Jann Klose | Band Biographies

Band Biographies

Jann Klose's new album, REVERIE, covers as much musical, sonic and emotional ground as Jann has himself. Now living in the Bronx, New York, one of the most culturally diverse communities on earth, he has lived in distinctively unique parts of the planet.

Born in Mannheim, Germany, his family relocated to Nairobi, Kenya, when he was less than a year old. “Eastern Africa was full of impressions. Because of my parents’ interest in travel, I experienced African culture first-hand at a very young age. Seeing and hearing African performers and their natural gift for song and dance had a strong impact on me.” A few years later, Jann and his family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, “I remember my father taking us to a musical that I loved, called ‘The Warrior,’ starring the late Margaret Singana, who was very popular at that time in South Africa.”

For Jann, coming of age involved learning to understand human struggle in direct relationship to Africa and her people; shortly after Jann returned to Germany, Apartheid crumbled in South Africa. At age 16, Jann was on the move again, this time to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended high school as an exchange student and immersed himself in Cleveland’s burgeoning music scene.

He returned to Germany, to fulfill mandatory civil service, and then relocated to North East Ohio, where he studied voice with Emmy winner David Gooding, sang in the Cleveland Opera Chorus, and released two CDs on local label G21 Records (1997’s ENOUGH SAID and 1999’s THE STRANGEST THING).

In 2000, Jann moved to New York City, "After living in so many places, I felt like I came home to the world from the moment I arrived." NYC offers a smorgasbord of arts, and Jann responded by going to every singing and acting audition he could attend. Within a few months, he found work in the cast of the Broadway national touring company of JEKYLL & HYDE, and thereafter in the cast of the European tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

Upon his return to the New York City pavements, he committed himself to his career as a singer/songwriter, recording BLACK BOX, a 2003 EP, which net him favorable reviews and career step-ups in touring. In 2005, Jann performed his music in MOONLIGHT INTERIOR, a movement theatre production directed by Yo-el Cassell, that had a brief, sold-out Off-Broadway run.

Jann and his band continued touring, playing over 250 shows in 10 U.S. States as well as Germany; licensing songs from BLACK BOX to the movie, DEAD BROKE, on Warner Bros Home DVD; compilation discs in overseas markets: PRAMBORS HITS 3 in Indonesia; and on car maker SAAB’s 60th anniversary CD in France.

After a 2005 digital release, LIVE AT THE BITTER END, NYC, Jann focused on recording a new full-length album. In addition to using monies collected from performance and licensing fees, he asked fans for a little help, “Using PBS as an example, I gave out autographed CDs and held private concerts for donors.”

Music industry folks also believed in Jann’s talent. Rob Grenoble, who runs premiere recording studio Water Music in Hoboken, NJ, “made it work” financially and time-wise in scheduling recording dates between May and August 2007. Producer Stewart Lerman (The Roches, Loudon Wainwright III, Dar Williams, and films THE AVIATOR and THE LIFE AQUATIC) produced and mixed “Hold Me Down,” “Beautiful Dream,” “Give in to This Life,” and mixed “Doing Time” on REVERIE.

Both Lerman and Grenoble had enough faith in Jann’s discipline and musical abilities to encourage him to produce much of the album himself. Jann tapped Water Music engineer James Frazee to run the board, mix, and offer critical feedback. Dominick Maita (Fall Out Boy, Bryan Ferry, Plain White T’s) mastered the album.

Jann collaborated extensively with Lerman and his band mates Chris Marolf (upright bass), Lars Potteiger (keys, accordion), Patrick Carmichael (drums) and Leah Potteiger (violin) on arrangements. Additional musicians on the album include: Pedro da Silva (Portuguese guitar), Megan Marolf (oboe), Ryan Scott (electric guitar), Dan Brantigan (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Doug Hinrichs (percussion).

Jann continues to grow as an artist. “Last year I wrote a piece for tenor and baritone for my sister's wedding. Art is about appreciating other people's sense of self-expression; this observation inspires me to let my own imagination run free.”

Chris Marolf (Upright & Electric Bass, Vocals): Chris's range of projects is considerably varied. In addition to his work with Jann, he has collaborated on a number of projects ranging from Chinese folk to jazz to Arabic. He recently performed with Jay-Z and The Roots at Radio City and can be heard on Jay-Z’s album Reasonable Doubt. He has also learning the kora, a 21 string harp from West Africa. Before moving to New York he held a permanent position with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

Lars Potteiger (Keys, Accordion, Vocals): As a pianist, accordionist, and composer, Lars Potteiger is an experienced performer and writer in many different styles of music. Since beginning piano at the age of five, Lars pursued his musical interests down the paths of classical, jazz, rock, and funk, eventually leading him to the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. After completing his degree, he moved to New York City where he now resides. Currently, Lars keeps busy playing with the talented singer-songwriter Jann Klose, funk legend Milo Z, and leading his own jazz ensemble, the Lars Potteiger Trio. Potteiger has been a member of the Dayton Jazz Orchestra, the Afro-Rican Ensemble, and the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. He made his orchestral debut as an accordion soloist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and has also played accordion in a variety of jazz settings. Lars played keyboards with the Cincinnati local jazz-fusion band Cat City, who released the album, In and Out in 2005. He had five originals on the double-disc release, which Cincinnati’s City Beat described as “lay[ing] the groundwork for the best playing and arranging.” Lars has a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies and Studio Music from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.

Patrick Carmichael (Drums, Percussion, Flute) grew up in Kansas City, started playing drums around the age of 11, wound up in New York, at the age of 26, and has been living here ever since. His playing experience during these years has spanned many styles of music, and his influences have become even more varied. Some of his gigs to note have been The Kin, Woody Allen’s Dixieland Jazz Band, Broadway’s The Lion King, Smokey Joe’s Café, Michael Powers (a New York blues artist), The Big Apple Circus, his own band Flea Circus, and an extensive array of independent artists. With this diverse range of experience, it’s hard to say what he does best, but Patrick likes to sum it up by saying: “There is nothing I like better than to lay down a nice fat, funky groove on the drums. If it gets too complicated I don’t enjoy playing it, and I doubt the audience enjoys listening to it.” Furthermore, when asked how he tackles so many styles, he responds by saying: “My key to life is to start simple”.

Leah Potteiger (Violin, Vocals) has been playing violin since the tender age of three. As the daughter of a music educator, she spent her formative years immersed in music, eventually going on to major in music education and violin performance at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Since then, she has remained equally committed to teaching and performing. Her many years of professional experience include performances with Josh Groban and Mannheim Steamroller, numerous symphony and choral concerts, musicals, chamber recitals, and solo recitals. Her teaching career has encompassed private lessons in violin, piano, and voice, small group classes in music theory and musicianship, and large and small ensembles in private and public schools. In addition, Mrs. Potteiger has served as adjunct faculty for strings methods at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and has appeared as a Guest Clinician to many public schools. Leah’s passion and enthusiasm for music can be seen and heard in both her teaching and her performances.

Megan Marolf (Oboe) is an active orchestral, chamber, and solo musician throughout the New York City area and beyond. She performs and tours with the Philip Glass Ensemble as part of "Book of Longing," a new piece based on the poetry of Leonard Cohen. Megan has also performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, Alarm Will Sound, DiCapo Opera Theater, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, and Garden State Philharmonic, among numerous other ensembles, and at such events as the Tribeca Film Festival and Bang on a Can Marathon. A lover of chamber music, she performs with the Women of West Harlem Winds and the woodwind quartet TetraWind. Megan is a recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Stephen Taylor.

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