Paulus Schäfer (1978) is one of the most talented Gypsy Jazz guitarists in the Netherlands. Born in the Dutch Sinti community, he learned to play the guitar at an early age. His teacher was Waso Grünholz, a legend within the Sinti community, who encouraged him to develop his own sound.
Paulus is a sought-after guitarist worldwide and has played on many important stages and jazz festivals; from Carnegie Hall and Royal Opera House Mumbai to the Bimhuis and Jazz Dock Prague, and many jazz festivals such as Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Amersfoort World Jazz Festival, Jazz in Duketown, Daejon International Guitar Festival, Breda Jazz, Django Reinhardt Festival Samois etc..
Typical of Paulus is his very broad musical interests, and he plays in a number of diverse formations. Since meeting the virtuoso accordionist Doinique Paats in 2014, he has regularly performed with him as a duo. In 2023, they toured a large number of Dutch theaters together. Under the name Sous le Ciel de Paris they play the most beautiful French songs. Paulus also has very beautiful compositions of his own to his name, and on his successful album Letter to Van Gogh he plays them together with Tcha Limberger and top pianist Peter Beets. A major tour of more than 20 Dutch theaters with The Five Great Guitars has been booked for 2024.
Together with guitarist Joost Zoeteman, Paulus clearly shows that he also enjoys playing other styles within jazz music, and he has played with many great musicians such as Stochelo Rosenberg, Bireli Lagrene, Jan Akkerman, Antoine Boyer, Martin Taylor, Jan Kuiper and Fapy Lafertin.
Paulus Schäfer; a phenomenal guitarist with an unprecedented ability to improvise, and always seeking innovation together with other top musicians, both at home and abroad!