Education
In 1942 and 1943, Mangelsdorff studied clarinet at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.
In 1942 and 1943, Mangelsdorff studied clarinet at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.
He was forced into the Hitler army and was a Russian prisoner of war for four years. In 1949 he came back to Frankfurt and decided to become a professional jazz musician. Since the 1960s he has directed his own quartet.
In 1964 Mangelsdorff wrote an instruction manual for jazz saxophone.
In 2006 he was awarded the Goethe-Plakette des Landes Hessen. In 2008 he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz.
As a member of the (illegal) Frankfurt Hot Club, his performing of jazz led him to being imprisoned by the Gestapo. He played in the combos of Joe Klimm and Jutta Hipp, and was also a member of the Frankfurt All Stars and of the Jazz-Ensemble des Hessischen Rundfunks from 1958.
