Markus Burger(I)
- Composer
- Music Department
Markus Burger Markus Burger is an internationally renowned and award
winning composer, pianist and jazz educator. In developing his
signature sound over the years, Markus drew his influences from a wide
range of musical styles including J.S. Bach, Claude Debussy, Keith
Jarrett, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, Elton John,
Stevie Wonder and Sting. His music has been performed in Europe, the
former Soviet Union, Africa, and since 2001 in the United States. He
began studying piano at age six and later earned his Diplom (MFA) in
Performing Arts from the Essen Folkwang Academy in Germany, a B.A. in
piano and Composition from the University of Maastricht in the
Netherlands and a Certification in Popular Music from the University of
Hamburg, Germany. He studied with Peter Walter, Simon Nabatov, Tine
Schneider, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Kenny Werner. After his
studies he operated one of Cologne's first Digital Recording producing
more then 60 albums in a variety of musical genres and countless
jingles and scores for documentaries and industry films in Cologne.
After selling his studio shares he was invited to become the Label
Manager for one of Germany's finest Jazz Labels, producing more then 30
exceptional jazz concept albums during his tenure at Jazzline Records.
He has released fourteen albums as a leader, featuring his own
compositions and arrangements, among them, his two most recent
releases, NAJA by the North Atlantic Jazz Alliance and Spiritual
Standards "Quarta", which was on the Grammy Ballot of 2008.