Home » Jazz Musicians » Xaver Hellmeier
Xaver Hellmeier
Xaver grew up in a musical household, learning piano at first but switching to the drums at age 11. After taking private lessons for a couple of years, he started to perform with the Bavarian Youth Jazz Orchestra and eventually enrolled in the jazz program of the university of performing arts in Munich.
Two years later he relocated to Vienna, Austria to study with Mario Gonzi.
It was in Vienna where he met his future mentor Joe Farnsworth, who has played a major role in Xaver‘s development, showing him inside-knowledge about the bebop drumming of Kenny Clarke, Art Taylor & Philly Joe Jones.
Going to New York
Shortly after that, he went to New York City to again study with Joe Farnsworth and eventually started to play with jazz greats such as Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Mike LeDonne & John Webber. It was also at that time that Joe gave Xaver his nickname “the X-Man”.
Coming back from New York, Xaver‘s career quickly picked up as he was starting to build a reputation as a gifted drummer deeply rooted in the tradition of jazz.
He has now performed with jazz greats such as Jesse Davis, Vincent Herring, Eric Alexander, Mike LeDonne, Harold Mabern, John Marshall, Jim Rotondi, Houston Person, Champian Fulton, Stephen Fulton, Mike DiRubbo, John Goldsby, Tony Lakatos, Paul Bollenback, David Hazeltine, David Williams, Peter Bernstein, Roman Schwaller, Claus Raible, Giorgos Antoniou & Peter Tuscher.
Xaver has appeared in jazz clubs and at jazz festivals in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Belgium, Hungary, Romania, USA, Mongolia, Belarus, Poland, United Arab Emirates, Spain & Greece.
Tags
Xaver Hellmeier: X-Man in New York
by Jack Bowers
Drummer Xaver (X-Man) Hellmeier has been little known to date outside his native Germany and other European countries. One way to help redress that oversight is to surround oneself with some of the most well-respected and talented musicians on the New York scene, which is what Hellmeir has done on his superb debut album, X-Man in New York. When it comes to choosing sidemen, it is hard to belie the inclusion of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist ...
read moreModern Jazz Quartet, Julius Hemphill & Xaver Hellmeier
by Joe Dimino
Neon Jazz's New Year's Eve show kicks off with drummer Xaver Hellmeier and is followed by music from his mentor, Joe Farnsworth. We also spin new music from the likes of Hiromi, David Lopato, Jim Piela and Dylan Jazz. In between, we hear from masters including Erroll Garner, Julius Hemphill, Herbie Hancock and The Modern Jazz Quartet. We bring the hour to a solid close with Reggie Quinerly and music from The Thousandth Scholar. Dig the jazz, my friends.
read moreJoe Farnsworth
drumsMusic
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson