Biography

Biography

Wolfgang Haffner is a well known drummer & composer in the world of music. His illustrious career started at the age of 18 when he was discovered by legendary trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff. The list of musicians he played/recorded/toured with is nearly endless: Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Pat Metheny, The Brecker Brothers, Ivan Lins, Jan Garbarek, Gregory Porter, Michael Franks, Roy Ayers, Bugge Wesseltoft, The Manhattan Transfer, Nils Petter Molvaer, The JB Horns, Esbjörn Svensson, Bob James, Mezzoforte, Lee Ritenour, Till Brönner, Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, Cassandra Wilson, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Nils Landgren, Mike Stern, Chuck Loeb, Hildegard Knef, Konstantin Wecker, Die Fantastischen Vier, Xavier Naidoo, NDR Big Band, WDR Big Band, just to name a few. Wolfgang also collaborates with heavy weights of the electronic music scene such as Ricardo Villalobos, Timo Maas & Nightmares on Wax.

Wolfgang Haffner can be heard on about 400 albums up to date, he played on all major Jazz Festivals around the world, toured in 100 countries, from Japan to the US, from South Africa to Brasil. He recorded 16 Solo Albums and made himself a name as a producer of Bands like Mezzoforte and german singer Max Mutzke.

In 2010 he received an ECHO award, followed by the cultural award from his hometown Nuremberg in Germany.

Wolfgang Haffner will be touring his new album “Life Rhythm” starting November 2024.

Awards

2018ECHO Jazz in der Kategorie “Instrumentalist des Jahres national”
2017“Joachim-Ernst-Berendt-Ehrenpreis" der Stadt Baden Baden
2015German Jazz Award Gold
2014Kulturpreis der Stadt Nürnberg
2013German Jazz Award Platin
2011Kulturpreis des Freistaates Bayern
2010Wolfram-von-Eschenbach Preis
2010ECHO Jazz in der Kategorie “Instrumentalist des Jahres national”
2009German Jazz Award Gold
1989Förderpreis des Freistaates Bayern
1989Kulturförderpreis der Stadt Nürnberg

Selected Discography

2020Till Brönner On Vacation
2020Simon OslenderAbout time
20194 Wheel DriveLive
2019Bill Evans & the Spykillers!Live in Australia
2019Max MutzkeSchwerelos
20194 Wheel Drive4 Wheel Drive
2019Bill EvansThe East End
2018Thomas QuasthoffNice ´n´Easy
2018Nightmares on WaxShape the Future
2018Randy BreckerRocks
2017Falk & SonsA Tribute to Martin Luther
2017ACT / The Jubilee ConcertsLive at Konzerthaus Berlin
2016Nils LandgrenSome Other Time
2016Paul HellerGood times
2016CassyDonna
2015Torsten GoodsThank you Baby!
2015MetroBig Bang Boom
2015MSM SchmidtUtopia
2015Paul HellerGood Times
2015Django DeluxeDriving
2015Seth TroxlerDJ-Kicks
2014Thomas QuasthoffChristmas Album
2014Falk & SonsToccata
2014Nils LandgrenRedhorn Collection
2014Michael FranksGreatest Hits
2013Nightmares on WaxFeeling Good
2013Chuck LoebSilhouette
2013Norbert Nagel Friends & Friends
2013Ivan LinsCornucopia
2013Acid MondaysEl Recorrido
2013Torsten Goods Love Comes To Town
2013GiraffenaffenVol 2
2012Max MutzkeDurcheinander
2012ACT Jubilee ConcertLive in Hamburg
2012Till BrönnerTill Brönner
2012Bea LunaFormentera
2012MSM Schmidt Evolution
2011Julian & Roman WasserfuhrGravity
2011Michael FranksTime Together
2011Lizzy LoebThe One
2010Thomas QuasthoffTell it like it is
2010Martin Wind/Jazz Baltica Theresia
2010HR Big BandVisions of Miles
2010Clara PontyEchoes
2010StudnitzkyEgis
2010Nils Landgren Funk UnitFunk for Life
2010František UhlírLive at the Castle Prague
2010Albert MangelsdorffLive im Gärtnerplatz
2009Blue Bar FormenteraConnected
2009Chuck LoebBetween 2 worlds
2009Pe WernerMondrausch
2009MSM Schmidt Destination
2008StudnitzkyTrio
2008Russ MillerArrival
2008Klaus Doldingers PassportOn Stage
2007Chuck LoebPresence
2007Till BrönnerThe Christmas album
2007Max MutzkeAus dem Bauch
2007MSM Schmidt Transit
2007Chris PrommerDrum Lesson Vol 1
2007MetroMetro Express
2007Katja EbsteinWitkiewicz
2007Nils LandgrenLicense to Funk
2006Di Gioia/Ilg/HaffnerAbracadabra
2006Michael FranksRondevous in Rio
2006Jeff CascaroSoul of a Singer
2006Mitch FormanPerspectives
2005Tom GäbelIntroducing: Myself
2005Victoria TolstoyMy Swedish heart
2005Konstantin WeckerAm Flußufer
2004Wolfgang NiedeckenKöln
2004Nils LandgrenFunky Abba
2004Carmen CuestaPeace of mind
2004Till BrönnerThat Summer
2004MezzoforteForward Motion
2004Johannes EndersHuman Radio
2004Victoria TolstoyShining on you

