Achim Kaufmann (piano, composer, electronics) was born in Aachen, Germany, and has been living in Amsterdam since 1996. He is involved in a number of different projects, some of them all improvised, some of them featuring his own compositions: His gueuledeloup quartet (with Michael Moore, John Hollenbeck, Henning Sieverts) “melds elements of the free zone with tenderly executed dreamscape type passages” (allaboutjazz) Their two CDs, Gueuledeloup (Red Toucan, 2002) and Double Exposure (Leo, 2000) have been called “models of some of the finest forward-thinking chamber jazz coming out of Europe today.” The improvising trio of Achim Kaufmann, Frank Gratkowski and Wilbert de Joode has released two discs so far (on Konnex and on nuscope) and is currently preparing their third release of energetic, multi-layered improvised chamber music. Trio Kamosc (with Michael Moore and Dylan van der Schyff) is another group that mixes composition and improvisation in unique ways, including “blatantly traditional” materials that are treated as found objects. Achim currently works on repertoires for different piano trios which he will record during the course of the year. Besides, he has written music for string quartet and works as a solo performer