Rudolf Theilmann

Biography

Rudolf "Rudi" Theilmann was born on 3 April 1942 in Pforzheim. He is a German jazz art historian and drummer.

### Education

Theilmann passed his Abitur in 1962 and then studied art history, classical archaeology, philosophy, and economic and social history at the University of Heidelberg. In 1971, he obtained his doctorate under the direction of Ewald M. Vetter with a thesis on "Johann Wilhelm Schirmer's Karlsruhe School".

### Career

From 1971, Theilmann worked as a research assistant at the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. He headed the Kupferstichkabinett there from 1998 until his retirement in 2002. During this time, he also set up the "Archives of the Artists of Baden" (German: "Archiv Badischer Künstler") at the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe.

### Music Career

Theilmann has been a drummer since 1959. He initially played old-time jazz with the Delta Rhythm Kings, which was recorded in 1960. However, he quickly transitioned to hard bop. From 1965, he played in the Modern Jazz Quintet Karlsruhe (including Wilfried Eichhorn and Helmut Zimmer), where he developed his own approach to jazz.

References

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