Born on july 4, 1960 saxophonist / flutist Heinrich von Kalnein is one of the most high- profile jazz artists of today’s Austrian and German scene. After graduating with honors from the University of Music Graz, Austria in 1987 he continued his studies with David Liebman and Oliver Lake among others. He developed a very distinct musical profile by taking his melodic concept and jazz roots into the realm of worldbeat, free improv and electronic music.

In the 1990ies he toured extensively all over Europe with his own HvK Group (among others feat. French guitarist Nguyên Lê) as well as with the Indo-Jazz Worldmusic Project ‚Free Winds’ (feat. Shakti’s Selvaganesh Vinayakram). With the latter group he also toured India and Sri Lanka.
With JBBG – JAZZ BIGBAND GRAZ, which he is (co-) leading since 2003, he performed a.o. with the vocal groups ‚Take Six’‚ ‚The New York Voices’ as well as with singers Jon Hendricks, Dianne Shur and Kurt Elling. With their CD ‚Joys & Desires’ (2005) featuring the work of drummer John Hollenbeck and vocalist Theo Bleckmann they got critical acclaim worldwide, which led to performances at the 2006 IAJE– conference in New York as well as the Northsea Jazzfestival. With their 2008 production 'Electric Poetry & Lo-Fi Cookies' blending the worlds of electronic music and jazz they developed a sound of their very own performing all over Europe. Their latest CD ‚Urban Folktales’ was released by the prestigious German label ACT records in 2012.
In 2008 he founded his new trio KAHIBA featuring Swiss drummer / electronic musician Gregor Hilbe and Austrian accordionist / pianist Christian Bakanic. With this very unique band he released three highly acclaimed CD’s. 2014 he started a duo with pianist Michael Abene.

Additionally he worked as a musical producer and bandmember with the Vienna Art Orchestra performing worldwide. Currently he is living in Graz and holds a position as a professor for saxophone at the Jazz institute of the University of Music Graz KUG.

Performances also with Iain Ballamy, Django Bates, Carla Bley, Bob Brookmeyer, Jay Clayton, Wayne Darling, Gil Evans, Heiner Goebbels, Jerry Granelli, Doug Hammond, the Peter Herbolzheimer Bigband, Peter Herborn, Marc Johnson, Sheila Jordan, Nguyên Lê, Rene Lussier, Charlie Mariano, Bob Mintzer, Phil Minton, Glen Moore, Wolfgang & Christian Muthspiel, Simon Nabatov, Ed Neumeister, Marc Ribot, Paquito d'Rivera, Steve Swallow, Dave Taylor and the Austrian National Public Radio symphony (ORF Radiosymphonieorchester) among others.

Festival appearances: Jazzfest Berlin (D), Jazzfest Bonn (D), Bolzano (I), Bremen jazzahead (D), Hofheim (D), Snow Jazz Gastein (A), Gdynia (PL), Guimaraes (P), Graz (A), Hamburg Elbjazz (D), Lisboa (P), Madrid (E), Magdeburg (D), Maribor (Slo), New Delhi (IND), New York (USA), Ploiesti (Ro), Saalfelden (A), Salzau Jazz Baltica (D), Salzburg Jazzherbst (A), Sibiu (Ro), St.Ingbert (D), St. Petersburg (RUS), Strasbourg (F), Usti Nad Labem (CZ), Trencin (SK), Vienne (F), Warsaw (PL), Weilheim (D), Wien (A), Wiesbaden (D), Wiesen (A), Wroclaw (PL).

„One of the most polished saxophonists of the Austrian scene, Heinrich von Kalnein knows how to produce both high impact jazz and masterful lines with a lyrical feel. Warmly recommended!..."
Ljubisa Tosic - DER STANDARD (A)

Von Kalnein ... lauscht in die Regionen der Welt, erfindet eingängige, folkinspirierte Melodien – und bleibt doch Jazzimprovisator... eine originelle, anregende musikalische Sprache.
Berthold Klostermann – FONOFORUM (D)

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