The trumpet and flugehorn player Rudiger Baldauf is probably one of hte most versatile musicians in his field. As a lead trumpet player, he toured with George Duke, Ray Charles, Bob Brookmeyer, John Scofield, James Brown, Liza Minnelli, Dionne Warwick and more. With his roots firmly anchored in jazz, though always tending towards a flirt with other genres, the charismatic musician is for many a household name from his time with the ''RTL Allstars'' and the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble. That this flirtation developed into a permanent affair as a member of the ''Heavy Tones'' does not detract from his love for jazz and classical music. With his first solo album ''Own Style'' he invited the creme de la creme of brass players along, and together with stars like Ack van Rooyen, Til Bronner, Nils Landgren and Andy Haderer lit his very own musical firework. Quite incidentally, he also proved that ''jazz'' is as diverse and far-reaching as the people who play it.
