| 1. At what age did you start playing guitar?
I started at the age of 10.
2. Which people influenced you as an improvising musician?
When I first began listen to jazz I was about 18 and heard Barney Kessel. I didn´t take any lessons until Music University (4 years). I listen to pianists like Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans and other instruments and of course I check out what people like Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Mike Stern a.o. are doing.
3. What gear do you use and what was your first guitar?
Mainly I play on my Les Paul goldtop and an acoustic Takamine. I also use my Gibson ES 175 and a Patrick Eggle Berlin-model.
At 10 I got an acoustic guitar, don´t remember it´s name. My first electric was a Hagstrom.
4. Do you get frustrated about your guitar playing sometimes? What aspects of guitar playing do you feel you need to improve on?
Only when I don´t have 1 hour/day practice. I just need to keep up my technique.
5. What is your practice routine like? How much time do you devote to studying music and guitar?
When I´m not touring or teaching I try to get at least 1 hour/day to keep the shops, if I got 3 it´s great.
6. Do you teach music? What do you hope a student gets out of your teachings, besides the obvious?
Yes I teach guitar, bass and improvisation-ensemble. Make them being a good critical audience and also think about other non-musical things. You must have a lot of impression to make a good expression, shit that sounds very deep.
7. What are your favorite standards to play?
That is many, Like Someone in Love for example or Old Folks, All the Things...
8. Do you make a living as a professional musician? What did you have to do to make this work for you? What are the pros and cons of being a professional musician?
Yes and it takes a lot of energy from music, getting in touch with a lot of people via letters, mail and phone all the time, even if you have a manager. Show yourself at jamsessions wherever you can, as much as posible. As a guitarplayer you probably have to form your own groups. That´s a lot of work but on the other hand you have the advantage of choosing the repertoire, play your own songs etc.
9. What projects are you working on at the moment?
I have my new quartet with a singer, we recently released a new CD 'Light & Shade in Paris' and we are a.o. preparing a tour to Japan in May-06.
I´m also preparing next years summer-festivals. In November and December I'm working as a sideman in another band.
10. Do you have any advice for beginning jazz guitarists?
Listen to others as much as you can, not only guitarists, practice a lot.
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