Biography

Jakob Bänsch grew up in South Germany and began playing the trumpet at an age of eight as the child of classical musicians.

While playing in youth orchestras and winning prices as a classical trumpet player, he came to jazz at the age of 12.

When he was 15 years old he completed a Pre-College (jazz trumpet) at the HMdK Stuttgart.

One year later he became one of the youngest members of the German Youth Jazz Orchestra (Bundesjazzorchester).
He was also member of the "WDR Young Composers Fellowship" Program, the "Gutenberg Jazz Collective" and the "Elbphilharmonie Jazz Academy".

Bänsch has worked closely with musicians such as Nathan East, Michael Abene, Nils Landgren, Wolfgang Haffner and as a soloist with the WDR Big-Band.

His latest project, the "Jakob Bänsch Quartet", exists since 2022.
The classical roots in his compositions for this band are distinctive and create a very personal sound.

In April 2023, his debut album "Opening" was released on "Jazzline" (Delta Music), which caused a big stir in the German Jazz scene.
In 2024 it was awarded with the German Jazz Prize in the category
 "debut album of the year".

He presented the album with his quartet at the most famous German Jazz festivals such as the "JazzOpen Stuttgart", "Jazz Baltica" and the "Leverkusener Jazztage".




"His classical trumpet playing can be heard in the impeccable command of his horn."
"A profound first statement from Germany's Young Lion."
- Bill Milkowski

"Sacredly good and hellishly gifted." - Süddeutsche Zeitung