Featured Collaborator: Niko Schäuble
Niko Schauble was born in 1962, in Stuttgart, Germany. He is a sought after contemporary musician and composer in Australia and abroad. In addition to leading his own ensembles, Niko has performed and recorded with many of the world's leading artists. Since the mid-1990's Niko has also established himself as an in demand composer, arranger and producer for Film and Television while continuing to write for international soloists, ballets and ensembles, ranging from saxophone quartets to symphony orchestras. Niko’s work has been documented on more than 60 CDs and a host of Australian and international awards confirm his standing as one of the world's top performers and composers.
Niko owns and operates Pughouse Studios, a state-of-the-art recording studio established 2012 in Thornbury.
Niko has worked with Sam Rivers, Lee Konitz, Enrico Rava, Trilok Gurtu, Branford Marsalis, Mike Nock, Dewey Redman, Arthur Blythe, Steve Lacy, Greg Osby, Gunther Schuller, Palle Mikkelborg, Paul Grabowsky, Mirko Guerrini, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Katie Noonan, Megan Washington, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Saxophon Quartett, Vince Jones, Karaikudi R. Mani, Young Wagilaks (Songmen from Arnhem Land), Australian Art Orchestra, Tibetan Dixie, Tanzfabrik Berlin, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Niko has lectured at Monash University and Melbourne Polytechnic and has been guest lecturer at Jazz Institute Berlin, ANAM, Melbourne University, ANU, VCA, Landesmusikakademie Berlin, Sommerakademie der Freien Kunstschule Berlin.
Some recent CD releases include “Spiel” (duo with Paul Grabowsky), “Acquacheta” (with Mirko Guerrini & Stephen Magnusson), and “Es Geht!” (recorded in Berlin).
Major works include Novecento Ballet Music (West Australian Ballet), The Voyage Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Symphony Orchestra (Dessauer Philharmonie, Soloist: Detlef Bensmann), Perfidium for Woodwind Ensemble and Jazz Quartet, Passion, Beauty, Time for chamber orchestra, jazz quartet and 2 voices (Frankfurter Radio Symphony Orchestra), Crucifixion – Arrangement of the St.Matthew Passion by J.S.Bach (Australian Art Orchestra), Ohne Ende (Berliner Saxophonquartett), The Ferryman (Australian Art Orchestra), Ya-it-ma Thang for Alto-Saxophone and ten-piece Ensemble commissioned by the Wangaratta Festival, Niko Trommelt for Drum-Set and Sampler, Mood 25 for Piano and Drum-set premiered by Michael Kieran Harvey at the Australian National Academy of Music, Musical Ship (Queensland Music Festival), and The Theft of Sita (musical director) commissioned by the Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals.
He has received numerous awards including Finalist at Annecy Film Festival (music for short film), Nomination for the 'Leo' award (music for short film) at Braunschweig Filmfestival, Finalist at the 'Wildscreen' Festival, Bristol, Honorable Mention at the Julius Hemphil Awards, New York, 1st and 2nd Prize ‘Tage der leichten Musik’ des SFB, Berlin, 2nd prize Franz-Josef Reinl Stiftung für ‘Ohne Ende’, ’Unsigned Bands Competition', Rhythms Magazine, Australian, and Australian Jazz Award/Best Drummer.