Rüdiger Baldauf is a German jazz trumpeter.

Rüdiger Baldauf was born in Bensberg near Cologne.

After passing his classical music final exams and his concert exams, Rüdiger Baldauf began private jazz studies with a focus on big band and lead trumpet.

He is one of the most versatile instrumentalists in his scene. Many still know him as the trumpet player on the RTL Saturday Night Show or from the Paul Kuhn Orchestra or the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble.

He is a permanent guest musician in all German radio big bands, especially the WDR Big Band. He toured with Maceo Parker, Joe Zawinul, the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, also with Shirley Bassey, Udo Jürgens. He played productions and TV shows with Jamie Cullum, George Duke, Ray Charles, James Brown, Michael Buble, Herbert Grönemeyer, Lionel Richie, Seal, Liza Minelli, Barbra Streisand, Seal, Vince Mendoza, Bob Mintzer and many more.

From 1989 to 2000 he was a lecturer at the Musikhochschule Köln, Abt. Aachen, later also a guest lecturer at the Folkwang Universität der Künste Essen. Rüdiger Baldauf complements his work as a lecturer with national and international workshops, and for some time now also with individual coaching.

From 2003 to 2016 he was the trumpet player of the Heavytones in the Tonight Show TV Total.