Oliver Kraus, born 1970, guitarist, pianist, accordion player, composer, arranger and bandleader apprenticeship:

1998 licensed professional musician and instrumental educator for Jazz and Popular music. Youngest offspring of the artist family Kraus, August Kraus, sculptor from Berlin, master student of Reinhold Begas, last president of the Berlin academy of arts, Marianne Winkelstern, actress, Hans Kraus, painter, [Ehrenstipedant] at the Villa Massimo Rom.

After his academic studies he foremost made a name for himself by acoustic guitar/ 6-String acoustic bass Duo JUST FRIENDS. After that he got an endorsement contract with the instrument producer Stoll, that he is still presenting instruments at fairs and at concerts in entire Germany for.

Concert highlights: international guitar days in Osnabrück, Jazz festival Bingen, Open Strings Festival Osnabrück, Jazzfestival Idstein, Jazz in the court Wiesbaden, Focus on Jazz Paris, annual presentation of jazz guitar for Stoll at the fair in Frankfurt.

et al. with: Carola Grey (drums), Kai Eckhardt de Camarco (bass), Russ Spiegel (guitar), Colin Dunwoodie (saxophone, Flute), Dieter Kociemba (guitar), Ralf Göldner (percussion/ drums), Daniel Guggenheim (saxophone), Natascha Wright (vocals), Torsten de Winkel (guitar)

1993-1998 study guitar at the FMW Frankfurt, apprenticeship to a licensed professional musician. Lessons from Heinz Dieter Sauerborn (HR3-Bigband),), Daniel Guggenheim, Heinz-Dieter Schönmehl (piano), Dirk Bell (guitar) Studio halt in Havanna, New York and Paris Composition lessons from Christoph Aupperle

since 2007 lessons/ coaching from guitarledgent Thorsten de Winkel (Joe Zawinul, Pat Metheny Group, Helmut-Hattler band)

2003-2007: songwriter duo FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES with Kick La Luna bassist Uli Pfeifer (vocal/ bass). CD release HEAPS OF CHALLENGES, Release-Party in the Sinkkasten Frankfurt with Christiane Sattler (keyboard) und Angela Frontera (drums). Other concerts in Colosaal Aschaffenburg, Schlot Berlin, on the HR3Clubtour, radio appearances in HR1 S/W and HR3 with Volker Rebell.

Since 2006 music counseling / production for the film authors-Ag München film soundtracks composition and production for the film authors -AG production ‘Paulas Geheimnis’. Awarded with the Lukas-Filmpreis film soundtracks ‚Calling Siedlisko’ [zu] Anne Wilds ‘NACHMITTAG IN SIEDLISKO‘ performance at the BERLINA and at festivals in San Francisco and New York. CD release

2007 Oliver Kraus & Band ‚Subways’ 2006 Brigada Especial: CD release PROGRAMMA NORMAL with their own and covered Latin jazz titles 2006 FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES: DVD release: Live at the Colossaal 2005 BRIGADA ESPECIAL: CD release ALTANA Live CD with Salsa-Son titels 2005 FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES: CD release: HEAPS OF CHALLENGES, songwriter project with Kick la luna bassist Uli Pfeifer 2003 THE GRAND DAY OUT, debut solo CD, only compositions of their own with devers artists from the Rhein-Main area 2002 COLIN DUNWOODIE –BREAKFASTCLUB 2001 JUST FRIENDS: CD release: ‘TALKING BOUT STRINGS’. Live feat. CAROLA GREY (drums) 1998-2002 SOUNDS LIKE COLOURS SOUNDS LIKE COLOURS TRANCE JAM MISSION IMPOSSIBLE