FUTURE MEETS TRADITION

In fact, the passing on of this ever-present drumming philosophy (named after Jim‘s Mentor Sanford Moeller) could hardly be in better hands - especially if Chapin as the undisputed master of this technique puts out a quote like this. Besides being seen as "legitimate MOELLER TECHNIQUE successor" of Jim, Claus is mostly known for his OPEN-HANDED approach to drumset playing and has performed at numerous DRUM EVENTS across "planet drum", sharing stage with players like Steve Smith, Alex Acuna, Walfredo Reyes Jr., JoJo Mayer, Johnny Rabb or percussion fame Luis Conte - also earning STANDING OVATIONS at PASIC,Indianapolis.

MUSIC MEETS TECHNIQUE

Influences from World Music, Jazz and rudimental applications connect to a MUSICAL MIX in which TECHNIQUE is always just a MEANS TO AN END - and never dominating the performance.
Besides his solistic work in clinic-like settings Claus has been performing in a variety of musical styles with bands/artists like the Grammy Award winning New York Voices, Barbara Dennerlein, Mike Stern, African Balafon great Mamadou Diabate, Sting's Rhani Krija and Dominic Miller, Herb Ellis, Bob Mintzer or Larry Coryell to his credit.

FUN MEETS EDUCATION

His educational packages OPEN-HANDED PLAYING VOL. I + II (released with Wizdom Media/Alfred Publishing; co- authored by Dom Famularo and with prefaces by Billy Cobham, Simon Philipps, Will Kennedy and Kenny Aronoff) gained worldwide recognition including a FOUR-STAR review in the "Modern Drummer" and have been nominated "Best Educational Book".

He is the chairman of PERCUSSION CREATIVE, the biggest German-speaking drum community in Europe.

CLAUS IN CLINIC

Besides soloing/playing along with tracks from his musical projects Claus is mostly covering his favourite issues of OPEN-HANDED PLAYING and MOELLER TECHNIQUE in clinics and masterclasses - and there is steady growing interest in especially these two genres of drumming. As a masterstudent of Jim Chapin and - together with his other mentor Dom Famularo - being a protagonist of Open-Handed Playing, both themes could hardly be covered better.
As a huge fan of stories and history likewise, he also dedicates some time to the heritage of traditional rudimental drumming and Swiss BASLE DRUMMING. The connected field of so called COLLAPSED RUDIMENTS is another of Claus' favourite topics, allowing for a completely new and different approach to modern drumset playing.

SABIAN has also created the HH GARAGE RIDE in collaboration with Claus, besides that he is endorsing MAPEX drums, EVANS drumheads, GON BOPS percussion, VIC FIRTH sticks and the DRUMMERSHOE.