2003Rigmor GustafssonI will wait for you
2003Carmen CuestaOne Kiss
2003Peter FesslerBlue Summer
2003Peter WenigerLegal Paradizer
2003Jessica PilnäsBitter And Sweet
2003Albert MangelsdorffMusic for Jazz Orchestra
2002HR Big BandLibertango
2002Carmen CuestaDreams
2002Hildegard KnefAber schön war es doch
2002Nils LandgrenSentimental Journey
2002Pe WernerBeinfreiheit
2002Andreas BlümlConnected
2002MetroGrapevine
2002Charlie MarianoPortrait of France
2002No AngelsWhen the Angels Swing Live
2002No AngelsWhen the Angels Swing (DVD)
2001Manfred KrugSchlafstörung
2001Klaus Doldingers PassportOn stage
2001Chuck LoebIn a Heartbeat
2001Paquito RiveraThe Clarinetist
2001Wolfgang DaunerDauner zu House
2001Metrolive at the A-Trane
2000Klaus Doldingers PassportPassport Live
2000Old FriendsThe German Jazz Masters
2000Lalo SchifrinJazz goes to Hollywood
2000NDR Big BandThe Theatre of Kurt Weil
2000Maria Schneider & SWR BBLive!
2000FesslerSignatures
2000MetroMetrocafe
2000Mangelsdorff/Dauner Jazz im Gärtnerplatz 2000
2000MetroLive at the A-Trane
2000Pe WernerHerzkönigin
2000Eddie DanielsSwing low
2000Manfred KrugTatort / Die Songs
2000Till BrönnerChatting with Chat
1999Rolf KühnInternal Eyes
1999Bob Mintzer & SWR BBLive
1999Rolf KühnInside Out
1999Michael FranksBarefoot on the Beach
1999NDR Big BandEllingtonia
1999Gato BarbieriChe Corazon
1999Hildegard Knef17 Millimeter
1999Lalo SchifrinMannix
1999Till BrönnerLove
1999Chuck LoebListen
1998Klaus Doldingers PassportMove
1998Rolf KühnAffairs
1998ZappelbudeZappelbude
1998Chuck LoebThe Moon, the Stars
1997Albert MangelsdorffHut Ab!
1997Nelson RangellTurning night into day
1996Eddie DanielsBeautiful love
1996Chuck LoebThe Music Inside
1996Klaus Doldingers PassportPassport to Paradise
1996Thilo WolfGospel Faces
1996Charlie MarianoEnjoy
1996Nils GessingerScratch Blue
1995Thilo WolfLatin Grooves
1995MetroTree People
1995Peter Herbolzheimer25 Jahre
1995Nelson RangellDestiny
1995Conte CandoliMeets the Joe Haider Trio
1995GRP ArtistsBeatles Celebration
1995Klaus Doldingers PassportSpirit of Continuity
1994MetroLive in Warschau
1994Paul HellerPaul Heller
1994Jochen FeuchtWarm Jazz
1994Joe HaiderMagic Box
1994MetroMetro
1993Andreas BlümlDrei, Vier...
1993Inga RumpfIt´s a man´s world
1992Joe PassJoe Pass in Hamburg
1992Konstantin WeckerSchtonk (Soundtrack)
1992Klaus Doldingers PassportDown to Earth
1992Konstantin WeckerUferlos
1992Dauner, Lemper, Wecker,Komisch Wetter
1993Konstantin WeckerUferlos live in Salzburg
1992Christopher DellWere we belong
1992Milan PilarSources
1991Konstantin WeckerClassics
1991Klaus Doldingers PassportBlues Roots
1990Klaus Doldingers PassportBalance of Happiness
1990Konstantin WeckerKoncert ´90
1989Konstantin WeckerStilles Glück, Trautes Heim
1989Wolfgang Schmid´s KickJubilee Concert
1989Ilg/Schröder/HaffnerTrio
1989Dauner/Kriegel & FriendsHappy Birthday
1988Wolfgang Schmid´s KickKick & Friends
1988Joe HaiderUp Shot
1988Willy MichlOis is Blues ´88
1987Al Cohn meets Al PorcinoThe Karlsruhe Concert
1986Wolfgang Schmid´s KickKick
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Discography Haffner

2024Wolfgang HaffnerLife Rhythm
2023Wolfgang HaffnerSilent World
2021Wolfgang HaffnerEssentials
2020Wolfgang HaffnerKind of Tango
2017Wolfgang HaffnerKind of Spain
2015Wolfgang HaffnerKind of Cool
2014Wolfgang HaffnerRemixes
2012Wolfgang HaffnerHeart of the Matter
2010Wolfgang HaffnerAlong the way
2010Wolfgang HaffnerSignature Edition
2009Wolfgang HaffnerRound Silence
2008Wolfgang HaffnerAcoustic Shapes
2007Wolfgang HaffnerShapes Remixes
2007Wolfgang HaffnerShapes Live (DVD)
2006Wolfgang HaffnerShapes
2004Wolfgang HaffnerZooming
2003Wolfgang HaffnerLive & Real
2002Wolfgang HaffnerUrban Life Remixes
2001Wolfgang HaffnerUrban Life
2000Wolfgang HaffnerMusic
1997Wolfgang HaffnerBack home
1993Wolfgang HaffnerLast Exit
1992Wolfgang HaffnerMovin on
1991Wolfgang HaffnerWhatever it is
1990Wolfgang HaffnerI should have known
1989Wolfgang HaffnerLive in Altdorf (Vinyl only)