Stephan-Max Wirth Quintet
Biography Stephan-Max Wirth Quintet
Stephan-Max Wirth
Studied jazz saxophone at the Academy of Arts in Arnhem, Netherlands. Bandleader since 1992—initially with the Stephan-Max Wirth Trio, Quartet, and Ensemble. For the past 20 years, he has led the Stephan-Max Wirth EXPERIENCE; new in 2025: the Stephan-Max Wirth Quintet. Toured throughout Europe. Creator of multimedia and genre-crossing projects such as "Illumination" (featuring overtone singing), "MYTHOS" (featuring German chanson), and "DADA Republic!" (combining film, dance, and music)—the latter of which premiered at the JazzFest Berlin. Released 21 albums under his own name, featuring more than 120 original compositions; received a nomination for the JazzEcho award and the German Record Critics' Award. Named "CD of the Year" by DLF, and "CD of the Month" multiple times by NDR and MDR; featured in live radio broadcasts on RBB, BR, and others. 2025 marks the debut release of the Stephan-Max Wirth Quintet with the album "Water to Water."
Frank Wingold
Studied jazz and classical guitar at the Academy of Arts in Amsterdam. Currently serves as a Professor of Jazz Guitar at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück and in Groningen (Netherlands). Winner of the Europe Jazz Contest and the Dutch Jazz Competition. Active as a bandleader, sideman, and composer for ensembles such as the Entangled Music Trio, Clairvoyance, Underkarl, and the Gassmann/Wingold Duo, as well as performing a solo program for 7-string guitar. Composes and produces music for film, theater, and radio plays. Has toured throughout Europe, South America, Russia, India, South Korea, and China.
Franz Bauer
Studied percussion in Munich, followed by studies in vibraphone in Berlin and at Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA). Has undertaken international tours in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut. His compositions have been performed in Russia and the United States. Performances at the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, the Reeperbahn Festival, and—with Chester Harlan—at the "Jazz on the Dnieper" festival (Dnipro, Ukraine).
Lisa Hoppe
Bassist and composer operating in the liminal space between jazz, free improvisation, and the singer-songwriter tradition. Studied double bass in Bremen and Bern. Lived and worked in New York; now based in Berlin. Leader of the band YSOP, which was nominated for the German Jazz Prize in 2024.
Johannes Metzger
Studied drums in Berlin and Hanover. Performed at festivals such as Elbjazz, JazzBaltica, the Leverkusener Jazztage, the Jazzkaar Festival (Tallinn), and NueJazz. Has performed with artists including Gilad Hekselman, Kit Downes, Gwilym Simcock, and Judy Niemack. Leads several ensembles under his own name. Winner of the Munich Jazz Prize, the Hanover Jazz Prize, the Future Sounds Contest, and the Burghausen Jazz Prize. Finalist for the Young German Jazz Prize.
