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Take Five With Philipp Zarfl

By AAJ Staff
March 12, 2010
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Meet Philipp Zarfl:

Born 1991 in Wolfsberg/Austria, Philipp started playing trombone at the age of 13 in the local music school. Currently (from 2007 on) he has studied with Andi Mittermayer at the Conservatory in Klagenfurt/Austria.

Instrument(s):

Trombone, Arrangement, Composition.

Teachers and/or influences?

My influences are

Bill Holman

composer / conductor
- 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Holman,

Phil Kelly

composer / conductor
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Kelly,

Frank Rosolino

trombone
1926 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Rosolino,

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker,

Conrad Herwig

trombone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Conrad Herwig,

Steve Davis

trombone
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Davis,

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis,

Michael Gibbs

trombone
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Gibbs,

Kai Winding

trombone
1922 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Kai Winding,

Sammy Nestico

composer / conductor
1924 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Sammy Nestico,

Hank Levy

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Levy,

Bob Brookmeyer

trombone
1929 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Brookmeyer,

Bill Watrous

trombone
1939 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Watrous,

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery,

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane,

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie, Ack van Rooijen, 'Jerry' van Rooijen.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I quit school to be a jazz musician.

Your sound and approach to music:

I try to play what I really mean.

Your dream band:

My dream band would be a big band but I also would like very much to play in an octet or nonet. I like to work with honest musicians who feel the music.

Road story: Your best or worst experience:

My best experiences are playing, jamming, or drinking coffee in the summer garden of Jazz Club Gajo. This club is in the center of Ljubljana/Slovenia but it's like you are in the forest and it gives you such a great atmosphere to play and relax. It's the most wonderful Jazz club I've ever been to.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

I have a lot of favorite recordings but the albums I listen the most are:

Bill Holman

composer / conductor
- 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Holman Band, In a Jazz Orbit;

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie, Basie Straight Ahead.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie, Basie Straight Ahead.

Did you know...

I also play other instruments.

CDs you are listening to now:

US Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, Things ain't what they used to be;

Klemens Marktl, Oceans Avenue;

Walt Weiskopf

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Walt Weiskopf, Simplicity;

Steve Davis

trombone
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Davis, Outlook.

Desert Island picks:

Bill Holman

composer / conductor
- 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Holman, In a Jazz Orbit;

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie, Basie Straight Ahead;

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis, Birth Of The Cool;

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane, Giant Steps.

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

Jazz is still not commercial but it comes slowly back, I think.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

Musical growth.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Classical musician who wants to be a jazz musician.

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