La Valse Des Vents

I am thrilled to announce the release of my latest album "Three Views of a Musical Piece feat. Aruán Ortiz" which officially dropped on August 14, 2024. This project is particularly special, as it represents not just one, but three unique interpretations of a single musical work, each offering a distinct sonic experience. Available in both digital and hardcopy formats, this 3-CD album invites listeners to immerse themselves in the intricate layers of a composition through varied arrangements and instrumentation.

Here you can listen to Album 3 - the view with the Jazz Orchestra & Stringquartet

05 - Movement V  Conclusion

04 - Movement IV  Rewind [and Play Again]

03 - Movement III  Matter Of Fact

02 - Movement II  Limited [But Sweet]

01 - Movement I  East Of The West

Comp. by Moritz Renner
Solo: Moritz Renner (Trb)
Pic. by Jakob Marsmann

Believe - Jakob Maes Jazzorchester live '24

Comp. by Bob Brookmeyer
Solos: Fabian Deschler (Drums), Maxim Burtsev (Pno)
Pic by Jakob Marsmann

The Door - JMJO live '24

GoFundMe to Save Mickey's House - 
https://gofund.me/240d8a93

Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra LIVE @ 2020 Arts + Archives (Mickey's House Benefit Concert 10.22.24)

"Five Forbidden Seconds of You" is a sophisticated contemporary ballad that weaves together soul, jazz, and orchestral elements into a tapestry of human connection. Through the sultry vocals, the song explores those suspended moments when time seems to pause and ordinary spaces become sacred. The composition moves from intimate piano and voice to rich orchestral arrangements, complemented by smooth jazz harmonies and soulful expression. The interplay between vocal interpretation and instrumental textures creates a cinematic journey through the landscape of unspoken possibilities.
This Valentine's Day release celebrates love's mysterious ways of finding us in the most unexpected moments, turning brief encounters into eternal echoes in our hearts.

Craving your glance, my heart's in chains,
in my veins, your image sustains,
never fading, like a spear in my sight,
deep within thoughts, day turns to night.  

Your fleeting presence, my daily thrill,  
come close, yet far, a forbidden thrill,
only in passing, our worlds briefly touch,
quietly sparking, a flame so much,

Under your gaze, I burn like fire,
intense, your smile, my heart's desire,
a volcano's heat, in your eyes, my love's dire.

Five forbidden seconds of you

Comp. by Nico Weber
Feat. Fabian Deschler (sax) & Malte Wiest (ds)

Brooks - Jakob Maes Jazzorchester (Leisnig '25)

Feat. Paula Rosin (sax) & Lea Reichel (voc)

Nuages - Jakob Maes Jazzorchester live@Unterfahrt 2025

Feat. Nico Weber (tpt), Moritz Renner (trb), Lukas Langguth (pno) & Malte Wiest (ds)
Pic by Nico Weber

The Flu's in Boss' Hat - Jakob Maes Jazzorchester live@Unterfahrt 2025

Comp. by Lea Reichel
Feat. Lea Reichel (voc) & Khasar Ganbaatar (bcl)
Pic by Nico Weber

Goodbye in Silence - Jakob Maes Jazzorchester live@Unterfahrt 2025

Feat. Lorenz Bergler (sax), Lukas Langguth (pno) & Marie Kuhar (trb)

Didi's Theme - Jakob Maes Jazzorchester live@Unterfahrt 2025

music is a mirror made of magic. 
IG - @sahar.studios

Silas Engel, Michael Salvermoser, Janos Löber, Nico Weber, Linus Bornheim (Trumpets)
Moritz Renner, Paul Quistorp, Marie Kuhar, Linus Berg (Trombones)
Fabian Deschler, Lorenz Bergler, Paula Rosin, Katharina Pfeifer, Caspar Rutsch, Khasar Ganbaatar (Reeds)
Maxim Burtsev (Piano), Charly Härtel (Bass), Malte Wiest (Drums)
Lea Reichel (Voice), Jakob Maes (Conducting)

- Part Pianist, part composer, part poet, part IT technologies technician/programmer, 100% musician. -

Otoniel Rojas is a Dominican pianist and composer celebrated for his unique fusion of classical music with the rich rhythms of his homeland. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he was immersed in a vibrant musical environment from an early age. His father, an accomplished musician, served as the principal flutist and later as the piccolo player in the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, instilling in him a profound appreciation for music.

At just seven years old, Rojas began his formal music education at the National Conservatory of Music, initially focusing on the violin. Simultaneously, he nurtured a passion for the piano, teaching himself to play and developing exceptional sight-reading abilities. His prodigious talent quickly became evident as he accompanied his father in numerous public performances, church services, and television appearances across his native country.

Determined to refine his pianistic skills, Rojas pursued formal piano instruction, excelling in performance, counterpoint, music theory, and solfège at the conservatory. Despite his musical successes, he briefly explored an engineering career at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). However, his unwavering dedication to music led him to resume his artistic journey.

Seeking broader horizons, Otoniel relocated to the United States to study at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York—a hub for international students and a springboard to esteemed institutions like Juilliard. Under the mentorship of acclaimed pianist Agustin Anievas, a celebrated American classical pianist known for his recordings of Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Under Anievas' tutelage, Rojas flourished, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance, earning the distinction of Cum Laude. His exceptional musicianship was recognized when he won the conservatory's piano competition, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the college orchestra.

Deeply involved in the college's musical community, Rojas participated in chamber music ensembles, served as a piano accompanist, and sang in both the specialized chamber choir and the conservatory choir. He expanded his compositional skills under the guidance of Robert Starer, an Austrian-born American composer known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. His collaboration with the university's ballet program led to his composition "A Passing of Time" being incorporated into the ballet's repertoire, which was performed internationally by the university ballet in Prague.

To further diversify his expertise, Rojas studied conducting with Karoly Kope, chamber music with Stoddard Lincoln and Marion Feldman—a distinguished cellist and professor at New York University—and delved into music history under H. Wiley Hitchcock, a leading authority on American music.

Upon returning to the Dominican Republic, Rojas continued to compose and perform. He was commissioned by the Sinfónica del Cibao to create "Mozartina," an orchestral piece that masterfully intertwines traditional merengue rhythms with themes from Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony. The work features the tambora, a traditional Dominican percussion instrument, symbolizing a fusion of his classical training and cultural roots. "Mozartina" premiered with the Sinfónica del Cibao and was later performed in a revised version by the National Symphony Orchestra in Santo Domingo under the baton of Caonex Peguero, a prominent Dominican violinist/conductor/composer.

Today, Rojas continues to share his music with audiences worldwide. Through platforms like SoundCloud and published sheet music, he brings a unique blend of classical and Dominican musical traditions to listeners and performers alike. His journey reflects a lifelong dedication to music and a commitment to bridging cultures through his art.

composer-conductor-jazz-orchestra-leader from Vienna, Austria
since 2009

New tracks tagged #jazzorchestra