His leaning was tellingly European, and his craft was lovingly hewn out of the rock-mass of post-impressionist modernity. This was no barroom frolic, neither was it a highbrow excursion into the abstract or esoteric. With disarming candour and an appealing stage presence, Koehnlein took his audience into his world of self-expression without the least hint of unease or self-consciousness ...
That Dieter Koehnlein performed this year is eloquent testimony to the German Cultural Centre’s commitment to providing the best amoung performing artistes to entertain and treat an worldwide audience.
Arun Dias Bandaranaike, Sunday Times Colomboay Times Colombo

Jazz lovers in the city surely enjoyed this musical treat that took place at the Mazda Hall on Friday evening as the Dieter Köhnlein Quartet performed some of the best jazz compositions ever.
Laxmi Birajdar, The Indian Express

Dieter Koehnlein possesses all the characteristics which distinguish an elite pianist: creative strength, the ability of spontaneous improvisation, point-referred intellectual capacity and a unique virtuosity.
Rainer Guérich, Saarlouiser Rundschau

With his graceful and simple ballads, humorous diagonal compositions and innovative improvisations he has developed into one of the most exciting pianists of Germany.
Natascha Gottlieb, Muenchner Merkur

He plays with most precise attack, clear touch, natural dexterity: Whether fast runs or tenderly breathed passages, filigree tone patchworks or substantial attacks–tactful instinct and clenched strength built upon themselves in harmony.
Roland Spiegel, Nuernberger Nachrichten

Dieter Koehnlein can be considered one the most convincing piano stylists in European modern jazz.
Armin Maus, Mittelbayerische Zeitung

In the first tune Koehnlein already showed all the qualities that have made jazz experts declare him an exceptional pianist: technical brilliance, fantastic improvisational art, aggressive rhythmics plus the feeling for soft tones and for bluesy ballads.
Oliver Hochkeppel, Sueddeutsche Zeitung

With indeed a virtuosity rare for European standards, Koehnlein achieves the splitt that is considered almost not possible between ballad-style lyrics, hard rhythmics and free improvisation.
Reinhard Koechl, Jazz Podium

There are few musicians who can make a solo concert interesting. Dieter Koehnlein is undoubtedly one of them... Koehnlein is a sensitive musician who succeeds in fusing with his audience.
William Orbaugh, Siglo Veintiuno Guatemala

His improvisations are immensely dense, with dreamlike sureness he retains the overview. He integrates filigree builtup of tension and release into the total developement, chisels with steel-hard touch large arcs  of tension. Without pushing his virtuosity into the foreground, his play has speed, intensity and distance at the same time.
Thomas Wirth, Fraenkische Landeszeitung