Janning Trumann, born in Uelzen in 1990, studied jazz trombone at the Cologne University of Music and at the New York University. With Cologne as his base, the trombone player and composer tours all over Germany and Europe with his own ensembles. He is also the musical director of the Cologne Jazzweek, the international Jazz festival in Cologne and active in cultural politics, being chairman in the board of the German Jazz Union.
Unlike almost any other musician, Janning Trumann demonstrates that mastering the tools of his trade and an intuitive spark are not sufficient to survive as a freelance jazz and improvisation musician. Born in 1990 in Lower Saxony, the trombone player has long been in demand internationally as an instrumentalist and collaborator in diverse settings of contemporary jazz. He has most certainly proven himself with class, flexible sound, and a good sense of perceptiveness in a wide range of musical contexts, from small, chamber music-like ones to large orchestral settings.
However, unlike any other musician of his generation, the 2016 winner of the J.J. Johnson Award by the ITA International Trombone Association is aware that in the jazz scene artistic talent only leaves an impression if presented with necessary care in an appropriate setting, and if the environment, its scene is conducive to it. By choosing Cologne as his home base for his musical career, trombonist, composer, producer and activist Janning Trumann has set the tone for his musical ambitions accordingly. In the stylistically diverse and high-quality jazz scene of Cologne he has found the motivation and inspiration for his own projects such as the Janning Trumann 4, the Janning Trumann Oktett, TRILLMANN, MAKKRO or the Subway Jazz Orchestra and this is where he contributes to the creative buzz. However, he has moved beyond his strictly musical work. By establishing the label Tangible Music, he has made sure that he can present his music (and that of similarly inspired colleagues whose productions he supports, if desired) to the public independently from the confines of the music industry.