Klaus Doldinger,
Kristian Schultze,
Olaf Kubler,
Lothar Meid,
Udo Lindenberg,
Curt Cress,
Wolfgang Schmid,
Hendrik Schaper,
Dieter Petereit,
Jim Jackson,
Pete York,
Kevin Mulligan,
Roy Louis,
Elmer Louis,
Willy Ketzer,
Johnny Griffin
Representative Songs: "Abracadabra," "Ready for Take Off," "Handmade"
Biography
Passport is the creation of saxophonist Klaus Doldinger, who has stated that Passport is not so much a set group but a label and a name for his many projects. Doldinger, who had started out playing Dixieland back in the 1950s, by the following decade was a modern tenor-saxophonist who also worked in the studios. His mind has always remained quite open and in 1970 he formed Passport so as to explore the combination of advanced jazz improvising with rockish rhythms. Passport matches Doldinger's reeds (tenor, soprano, flute and occasional keyboards) with an electric rhythm section. The group's first recording (1970's Passport) also included Olaf Kubler on second tenor and flute, organist Jimmy Jackson, electric bassist Lother Maid and drummer Udo Lindenberg. Soon the group went through the first of several complete turnovers. The mid-1970's version usually teamed Doldinger with keyboardist Kristian Schultze, electric bassist Wolfgang Schmid and drummer Curt Cress and by 1978 it had changed drastically again. However, no matter who was in the rhythm section, Klaus Doldinger's lead voice and his band's musical direction remained consistent through the years. Passport has made numerous recordings, particularly for Atlantic. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
