The saxophonist and composer founded the label PATA MUSIC to independently publish the music of the diverse Pata ensembles – from duo to orchestra.
Beside performing in Europe, he went on numerous concert tours such as to Brazil, Africa, USA, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia. Several musical encounters were realized in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut. You will find these international music cooperations documented on various PATA CDs.
As a bandleader and composer, Norbert’s approach is to create structures or atmospheres in which his colleagues can articulate their own ideas. His goal is to create music that constantly changes and evolves, and in which each performance is unique and presenting a brilliant balance between refined arrangements and plenty of freedom for spontaneity and interactivity.
“Pata Music is full of surprises, it is open to all sorts of influences, it tears down fences of seemingly contradictory idioms, and coming from jazz improvisation, it builds up something new and exciting.” (Joerg Eipasch, Jazzpodium /Germany)
The name ‘Pata Music’ is derived from the work of late 19th century scientist, Dr. Faustroll, who developed a theory of ‘pata physics’,
defined as a science based on “unreal logic and a new reality beyond the borders of the world of external appearances removed from the usual principles of causality.” Everything is interchangeable, transformable, reversible and interchangeable: Things, times and spaces. But nothing is arbitrary, but every simplicity is an interwoven and interlocking diversity. “
Pata Polaris;
1973-1979: Studying saxophone at the conservatory in Cologne / Germany
1978 – 1992: Co-founding and member of the musicians collective Initiative Koelner Jazzhaus/Cologne
1986: establishing the label PATA MUSIC with meanwhile 25 CD releases
2004 – 2008: Co-founder and co-organizer of the James Choice Orchestra
2012 – 2015: Co-founder and co-organizer of the Musiklabor Koeln (Music-lab Cologne)
Realized projects and releases:
2022 CD PATA POLARIS “Heartland” Pata 25
2022 Book publication: “Symmetry”. Published by Chili Notes.
2021 PATA ROOMS. Series of projects for Collective Composing
2021 Book publication: “FLOW”. Published by Chili Notes .
2020 PATA COLLAGES. Workshop about Coincidence and The surprising whole
2019 Book publication: “PATA WORKBOOK I-III”. Published by Chili Notes.
2017 Book publication: “MELOS”. Published by Chili Notes.
2017 CD PATA MESSENGERS “We are” Pata 24
2016 CD PATA MESSENGERS “Friends & Dragons” Pata 23
2015 CD PATA MESSENGERS play Rainer Maria Rilke Pata 22
2013 CD “PATA ON THE CADILLAC” Pata 21
2010 CD PATA, HORNS & DRUMS “Silent Sitting Bulls” Pata 20
2008 CD PATA GENERATORS “Direct Speech” Pata 19
2006 CD “Graffiti Suite – Norbert Stein Pata Music played by NDR Bigband” Pata 18
2005 CD PATA GENERATORS – the compact orchestra -“code carnival” Pata 17
2003 Second concert tour to Indonesia. CD-recording of “Pata Java”.
An encounter with the Gamelan-Ensemble KUA ETNIKA by commission of the Goethe-Institutes in Jakarta / Indonesia.
2002 CD PATA MASTERS “live in Australia” Pata 15
Live recording at the festival in Wangaratta/Australia.
2000 CD PATA MUSIC meets ARFI “Die Schoene und das Biest” / “La Belle et la Bête” Pata 14
– a project commissioned by the Bayer Cultural Division together with Westdeutscher Rundfunk
2000 CD PATA BLUE CHIP Pata 13
– electronic music with videotraces by Reinhold Knieps
1999 CD PATA MASTERS “Pata Maroc” Pata 12
– a project in cooperation with the Goethe Institut Rabat / Morocco
– with soundscapes by Michael Ruesenberg
1998 CD PATA-BAHIA Pata 11
– a project commissioned by the Goethe Institut Salvador/Bahia (Brazil)
1997 CD PATA MUSIC meets ARFI “News of Roi Ubu” Pata 10
– a project commissioned by the Bayer Cultural Division together with Westdeutscher Rundfunk
1996 CD PATA MASTERS “Graffiti” Pata 9
1994 CD PATA MASTERS “Blue Slit” Pata 8
1993 PATA ORCHESTER “The Secret Act of Painting” Pata 7
– a commissioned production on occasion of the art exhibitions of the Bayer Cultural Divison
1992 CD PATA HORNS “Talking People” Pata 6
1991 CD PATA ORCHESTER “Ritual Life” Pata 5
– a project commissioned for Leverkusener Jazztage
1990 CD PATA HORNS “New Archaic Music” Pata 4
1990 CD PATA ORCHESTER “Die wilden Pferde der armen Leute” Pata 3
– a project commissioned for the festival “Post this & Neo that”/Cologne
1988 LP PATA TRIO “Lucy und der Ball” Pata 2
1987 LP PATA ORCHESTER “Die fünf Tage” Pata 1
Further recordings:
James Choice Orchestra “live at MusikTriennale Köln” (2008)
James Choice Orchestra “live at Moers” (2005)
Adam Noidlt Missiles “Live at Rheinlaender” (2000)
voices@stadtgarten (2000)
“ROMA” a soundscape remix, Real Ambient Vol. 1 (1998)
“Immigrés” Maahanmuutajien Musiikkia suomesta (1997)
Koelner Saxophon Mafia “Die saxuelle Befreiung” (1984)
KoelnerSaxophon Mafia “Unerhört – Stadtklaenge” (1985)
Koelner Saxophon Mafia “Die eiserne Nachtigall” (1987)
Nonett “… und Koeln pennt” (1981)
Nonett “Zur Lage der Nation” (1982)
Nonett “Wenn der weiße Flieder wieder blueht” (1983)
Boury “Moderne Zeiten” (1982)
Boury “Fuer Herrn Keupert” (1984)
Headband “Straight Ahead” (1979)
Headband “Suntalk” (1981)
Headband “Fette Bruehe” (1982)
Stadtgarten Series 2 (1990)
Stadtgarten Series 6 (1992)
AMF Music “Bunt” (1991)
AMF “Poetic silhouettes” (1993)
AMF Music “A highly ragged guide to my kind of blue(s)” (1994)
Karlheinz Stockhausen “Der Jahreslauf” (1981)
“Vor der Flut” Hommage an einen Wasserspeicher (1985)
Stollwerk Sampler, Off Records 1 (1985)
Klaus Lenz Jazz & Rock Machine “Sleepless nights” (1980)
JazzHausBigband “Open Lines” (1980)
LandesJugendJazzOrchester NRW “First Album” (1977)