1979 started playing guitar and studied Jazz with his first teacher Juergen Sturm. Major influences: George Benson and Wes Montgomery.


1982 attended the Conservatory of Music in Cologne. (Musikhochschule Koeln)


1983 recorded his first L.P. with his band “Checkpoint”, on CPR Records.


1985 moved to Hamburg and played with local bands.


1987 moved to Los Angeles and studied at the Musicians Institute (G.I.T.), where he got lessons form prominent teachers such as Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Norman Brown and Joe Diorio.


1988 moved to Boston and went to the Berklee School of Music. Afterwards he got lessons from John Abercrombie in New York.


1989 founded his original project: "DIRK K" together with Jens Rodenberg,.He moved back to Los Angeles where he recorded at the Sunset-Sound Studios together with Joey Heredia, Tony Dumas, Joe Broncata and J.K..


1990 recorded his first CD in Germany: “Kah-Bro-Duo” it was utilized as a soundtrack for the movie: “Fluchttraum” by Walter Wehmeyer.


1991 recorded two CD’s:
1. DIRK K - Fly to L.A. featuring: Randy Brecker, Toots Thielemans, Nippy Noya and Wolfgang Engstfeld
2. CD: J.K. -special- featuring: Dave Weckl released on Lipstick Records worldwide.


1992 did his first Europe Tour featuring: Randy Brecker and New York sax man Andy Middleton.


1993 he worked together with Joe McBride and Kenny Blake. He also recorded a CD for sax man Ulrich Lask, released on CMP Records.


1994 he recorded his second DIRK K CD - Beach Ball - released on Fuzzy Music in 1995, produced by Peter Erskine featuring; Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, Marc Johnson and Paulinho Da Costa.


1994 DIRK K moved back to Los Angeles, where he started to play concerts with musicians such as: Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Alan Pasqua, Thomas McMorran (Tom Scott band), Rique Pantoja, Gary Meek (Al Jarreau band), et al

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1995 he started to work on his 3rd album together with the producers: Howie Hersh and Iki Levy (Paula Abdul, Joe Cocker, Chaka Kahn, et al)


1996 he appeared on several concerts with the “J.K.-special-band” featuring: Brandon Fields, Mitch Forman, Gary Novak, Bernie Dresel, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tal Bergman, Peter Erskine, et al


1996 he is touring with his project featuring players such as: Otmaro Ruiz, Bart Samolis, Michito Sanchez, Hans Zermuehlen, Dave Carpenter, Larry Cohn, Mark Converse, Rick Craig, et al.


1997 DIRK K. released his 3rd album: “about you” on Countdown Records / Unity Entertainment Group, featuring: Paul Taylor, Rick Braun, Troy Garner, Todd Garner, Michael Contratto (Lenny Kravitz band), Howie Hersh and Iki Levy.


1997 his first USA tour including: Dallas - “the Oasis Jazz festival”, Minneapolis - “the Ribfest”, San Diego’s - “Gas Lamp Quarter Jazz Festival”, Mission San Juan Capistrano - “Ego Fest”, Los Angeles - Club Caprice and the Baked Potato, a.s.o..
His tour featured: Toni Maiden (Chaka Kahn), Don Wyatt (Anita Baker, Dave Koz, Everett Harp), Hans Zermuehlen (Frank Gambale band), Michael Shapiro (Al Jarreau, Kevin Lettau), Harvey Dee (Rod Steward). His record hit the charts and got played up to 250 spins a week in NAC / Smooth Jazz Radio all over the United States. In England the CD went up to number 3 record of the year at the Jazz FM charts.

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1998 DIRK K, J.K. & PETER ERSKINE released a new live album:
“LIVE”AT THE BAKED POTATO on KALLE FORNIA RECORDS.
Music Connection, L. A. : …A sterling example of top- flight musicianship …

1999 DIRK K produced and released his 5th CD: DIRK K – Miracles -
as a recording artist on DIP RECORDS 90299-2. He is very successfully promoting his CD throughout Southern California. His band features players such as: Will Kennedy (Yellowjackets), Russ Miller (Gloria Estefan) Leon Bisquera (Randy Crawford).


