts in London, Madrid, Zurich, Rome, Warsaw, St. Petersburg and Istanbul)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards:<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– \u2018Jazzpodium Niedersachsen\u2019, 13 awards
– Berlin Senate, \u2018Studioprojekt\u2019, 3 awards
– 2011 German UNESCO Commission Sonderpreis ‚Hasretim\u2019 (comp. Marc Sinan), Dresdner Sinfoniker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Activities<\/strong><\/em>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rolf Zielke currently teaches at the the \u2018Jazz Institute Berlin\u2019 (JIB), the \u2018Hanns Eisler\u2019 School of Music Berlin and the ‚University of the Arts (UdK)
<\/em>Rolf Zielke is the author of \u2018Global Groove\u2019: AComplete Guide to Playing in Odd Meters for All Instruments (Advance Music \/ Schott)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CDs \/ selection:<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2021 \u2013 \u2018Beaches In Your Soul\u2019 2018 \u2013 \u2018Triometrics\u2019 feat. Stephan Braun
2016 \u2013 \u2018Hot Impressions Vol.2\u2019 feat. Peter Weniger
2013 \u2013 \u2018Hasretim\u2019 (ECM) Dresdner Sinfoniker with guest musicians
2011 \u2013 Duo Rolf Zielke \u2013 Mustafa Bozt\u00fcy
2009 \u2013 \u2018Handel Jazz\u2019 feat. Stephan Abel \/ Rhani Krija
2004 \u2013 \u2018Hot Impressions\u2019 feat. Charlie Mariano
2002 \u2013 \u2018Exosphere\u2019 feat. Mike Stern
2001 \u2013 \u2018Rolf Zielke Trio\u2019 feat. Mustafa Bozt\u00fcy
1996 \u2013 \u2018BLOW UP\u2019 feat. Ulita Knaus \/ Krzesimir D\u0119bski<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compositions for film and theatre: <\/em><\/strong>
<\/em>– ‚Deszcz<\/a>‚ (\u2018Rain\u2019<\/strong> 1990) and ‚\u015alub Krawca<\/a>‚ (\u2018The Tailor\u2019s Wedding\u2019<\/strong> 2000) with polish filmmaker El\u017cbieta W\u0105sik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– \u2018Hexentanz und Teufelsschwanz\u2019 (\u2018Witches\u2019 Dance and the Devil\u2019s Tail\u2019, 2003), a musical written for an orchestra, chorus and ballet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2006, Rolf Zielke led the Jazz Art Ensemble, based in Lower-Saxony.<\/p>\n\n\n