Rolf Kühn is a famous German musician and Jazz clarinettist. He grew up in Leipzig and learned to play piano beginning 1937. At the age of 17 Kühn becomes saxophonist and clarinettist with the Leipzig orchestra. As soloist he plays in the legendary dance orchestra of Kurt Henkels, the prominent Bigband of the Soviet zone, together with star trumpet player Horst “Hack” Fischer (1930-1986) and the drummer and later leader of his own orchestra “Fips” Fleischer (1923-2002).

After a short stay in Hamburg, Kühn becomes the first Sax player of the RIAS orchestra in Berlin in 1950. In 1956 Kühn moved to New York. There he met the brother-in-law of Benny Goodman, John Hammond. Hammond promotes the rising new generation artist and arranges a band for him, with which he performs in the legendary New Yorker “Birdland” club, is heard on Blue Note and performed at the New Haven Jazz Festival. From 1958 to 1962 Kühn played in the orchestra of Benny Goodman and – as successors of Buddy DeFranco – he was the solo clarinettist in Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra.

1962 he returned to Germany, where he immediately becomes director/conductor of the NDR TV orchestra in Hamburg. The musical spectrum of Rolf Kühn covers free jazz, jazz rock in the 60’s and classical jazz. Occasionally he composes and plays music for films and TV series.

The CD “Rolf Kühn” is a fine spectrum of his exceptional talent as a clarinet player and composer.