David Gazarov, piano
The German-Armenian pianist David Gazarov studied at the Baku Conservatory with Elmira Nazirova, who was herself a pupil of Shostakovich. Even during this early period, jazz was already playing an important role in his life. He moved to Moscow in 1989 and studied the jazz piano at the prestigious Gnessin State Institute for Musical Education. Among his many awards was first prize in the First Russian Jazz Competition in 1990, leading to invitations to appear at major jazz festivals in Moscow, St Petersburg, Tbilisi and Yerevan. Following his move to Moscow in 1991, David Gazarov has appeared regularly with international jazz greats such as Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Jimmy Woode, James Morrison and Martin Drew at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Stuttgart Jazz Open and elsewhere, performing jazz, crossover, classical music and his own works.
Kilian Forster, double bass
Kilian Forster was formerly a member of the Herbert von Karajan Foundation of the Berlin Philharmonic and subsequently deputy principal double bass with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. For the next ten years he was principal double bass with the Dresden Philharmonic. Throughout this period he appeared all over the world, giving solo recitals and concerts with conductors of the eminence of Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Sergiu Celibidache and Riccardo Muti, all of whom have left their mark on his musical development. It was also during this period that he developed his second great love: jazz in all its manifestations, with particular emphasis on classical crossover. Central to his work as a creative artist is his collaboration with Klazz Brothers. He has also appeared in the concert hall with Jacques Loussier, James Morrison and Martin Drew. In his capacity as an arts administrator, he runs the Dresden Jazz Festival, making his mark not only in the city itself but also in the wider world of jazz.
Tim Hahn, drums
Tim Hahn studied percussion in Cottbus, Dresden and Rotterdam. He has taken part in numerous master classes and workshops, including the Drummers Collective in New York and the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. He is in demand as a session and studio drummer and has participated in many CD recordings with eminent artists. Apart from his numerous television appearances with artists of the calibre of José Carreras and Andrea Bocelli, Tim Hahn is a founder member of the European Jazz Collective as well as the drummer in Europe’s most famous Queen tribute band, MerQury. In 2008 he founded the acclaimed Ensemble Cuba Nova.