Axel Hagen (guitar, arrangement, composition) was born in Karlsruhe in 1963.

Between 1985 and 1990 he studied jazz guitar as his main subject at the conservatory in Hilversum (NL) with Peter Nieuwerf and Wim Overgaauw. In addition, personal and professional contacts with great Dutch and international musicians were important for his development, especially with Frans Elsen, Rob Pronk, Rob Langereis, Ferdinand Povel, Barry Harris, Jimmy Raney, Lee Konitz and Chuck Israels.

In 1990 Hagen became a member of the jazz rhythm section of the famous "Metropole Orchestra" of the Dutch Radio. In this position he was involved in countless recordings and concerts with the "crème de la crème" of the international jazz scene under the direction of the best arrangers until about 2002.

Axel Hagen has so far released 7 CDs under his name, with, among others. Lee Konitz, Chuck Israels, John Ruocco, Hod O'Brien, Jimmy Halperin and Frans Elsen and participated as a "sideman" in many other recordings. In addition, the guitarist has been engaged in arranging for string quartets for many years. Thus, his arrangements can be heard on the CD "Jonquil" with Lee Konitz, among others, but especially in the unique ensemble "Chamber9", which he founded in 2019.

As an educator, Hagen has been teaching jazz guitar, theory, music history, improvisation and composition for many years. He has taught at the University of Music Würzburg since 2009 and has also presented many workshops and readings on jazz and music in general.

Since 2018 his music label "AxelHagenMusic" is active, where Hagen presents his projects.