Eric Schaefer

Biography
Articles

Drummer and composer Eric Schaefer lives in Berlin and works worldwide with different ensembles of his own and as a sideman. The range of his musical expression is wide and combines influences from Jazz, contemporary music to post-rock, dub and noise. He is writing pieces for orchestras, piano-trios and jazz-rock-bands. The use of gongs and small percussion from all over the world as well as electronics broaden the spectrum of Schaefer´s sound-possibilities. His work is documented on numerous albums and is broadcasted in radio-shows and on television.

Michael Wollny Trio: Living Ghosts

Read "Living Ghosts" reviewed by Vic Albani

by Vic Albani
August 18, 2025

Riconosciuto ormai da anni quale uno dei migliori musicisti tedeschi in circolazione, Michael Wollny, schivo pianista nato nella primavera del 1978 a Schweinfurt (Baviera, Bassa Franconia) ma residente ormai da anni a Lipsia dove è professore alla Hochschule für Musik und Theater, regala con questo Living Ghostsuna sorta di summit di almeno un decennio di lavoro musicale con il suo affiatato trio composto anche dal contrabbassista Tim Lefebvre e dal batterista Eric Schaefer. Poco conosciuto alle nostre latitudini ...

Album Review

Eric Schaefer: Who Is Afraid Of Richard W.?

Read "Who Is Afraid Of Richard W.?" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
January 24, 2013

In 2013 the international music community celebrates the 200th anniversary of Richard Wagner's birth. The venerable and controversial composer has been rather quiet of late, but his body of work is one of the best known in the classical canon. On Who Is Afraid of Richard W.? Eric Schaefer--a highly-regarded drummer probably best known as a member of the German piano trio [em]--celebrates his fellow-countryman's anniversary with some imaginative reinterpretations of Wagner's work.The album isn't completely devoted to ...

Album Review

Michael Wollny's [em]: Wasted & Wanted

Read "Wasted & Wanted" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
March 22, 2012

Michael Wollny's sleeve notes for Wasted & Wanted are emphatic: “MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN RULES. This is Jazz." Back in the day, this German piano trio used to be plain old [em]. Some re-branding has taken place, and now it's Michael Wollny's [em]. According to Wollny, the change is intended to help people who have been confused by the name [em], and to follow the well-worn tradition of naming a piano trio after the pianist. Hmm. Rather a strange approach, ...