About Me
Denis Gäbel is born in 1979 and starts his musical career receiving cello lessons at the age of six. Three years later, his own father starts giving him piano lessons. As an eleven-year-old, Denis discovers the saxophone, being tought his first grips by his mother.
1993 and 1995 he comes in first at the competition 'JugendJazzt NRW' (Youth jazzes, state of NRW). He decides then to enter the LandesJugendJazzOrchester NRW, the youth jazz orchestra of the state. Later, from 2000 to 2002, Denis becomes a member of the well-known BundesJugendJazzOrchester, the national youth jazz orchestra, lead by Peter Herbolzheimer.
From 1999 to 2005, he studies at the 'Conservatorium van Amsterdam', where he is taught by Ferdinand Povel, Jasper Blom and John Ruocco. He wins the first prize at the international "Pim Jacobs-Concours" in Rotterdam, NL. In 2003, he receives a bachelor's degree, and a master's degree in 2005. In 2004, he moves to Cologne, where he works, among others, with his brother, the singer Tom Gaebel and his Trio featuring Henning Gailing on Bass and Hendrik Smock on drums. In the spring of 2006, Denis studies at the 'Manhattan School of Music' in New York, a.o. with Dick Oatts, Dave Liebman and Phil Markowitz.In Winter 2006 Denis' first CD "Keep on Rollin' - A Tribute to Sonny Rollins" was released on "Nagel-Heyer". This recording features the dutch sax-god Jasper Blom.
Gäbel has performed a.o. on the Moers Festival, JazzOpen in Stuttgart, Ludwigsburger Jazztage, WDR3 Jazzcologne, Klara Festival Brüssel, Burghausener Jazztage.
