Born in 1981, Matthias Schriefl comes from the South German region of the Allgäu. He received his first trumpet and piano lessons as a 7 year-old, won the national competition “Jugend Musiziert” at the age of 11 and took over the job of directing his school’s big band in ninth grade, leading them to perform his first compositions. At the age of 15, he was the youngest member of the Bavarian State Jazz Orchestra and the German Young Jazz Orchestra.

At 17, with his band „Sidewinders”, Schriefl was the winner of Germany’s “Young Jazz Players” competition “Jugend jazzt”, and as prize produced the CD “Die Bestie” (The Beast) for Mons Records. There followed tours of Texas, Russia, and Romania in the next Year. Schriefl was a student at the music conservatory in Munich, subsequently studied at the Cologne Music College from 2000-2005 with Andy Haderer, and studied for a year in Amsterdam. Currently Schriefl is leading various projects in his adopted hometown Cologne, as well as organizing the live jazz series “Jazz-O-Rama”.

Schriefl has received numerous awards as a soloist, composer and band leader. In 2006 he was awarded the WDR jazz prize for improvisation He received the “Star of 2007” from the Münchner Abendzeitung (Munich Evening News), and in 2008 the North Rhine Westphalia Artistic Achievement Award 2008 for composition, conducting, and instrumental music. In the same year, at the suggestion of the Cologne Philharmonic, he was designated “rising star”. In connection with the concert series “Rising Stars”, which is co-ordinated by the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO), Schriefl will perform in 2008/2009 in leading concert halls throughout Europe.

In 2007/2008 Schriefl and Shreefpunk toured 15 European countries, Mexico, Australia, and seven West African countries, playing in numerous large concert halls throughout the tours.

Schriefl has worked with many renowned international artists. He has been engaged by such prestigious organisations as the WDR Big Band as soloist and composer, and has played with the European Jazz Ensemble since 2006 when he took over Allan Botschinsky’s seat. In 2006 he toured Europe with “Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings”. Since 2007, he has been lead trumpeter with, as well as composer for, the European Movement Orchestra. In May 2007 he toured Southeast Asia with Indian stars R.A. Ramamani and T.A.S. Mani. He also worked with Michael Abene, Django Bates, Carlos Bica, Peter Brötzmann, Bill Dobbins, Dusko Goykovich, Peter Herbolzheimers Rhythm Combination&Brass, Daniel Humair, Lee Konitz, Joachim Kühn, Nils Landgren, Emil Mangelsdorff, Rudi Mahall, Charlie Mariano, Adrian Mears, Don Menza, Dick Oatts, Cino Palagliésu, Wolfgang Puschnig, Claudio Roditi, John Ruocco, Steffen Schorn, John Schröder, Gunther Schuller, Bobby Shew, Alan Skidmore, Markus Stockhausen, Nils Wogram, Phil Woods, Connection Latina, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, New York Voices, NDR and HR Radio Big Bands…

“I intimately identify with Shreefunk. The compositions that I write for the band are like a personal diary. I am very happy to have three of my most favourite jazz musicians and best friends in the band. The music develops further with every rehearsal and every concert, because everyone brings his personality and soul to the music.” Matthias Schriefl


Projects (excerpt):

• Shreefpunk: jazz, punk, and sometimes strings.
• European TV Brass Trio: with Daniel Casimir (trombone) and François Thuillier (tuba).
• Schmittmenge Meier: Musicians from Berlin and Cologne play contemporary acoustic jazz.
• Brazilian Motions: with singer Patricia Cruz. Brasilian-inspired music for string quartet, jazz combo and singer.
• deujazz: with singer Anette von Eichel. German jazz from the first half of the 20th century
• 2 Generations of Trumpets: with Andy Haderer. Swinging compositions by Schriefl and arrangements by Haderer. The two trumpeters are also heard on baritone horn, valve trombone, piccolo trumpet and various horns.
• United Groove-O-Rama: contemporary grooves with electric effects; compositions by Mattis Cederberg and Matthias Schriefl
• Matthias Schriefl Trio: in a threesome (twosome it would be a Duel and with four musicians it would be allready a Quarter) the young guys create an atmosphere like a Big Band, varying from Tango, Polka, Funk and New Orleans-Rhythms to wonderful ballads. With Alex Morsey (b, tu, voc) and Jonas Burgwinkel (dr, perc, mel), Matthias Schriefl (trp, flgh, sous, mel, perc, comp) has two individualists on his side, who perfectly support the humour and intensity of his tunes with 100% of their own personality.
• Mutantenstadl: Bavarian jazz-comedy.
• Duos with: Michael Abene (p), Johannes Behr (g) or Robert Landfermann (b)

Recordings (excerpt):

• Matthias Schriefl: Shreefpunk live in Köln - Special Guest: Django Bates (ACT 9663-2, 2009)
• Matthias Schriefl: Shreefpunk plus strings (ACT 9657-2, 2007)
• two generations of trumpets, live im Stadtgarten (2006)
• deujazz, kauf Dir einen bunten Luftballon (2006)
• Matthias Schriefl, Brazilian Motions
• Unterbiberger Hofmusik, maDE in GermaN.Y.
• Together, Bavarian First Herd
• Sidewinders, Die Bestie (2000)