The versatile and internationally acclaimed saxophonist Reiner Witzel has been a strong and active voice in the international music scene for many years.
Jazz is a constant in his musical life. Productions/concerts with Richie Beirach, Dave Liebman, Alex Sipiagin, Lew Soloff and many others, as well as numerous own projects gave him a great international reputation. He played worldwide at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montevideo Jazz Festival, Canarias Islands Jazz Festival, Yaounde Jazz Festival and many more.
With his longtime musical partner, the legendary American pianist Richie Beirach and his bands "Witzel`s Venue" and "Drei im roten Kreis" with guests such as David Sanborn, Vernon Reid and Lew Soloff he released numerous CDs , which made it into the English and Japanese jazz charts. He also composed numerous pieces for theater and television.
After many productions with stars like The Supremes, Third World, Fela Kuti, Udo Lindenberg, Defunkt, Roger Cicero and many others, he also has many fans in the pop and world music scene.
He studied at the Cologne Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music with Bob Mintzer, Dick Oatts and John Purcell and has received numerous awards, including a scholarship from the German Ministry of Culture and the "Hennessy Jazz Award“.
Besides his work at the Conservatorium Maastricht he is a workshop lecturer in demand worldwide.