About
“Music is my way of connecting with others – far beyond the limits of language.”
Richard Koch
Trompeter, Bandleader, Komponist, Bühnen-Performer
“When the Austrian Richard Koch draws sounds from his trumpet, he tells personal stories. His multifaceted jazz captivates instantly, brings momentum and makes everything it touches vibrate.”
Andreas Müller, Radio Eins vom RBB
“The poet among trumpeters.”
Wolf Wondratschek
Trumpeter and composer Richard Koch is a defining voice of the Berlin jazz scene. As a bandleader, he writes and performs original music for his quintet (album Rays of Light, 2025) and the Richard Koch Quartett (Wald 2018, Stadt 2020, Fluss 2022), appearing at concerts and festivals throughout Europe and the United States.
As a performer, Koch regularly works across disciplines, appearing at renowned venues including Berliner Ensemble, Theatertreffen, Komische Oper Berlin, Volksbühne Berlin and Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. He collaborates with dancers, actors and visual artists such as She She Pop, Julyen Hamilton and Wolf Wondratschek.
With his own project Ritsche & Zast, he presents performances that combine drawing and music on stages around the world.
In the Empowerment Trio, he blends drum machine beats with electronic transformations of the trumpet.
Koch collaborates with leading international artists including Hermeto Pascoal, Nils Landgren, Ingrid Laubrock and Hayden Chisholm. In the pop world, he has appeared as a featured soloist on major stages such as Waldbühne Berlin and Rock am Ring, performing with Beatsteaks, Peter Fox, Nils Frahm and Jimi Tenor.
“Koch allows himself an almost childlike joy for life that makes our hearts smile.”
Albert Hosp, Radio Ö1
