Concert tours took the musicians to Asia and into Europe. Two of the four Blattwerk members (Hartmut Salzmann and Bernd Stich) were founding members of the “Quintessence Saxophone Quintet” – for more than a decade they dominated the ensemble. In Timur Isakov and Alban Hauser they found a congenial partner in making the quartet complete and enriched it with his wonderful alto sax sound. Already Blattwerk are for more than 25 years together on stage. The motto: Four friends, four saxophones.
Hartmut Salzmann (Soprano and Alto Sax)
Most of the “Blattwerk” arrangements are penned by himself. “Classics Today” wrote about him: “Superarrangeur Hartmut Salzmann knows his sax-playing and arranging to perfection.” He specializes in jazz and contemporary arrangements of classical and baroque works. Hartmut was born in 1968. Since the age of 12 he has been musically active. He first learned to play piano and clarinet. At the age of 15, he discovered a love for the saxophone and studied it as his major instrument. Concert travel has taken him to Asia and into Europe. His passion besides music: bicycle racing and cycling holidays.
Timur Isakov (Alto Sax/Clarinet)
Timur was born in 1969 in Kirgiizia. At the age of 10 he began playing saxophone and clarinet. Timur studied clarinet at the Music School in Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan) and worked as concert master at the Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan). At the local music school, he worked as a lecturer for the clarinet and saxophone as well as conducting the chamber orchestra. In 2001 Timur moved with his family to Germany and studied chamber music at the Acadamey of Music (Musikhochschule) in Detmold. Timur works as a concert musician and music teacher. He is married and has three children.
Alban Hauser (Tenor-Sax)
Alban Hauser (*1972) gehört seit 2015 zum Ensemble. Mit vier Jahren entdeckte er die Blockflöte für sich, merkte aber nach einiger Zeit, dass es auch noch andere Instrumente gibt. Folgerichtig wechselte er im Grundschulalter zur Klarinette und lernte später Klavier und Saxophon. Alban hat an der Musikhochschule Detmold Klarinette und Klavier studiert.
Er arbeitet als Instrumentallehrer und frei schaffender Musiker. Neben dem Blattwerk Saxophonquartett ist Alban mit dem Duo “Bhatti & Hauser” (Elektronika/Tango/World) zu hören.
Bernd Stich (Baritone Sax)
Bernd Stich (nickname “Pieks” – which is related to his last name) was born in 1966. From 1974 he was significantly involved in many musical projects. He learned during his career the foundation for various big-band saxophone phrases – by such concerts featuring Herb Geller, Silvia Droste, etc. Bernd is the rhythm section of “Blattwerk” Saxophone Quartet. Without his low notes the music would only be a high pitched chirping. To keep in condition for the heavy baritone he takes part on long-distance running. His motto: Always the tongue on the reed.
