It seemed that classically trained guitarist JAN ZEHRFELD was always angry at something, and seeking a way to channel that aggression, he had the idea of putting together a band that combined jazz with metal. This idea ultimately found it's embodiment in 2004 when, after several years of searching, Jan formed PANZERBALLETT.

The band's first self-titled recording hit the German progressive rock scene in 2005 to rave reviews and PANZERBALLETT hit the road in a series of concerts that included the 15th National Youth Jazz Festival and the renowned Burg Herzberg Festival. 2006 saw the release of a DVD, Live at Backstage Munich 2006.

In 2008 PANZERBALLETT was signed to the German label ACT and their second album, "Stake Stücke", reached #26 on the German jazz charts. They continued to perform live on stage and television, including Zappanale, the Leverkusen Jazz Festival and the Baltic Prog Fest.

In August 2009, "Hart Genossen von ABBA bis Zappa" was released and by September had climbed to #25 on the jazz charts and was the January "Record Of The Month" in Drums And Percussion magazine.

Jan Zehrfeld studied jazz guitar in Los Angeles, Graz, Helsinki, and Munich. He has performed with DOLDINGER'S PASSPORT, the HILLIARD ENSEMBLE and Peter Herbolzheimer‘s GERMAN NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA. His hard ‘n‘ heady compositions are an innovative fusion of jazz, funk, and metal. Sophisticatedly interlocked funk grooves are combined with heavy riffs of complex polyrhythmic structure as well as jazz improvisation.

Known for their energy, chops and humor, PANZERBALLETT has performed over 150 shows, including concerts with the CHICK COREA & JOHN MCLAUGHLIN FIVE PEACE BAND, BILL FRISELL, MACALPINE/SHEEHAN/DONATI and MATTIAS "IA" EKLUNDH. German newspaper Die Welt has described them as "faster than Metallica, more powerful than Motörhead, and funnier than Rammstein."