Karolina Strassmayer

From a picture-perfect village in the Austrian Alps, to the jazz scene of New York City, to carrying the unique distinction of being the first woman in the WDR Big Band Cologne to leading her quartet KLARO! – alto saxophonist Karolina Strassmayer is on a quest for adventure and authenticity. Jazz writers called her “one of the most interesting saxophonists of her generation” (Doug Ramsey), a “supreme balladeer” (Arnaldo DeSouteiro) and the readers of Downbeat Magazine voted her among the best on her instrument several years in a row in the polls. She has recorded 10 CDs as a leader and her discography includes over 80 recordings, 9 of which were either nominated for or received a Grammy.

KLARO! is a compelling quartet in collaboration with her partner in music and life, New York drummer Drori Mondlak. They have crystallized their artistic visions into an original and deeply personal sound. Outstanding musicians like pianist Rainer Böhm, vibraphonist David Friedman or bassists Hans Glawischnig and Thomas Stabenow, complete the quartet.

Before joining the WDR Big Band in 2004, Strassmayer immersed herself in the New York jazz scene for over 15 years, playing with Chico Hamilton, the Diva Jazz Orchestra and many others.

Karolina was also a professor for jazz saxophone at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen from 2019 to 2025. She is the founder and director of the Folkwang Mentors for Women in Jazz and gives empowerment courses for women in jazz she calls “Come Into Your Power.”

As a member of the WDR Big Band Cologne, she has performed with some of the world’s leading jazz artists, including Joe Zawinul, Ron Carter, McCoy Tyner, Gary Burton, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Randy Brecker, Maria Schneider, John Scofield, Roy Hargrove, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdés, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Kenny Wheeler, Bill Evans, Dave Weckl, Richard Bona, Maceo Parker, and many others.