1999 DIRK K produced the CD: Face 2 Face for sax-man Robert Sabado.
On DIP RECORDS 90899-2.


1999 DIRK K co-produced, played and did bring his compositional talents to the CD: Tropical Sunset for flute player Arturo Orozco.


1999 DIRK K produced his 6th CD: DIRK K -Seasons Greetings-
for DIP RECORDS 91099-2. The CD is featuring a variety of Holiday Songs.


2000 DIRK K plays guitars for J.K.' S new CD: J.K. - Angelinos


2000 DIRK K is releasing his first CD in the new Millennium DIRK K - Hurricane featuring Leon Bisquera - keys (Randy Crawford, Boney James, Rick Braun, et al) and J.K. - bass


2000 DIRK K guest stars on the debut CD of singer and songwriter Esteban The CD includes players such as Gerald Albright, Paul Jackson, et al


2000 DIRK K guest stars on J.K.' S second release in 2000 named: J.K. - South Of The Equator

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2000 DIRK K - Urban Standards is his latest release. 10 incredible Jazz Standards in a very new way. Featuring Kevin Flournoy keys (Shanice, Ronnie Laws), C.C. Thomas Jr. bass (Babyface, TLC) and Tony Moore drum programming (Gerald Albright, Boney James)


2001 DIRK K is performing the National Anthem for the LA Lakers at The Staples Center in Los Angeles.


2001 DIRK K receives Shaq's Hero Award in recognition for his outstanding service for Shaquille O'Neal's Shaqutacular VI and Athletes & Entertainers for Kids


2001 DIRK K performs for Tim Braun's (Raiders) Birthday Party in Dallas Texas


2001 DIRK K and Dan Sistos founded their Flamenco Jazz project: Acoustic Journey. Their debut release Acoustic Journey - This Is Flamenco Jazz receives great response from jazz legend Horace Silver to Music Icon Herb Alpert. Everyone is raving about it. Music Connection Magazine (Los Angeles) writes: "This tasteful, imaginative duo cover material by classic jazz artists, and dazzle with their interpretations and their shear dexterity of their playing"


2002 DIRK K records his 10th release at Lou Adler's studio Bu Haven in Malibu live in only a few hours. This time he follows the tradition of straight ahead jazz and records standards and original composition together with Dick Weller on drums and Osama Afifi on bass. DIRK K uses his unique jazz guitar sound and the spontaneous interaction of the three players. The song Invitation has just been added on Americas most renowned Jazz Radio Station FM 88.1 KKJZ

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2002 DIRK K receives an award from Tim Braun (Raiders) for his outstanding services
2002 DIRK K produced a compilation CD for the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey entitled:
jer-ne.
2002 DIRK K produced the third CD for Sax man Robert Sabado: Cool Yule. The CD presents 12 songs for the Holiday Season featuring Kleber Jorge and Charlie Bisherat
2003 DIRK K got Air play for his release stolen dreams on KKJZ FM 88.1
2003 DIRK K did a compilation CD for Wall Street Records DIRK K Platinum release will be early April.
2003 DIRK K presents his 2003 release "when sunny gets blue" with an all-star line-up Featuring his flamenco guitar and a special bonus track together with Rap Artist Heather Marie Wright
2003 DIRK K is releasing a compilation/ New CD in titled "My Favorite" It is a combination of re-recorded, re-mixed and re-mastered original compositions and some new material.
2003 DIRK K is releasing DIRK K Urban Standards Volume 2 featuring 10 jazz standards in the same genre than the first Urban Standards
2004 DIRK K performs all the time playing Festivals throughout California. He is producing a new CD for singer/ songwriter Haruchi Kanda from Tokyo, Japan. He also started recording and writing with Gospel Star DEZ (Desiree Jackson). The CD das ueberschall has been released on DIP Records with Marco Minnemann, Dan Sistos and J.K. live at the Baked Potato followed by a Europe tour.

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2005 a new release by DIRK K - My Romance following up on Urban Standards. Dirk plays all instruments except electric piano by Leon Bisquera and bass by C.C. Thomas
Haruchi Kanda's CD Belmont shore is available. Dirk guest stars on Jeanette Harris CD Down Route 99
2006 Dirk is working on new project mixing Jazz and Flamenco
Dirk produced Michelle Douglas (Contemporary Gospel) Her CD is available now.

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