Born in 1967 in Weilheim, Upper Bavaria, Germany, Johannes Enders picked up the horn at age 14. After finishing his preliminary classical studies at the Munich Conservatory in 1988, he started studying at the Jazz Institute of Graz (Austria) where he met two of his heroes, Dave Liebman and Jerry Bergonzi. Enders won three times first prizes at Austria's International Competitions in his early twenties. In 1990, ex-Coltrane bass player Reggie Workman recommended him for a scholarship at New York's New School. While in the States, Enders took lessons from Donald Byrd, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Jimmy Cobb, Jim Hall and others. He won a Silver Award at the American MusicFest in Oakland, CA (1990) and was a finalist at the Monk Competition in Washington, D.C. (1991) - together with such as Eric Alexander and Joshua Redman. Young Enders recorded with David Liebman on Harry Pepl's "Sch�nberg Improvisations" and was a featured soloist on Joe Locke's "Longing."

After his return from the States, Enders quickly established himself in the European music scene and also toured South Africa where he recorded "Reflections of South Africa" with the Hilton Schilder Trio. In 1996, he founded his own quartet including Roberto Di Gioia on piano. Among his rich international performing experience are collaborations with the likes of Milt Hinton, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Billy Hart, Sam Rivers, Roy Hargrove, Jaki Byard, Lester Bowie, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler, Ack van Rooyen and Brad Mehldau. Enders is also a featured soloist with several electronic ensembles such as Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio and Mars Mobil. In 1998 he received the Kulturf�rderpreis f�r Musik of Bavarias Capitol Munich. The same year he started working on his own Electronic Project Enders Room. The highly aclaimed first Album "Monolith" was released in 2002 and won the 2003 SWR Jazzpreis and was voted among the best 50 albums of the year by German Rolling Stone.

Originally influenced by John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, he has developed his own personal style on the tenor and soprano saxophone distinguished by a sense of relaxation and open spaces.


Press quotes:
"Enders is a masterful instrumentalist."- Howard Mandel, Down Beat Magazine
"Germany's answer to Joshua Redman." - Jazz thing
"Unlike many other young players, Enders has his own sound." - Cadence Magazine
"One of the most important story-tellers in jazz today." - Jazz Podium