Christoph Stiefel, born July 29, 1961, in Zürich, Switzerland, is a Swiss pianist, arranger, producer, bandleader, and composer known for his contributions to jazz. Since 1980, he has focused on his career as a pianist and composer. His breakthrough came when he joined Andreas Vollenweider & Friends in 1984, leading to extensive concert tours across the USA, Canada, Europe, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. In 1990, Stiefel formed his own jazz group, producing albums including Ancient Longing (1995), Dream of the Camel (2001), and Inner Language Trio (2014). Notable collaborations include performances with Peter Erskine, Charlie Mariano, and Dieter Ilg. In 1997, Stiefel received a commission from Pro Helvetia to write a concerto for piano, two percussionists, and string orchestra, which premiered in July 1998. He has also composed music for advertising, radio plays, and films, and has taught at the Jazz Department of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
