fter attending Berklee College of Music, from where he graduated in 1996 with a B.A. in Professional Music (Magma Cum Laude), Strauss moved to New York City where he performed in various NYC-clubs and broadened his musical skills. Private lessons with: John Riley (Village Vanguard and Bob Mintzer Big Bands), Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny Group) and Tommy Campbell (Manhattan Transfer and Kevin Eubanks Band). Upon returning to Germany, Strauss founded the Berlin Big Band which plays regular concerts in Berlin. Besides that he is a freelance musician in studios, live and on tours (musicals "The Beauty and the Beast", "Anything Goes" & "My Fair Lady"; small and large Jazz-ensembles) and has occasional show-band engagements on cruise ships in the USA, Asia and Europe.