Christian Artmann

Called a “composer with great vision” (All About Jazz) and a “flute virtuoso” (The Boston Globe) and praised for his “stunning virtuosity” (JazzTimes) and “most beautiful, pure sound” (JazzThetik), flutist / composer and Sunnyside recording artist Christian Artmann is passionate about conveying “a perspective beyond boundaries” (All About Jazz). While deeply centered in contemporary jazz, Artmann’s compositions reflect his roots in European classical and folk music, his love of Brazilian music and prog rock, his addiction to odd meters, and, last but not least, his Buddhist faith.

Having grown up immersed in classical music in his native Germany and Austria, Artmann was invited to Aspen Music Festival as a teenager where he performed under world-renowned conductors Claudio Scimone and Lawrence Foster and gave solo recitals of Debussy, Hindemith and Bartók. Increasingly fascinated with composition and improvisation, he realized that jazz was his true calling and committed to developing his own musical voice.

Following studies in composition and jazz performance at Berklee College of Music and Frankfurter Musikwerkstatt, as well as collaborations in the Vienna jazz community, Artmann moved to New York where he released three recordings as a leader to critical acclaim. JazzTimes applauded Uneasy Dreams (self-released, 2011) for its “vision of confidence”, The National Flute Association Quarterly described Fields of Pannonia (Sunnyside, 2015) as a “mythical journey in sound”, and Jazziz complimented Artmann’s “crystalline tone, fluid technique and engaging compositional style” on Our Story (Sunnyside, 2018).

Artmann recorded his latest album, The Middle of Life (Sunnyside, 2023), during the Covid pandemic in Boston with long-term collaborator and mentor Laszlo Gardony (piano), Yoron Israel (drums), John Lockwood (bass), and guest vocalist Elena McEntire. The Middle of Life has been praised for its “stimulating title track” (All About Jazz), “refined melancholy and sophisticated taste” as well as a sound and band interplay reminiscent of Chick Corea’s original Return to Forever band (JazzThetik).

Artmann feels strongly about showcasing the flute in jazz, and his approach to his instrument has been called “a model of what is possible with jazz flute” (The Flutist Quarterly). When he is not busy performing or composing, he enjoys teaching in the Bay Area. Artmann is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He plays Miyazawa and Kotato flutes and is a Miyazawa Artist.

Gear

Miyazawa 14k concert flute with Chris McKenna headjoint

Kotato alto flute

Miyazawa GS concert flute

Various West African tambin flutes

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