BLAKE / BEYER / KOOLE / HERTENSTEIN


• Daniel Blake – saxophone
• Kriton Beyer – Daxophone
• Matthias Koole – guitar
• Joe Hertenstein – drums

Saxophonist Daniel Blake, daxophonist Kriton Beyer, guitarist Matthias Koole, and drummer Joe Hertenstein come together in a setting where extended playing techniques, exploration of timbre, and spontaneous interaction take precedence over fixed forms and stylistic boundaries.

Drawing on their diverse backgrounds in improvised music, contemporary composition, and sonic experimentation, the quartet creates music that is both intimate and unpredictable, paying close attention to the possibilities of the moment.

Daniel Blake is an American saxophonist, composer, and improviser active in the fields of free improvisation, experimental music, and contemporary jazz. His work is characterized by an extremely responsive and exploratory approach to sound and collaboration. He has performed internationally with artists such as Anthony Braxton and Esperanza Spalding, developing a distinctive voice that combines lyricism, abstraction, and sonic curiosity.

Kriton Beyer is a Greek-German musician, composer, and improviser based in Berlin who specializes in the Daxophone, the unique friction instrument invented by Hans Reichel. He is active internationally in the field of experimental and improvised music and explores the instrument’s rich spectrum of voice-like sounds and timbral possibilities through solo performances and collaborations with musicians, dancers, filmmakers, and visual artists.

Matthias Koole is a Brazilian guitarist and improviser whose work focuses on the intersection of free improvisation, contemporary music, and electroacoustic experiments. The musician, who is originally from Belgium and lives in Berlin, is known for his attention to detail regarding texture, resonance, and extended guitar techniques. His collaborations span numerous ensembles and interdisciplinary projects throughout Europe.

Joe Hertenstein is a German drummer, composer, and improviser known for his nuanced, highly interactive approach to percussion. As a central figure in Berlin’s improvisation scene, he has collaborated with numerous leading international improvisers and composers. His playing combines rhythmic sensitivity, sonic depth, and an openness that makes him a sought-after partner in the field of experimental music.