Rainer started his music education studying classical clarinet in 1975 and continuing with saxophone from 1979. From 1985 until 1989 he was a member of the Youth Jazz Orchestra of the State Of Hessen (involved in a 1988 Africa tour, the album “Kicks & Sticks” with Bill Ramsey, Jiggs Whigham Award “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik”), and member of the Frankfurt Jazz Big Band. In 1987-1991 he attended the Swiss Jazz School with Andy Scherrer, Sal Nistico, Dave Liebman, and toured with Joe Haider, Don Menza and Peanuts Hucko.

From 1990-1992 Rainer toured and recorded with American Soul legend Chaka Khan and from 1993 – 2000 he played baritone sax with SWR Big Band (Radio Bigband Stuttgart), and was involved in productions with Slide Hampton (Grammy-nomination), Bill Holman, Frank Foster, Gloria Gaynour, Buddy de Franco, Clark Terry, and Phil Woods. Since 2001 he has played bari sax and bass clarinet with HR Big Band (Frankfurt Radio Bigband) in Frankfurt/Main. Rainer is also on the album “Scorched” with John Scofield, Peter Erskine and John Pattitucci (Grammy nomination 2005). He has been involved with concerts and recordings with Shirly Bassey, Michael and Randy Brecker, Chick Corea, Eddie Daniels, Joey de Francesco, Georgie Fame, Bill Holman, Peanuts Hucko, Eartha Kitt, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Les McCann, Bobby McFerrin, Arturo Sanduval, Archie Shepp, Toots Thielemans, the YellowJackets, and many more.

Rainer has also been teaching for 10 years at Musikhochschule Mannheim, and recently for 2 years at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hochschule fuer Musik Frankfurt/Main..

Website for big band: www.hrbigband.de