Eva Kruse is a German jazz musician and composer whose deep, singing tone on the double bass has made her one of the most respected bassists in European jazz. Born in Hamburg in 1978, she first came to wide attention as a founding member of the piano trio [em], a group that helped define the sound of young German jazz in the 2000s. Since then she has built a career that moves easily between trio playing, large ensemble work, and her own projects as a bandleader and composer.
What sets Kruse apart is her patience as a musician. Her bass lines are melodic rather than merely rhythmic, and her compositions give every instrument room to breathe. From the award-winning trio years with [em] to her solo albums on the Redhorn label and her later work in Sweden, she has followed a steady, unhurried path — one shaped as much by family life and artistic curiosity as by the jazz circuit itself. This biography brings together everything publicly known about her life, career, and music.
Eva Kruse Wiki and Biography
| Full Name | Eva Kruse |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 16 October 1978 |
| Age | 48 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Hamburg, West Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Ethnicity | Not publicly disclosed |
| Zodiac | Libra |
| Profession | Jazz musician and composer |
| Years Active | 2005–present (recording career) |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly disclosed |
Eva Kruse Height and Weight
| Height | Not publicly disclosed |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eye Colour | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair Colour | Not publicly disclosed |
| Body Measurements | Not publicly disclosed |
Unlike many public figures, Kruse has never shared details about her height, weight, or appearance in interviews or profiles. Her public image rests entirely on her music, and this article respects that boundary by reporting only what is publicly documented.
Eva Kruse Career
| Profession | Jazz musician and composer |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Upright (double) bass, bass guitar |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Started | Early 2000s; debut album 2005 |
| Known For | Co-founding the piano trio [em]; solo albums In Water, On the Mo, and New Legend |
| Labels / Platforms | ACT, Redhorn |
| Milestones | BMW Welt Jazz Award winner 2009 (with [em]); ECHO Jazz award for In Water; Jazz-Echo awards as top German bassist in 2015 and 2017 |
Kruse’s breakthrough came with [em], the piano trio she co-founded with pianist Michael Wollny and drummer Eric Schaefer. The group’s debut album, Call It [em], was released on the ACT label in 2005 and announced a fresh, energetic voice in German jazz. A live album, [em] live, followed on ACT in 2010. In 2009, the trio won the very first BMW Welt Jazz Award, a prize that confirmed their standing as one of the most exciting young acts in European jazz.
In 2011, Kruse made a life-changing decision: she left [em] to have her second child. After a period of parental leave, she moved to Sweden, where she began playing with trombonist Nils Landgren, one of Scandinavia’s best-known jazz musicians. The move opened a new chapter in her career, placing her at the heart of the Swedish jazz scene while she developed her own voice as a composer and bandleader.
Her first album as a leader, In Water, arrived on the Redhorn label in 2014. Recorded with an unusual and colourful line-up — Tjadina Würdinger on oboe, Uwe Steinmetz on saxophone, Bugge Wesseltoft on piano, and Christian Jormin on drums — the album won an ECHO Jazz award and showed Kruse’s gift for writing music that blends jazz improvisation with chamber-music textures. She followed it with On the Mo in 2016, a quintet recording featuring drums, piano, saxophone, and oboe, which was presented in the finalist programme of the BMW Welt Jazz Award in 2017.
Her third leader album, New Legend, was released in 2020. It was recorded in Gothenburg just before the pandemic lockdowns began, capturing a moment of creative energy on the edge of a period when live music around the world fell silent. Across all three albums, Kruse’s writing favours melody, space, and ensemble colour over showmanship — a style that has earned her repeated recognition, including Jazz-Echo awards as the top German bassist in both 2015 and 2017.
Eva Kruse Net Worth
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
|---|---|
| Income Sources | Recordings, live performance, composition |
| Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
No reliable public source reports Eva Kruse’s net worth, and this article does not estimate one. As a working jazz musician and composer, her income comes from album recordings, live concerts and tours, and her work as a composer. Jazz musicians of her standing typically earn through a combination of performance fees, recording royalties, and teaching or workshop work, but no verified figures exist for Kruse personally.
10 Interesting Facts About Eva Kruse
- She was born on 16 October 1978 in Hamburg, then part of West Germany, and is 48 years old as of October 2026.
- She plays both the upright (double) bass and the bass guitar, and works mainly in jazz.
- She co-founded the piano trio [em] with pianist Michael Wollny and drummer Eric Schaefer.
- The trio’s debut album, Call It [em], was released on the ACT label in 2005.
- [em] won the very first BMW Welt Jazz Award in 2009.
- She left [em] in 2011 to have her second child, stepping away from the trio at the height of its success.
- After parental leave, she moved to Sweden and played with trombonist Nils Landgren.
- Her solo debut In Water (2014) featured the rare combination of oboe, saxophone, piano, drums, and bass — and won an ECHO Jazz award.
- She has been named top German bassist at the Jazz-Echo awards twice, in 2015 and 2017.
- Her album New Legend (2020) was recorded in Gothenburg just before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns shut down live music.
Conclusion
Eva Kruse’s career is a story of quiet excellence. She has never chased celebrity; instead, she has built her reputation note by note — first as the bassist of one of Germany’s most celebrated young jazz trios, then as a composer and bandleader in her own right. Her decision to step away from [em] in 2011 for family life, and her reinvention in Sweden, show an artist who puts music and life in balance rather than sacrificing one for the other. With award-winning albums, a distinctive compositional voice, and a bass sound that fellow musicians admire, Eva Kruse remains one of the most respected figures in contemporary European jazz.
FAQs About Eva Kruse
Who is Eva Kruse?
Eva Kruse is a German jazz musician and composer known for playing the double bass and bass guitar. She co-founded the piano trio [em] and later released solo albums including In Water, On the Mo, and New Legend.
How old is Eva Kruse?
Eva Kruse was born on 16 October 1978, which makes her 48 years old as of October 2026.
Where was Eva Kruse born?
She was born in Hamburg, West Germany.
What instrument does Eva Kruse play?
She plays the upright (double) bass and the bass guitar.
What band was Eva Kruse in?
She co-founded the piano trio [em] with pianist Michael Wollny and drummer Eric Schaefer, and played with the group until 2011.
Why did Eva Kruse leave [em]?
She left [em] in 2011 to have her second child, taking parental leave before moving to Sweden.
What are Eva Kruse’s best albums?
Her best-known leader albums are In Water (2014), On the Mo (2016), and New Legend (2020). With [em], she recorded Call It [em] (2005) and [em] live (2010).
Has Eva Kruse won any awards?
Yes. With [em] she won the first BMW Welt Jazz Award in 2009. She won an ECHO Jazz award for In Water, was named top German bassist at the Jazz-Echo awards in 2015 and 2017, and On the Mo featured in the BMW Welt Jazz Award 2017 finalist programme.
What is Eva Kruse’s height and weight?
Her height and weight are not publicly disclosed.
Who is Eva Kruse’s boyfriend or partner?
Her partner is not publicly disclosed. It is publicly known that she has two children, but she has not shared details about her partner or family life.
What is Eva Kruse’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly disclosed. Her income comes from recordings, live performance, and composition.
Last Updated: October 2026 | Fact-checked by Xposed editorial team