Tobias Delius
British/German tenor saxophonist and clarinettist in improvised music.
via Wikipedia: Tobias Delius · see source
Tobias Delius (born 15 July 1964) is a British/German tenor saxophonist and clarinettist, raised largely in England and Germany. He switched from clarinet to tenor saxophone at sixteen and played with local bands before spending eight months playing in Mexico. In 1984 he entered the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, studying with Misha Mengelberg and Paul Stocker, but did not complete his studies, instead building a reputation among improvisers. He has co-founded bands, toured internationally, and won major awards including the 2003 VPRO/Boy Edgar Award and the 2025 Jazzpreis Berlin.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 15 July 1964
- Place of birth
- Oxford, England
- Instruments
- Tenor saxophone, clarinet
- Awards
- VPRO/Boy Edgar Award (2003)
- Instant Award in Improvised Music (2023)
- Jazzpreis
Facts from the source article.
Later life and career
Before enrolling at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam in 1984, Delius spent eight months playing music in Mexico. Although he studied there with Misha Mengelberg and Paul Stocker, he never finished his degree, instead gaining a strong reputation among local improvisers. In 1989 he became a member of Available Jelly, and by 1992 he was playing in Trio San Francisco and other groups alongside Daniele D'Agaro and Sean Bergin. A quartet he co-founded in 1990 with Han Bennink, Larry Fishkind, and Tristan Honsinger later saw Fishkind replaced by Joe Williamson; the group improvises suites from written themes that any member can introduce. Delius won the VPRO/Boy Edgar Award in 2003. In 2023, his duo with Christian Lillinger, together with Tristan Honsinger, received the Instant Award in Improvised Music. He was honored with the 2025 Jazzpreis Berlin.
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