Robert Schumann has accompanied saxophonist Joerg Kaufmann since his childhood. As a young piano student, he was shaped by pieces from Album for the Young; later, he was particularly captivated by the Piano Concerto in A minor. During his jazz studies and his work as a music teacher, Kinderszenen remained a central point of reference. In these poetic miniatures, he discovered an expressive power that closely resonates with jazz: deep emotionality, personal experience, moods, and narrative moments. While European classical music realizes these aspects through carefully composed structures, jazz approaches them primarily through improvisation. The song-like forms, clear melodies, and distinctive harmonies of Kinderszenen provide ideal material for this exploration.

For this project, the artist deliberately chose an instrumentation without piano in order to gain the greatest possible sonic freedom while preserving the essence of the originals. Together with Mathias Haus (vibraphone) and Conrad Noll (double bass, cello), he created interpretations that sensitively translate Schumann’s romantic sound world into the language of jazz.