Emil Mangelsdorff

Who is Emil Mangelsdorff?

Emil Mangelsdorff is a jazz musician who plays alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet and flute.

In 1942 and 1943 Mangelsdorff studied clarinet at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. As a member of the Frankfurt Hot Club his performing of jazz lead him to being imprisoned by the Gestapo. He was forced into the Hitler army and was a Russian prisoner of war for four years. In 1949 he came back to Frankfurt and decided to become a professional jazz musician. He played in the combos of Joe Klimm and Jutta Hipp, and was also a member of the Frankfurt All Stars and of the Jazz-Ensemble des Hessischen Rundfunks from 1958. Since the 1960s he has directed his own quartet.

In 1964 Mangelsdorff wrote an instruction manual for jazz saxophone. In 2006 he was awarded the Goethe-Plakette des Landes Hessen. In 2008 he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz.

Jazz trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff was his brother.