Edwin Berg

Who is Edwin Berg? Fellow musicians call him “the new best thing on piano”. International press acclaims: “this music is outstanding in terms of level and originality”, “Berg’s lyrical music reaches moments of rare beauty”  and “moments of jubilee!” Raised in Europe with classical and popular music, Berg started enrolling in jazz and improvised music without ignoring his background. This, combined with the multitude of international musical trips he has made, is what gives his music the specific sound it has.

It has brought him prizes, like the “Best European Jazz Band Award” (Spain) plus a nomination for the prestigious “Deloitte Jazz Award” (Netherlands). As a composer, a recording artist and bandleader he plays at festivals and clubs around Europe as well as in America.

Biography
Edwin Berg  (Oss, Netherlands 1972) is today one of the young promises of Dutch jazz. He initiates early in music and piano, and after several years of playing, Edwin Berg wins the 1st prize of Yamaha Clavinova as a soloist in 1991. This same year he is accepted in the Conservatory of Utrecht in order to carry out his studies of classical music and jazz. Amongst his professors are internationally reknown  pianists such as Bert van den Brink (former pianist of Dee Dee Bridgewater), Jasper van het Hof, Alexander Warenberg and Michiel Borstlap.

His appearance on the Dutch stages evolves almost at the same time as his studies.  At the beginning of that period he formes the “Edwin Berg Trio” (1992). At the same period he records and plays in several formations and national and international projects, for this reason, he travelles to Russia, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

Starting from 1996 new professional highlights appear: he has the opportunity to play next to drummer Jeff Hammilton, he wins in 1997 with “Edwin Berg Trio” a fourth prize in the Competition International Jazz a Vienne (France),  a little bit later he became semi-finalist in the Competition International Martial Solal de Jazz Piano (Paris) and he records the cd Scuse me with “Deborah J. Carter Quintet” in 1997. He concludes his studies of classical music and jazz in the same year, graduating Cum Laude on his final exam. The following year, in 1999, he releases the first cd with “Edwin Berg Trio”, Debut: [live]! On the cd the compositions are for the most part his own and obtain a marvelous critic in the Dutch press.

Between 1999 and 2001 Edwin Berg is part of the group “Carolyn Breuer Quartet”. Together they work intensely in Holland, Germany and Spain. He records with Carolyn the cd: Fate smiles on those who stay cool, also on this occasion the disk has a good welcome on the part of the international press. “Platina”, one of the compositions by Edwin Berg for this cd, appears on the program “Willemsens Musikscene” of the German National Television.

In 2000 Edwin lives in New York for three months, thanks to a scholarship obtained through the Dutch government. There he plays and studies with  well-known musicians. It is here, where his music acquires a more personal tone. When he returns, he meets Dutch saxophonist Jorg Kaaij and together they create the Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij, with Steve Altenberg  on drums and Guus Bakker on bass. The formation is a success and in this same year the quartet plays on North Sea Jazz Festival. The musical relationship with Jorg Kaaij is enriching for both artists and succeeds in recording Jorg’s Debut cd, named “Downtown Daze”, at the beginning of  2002. In this occasion the recording is carried out in New York, with the Americans Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar,  Carl Allen drums and Hans Glawischnig on bass.

In october 2001, and under this influence, he has recorded his second cd with his trio, “Water” . In this occasion the group is formed by Steve Altenberg on drums and Guus Bakker on bass. On some tracks there is the participations of the saxophonists Jorg Kaaij and Tom Beek, as invited artists. They  present this cd on the Festival de Palma de Mallorca (Spain) “Nits a la fresca 2002”, augustus 2002.

On the Concurso Internacional de Jazz de Granada 2002, “Water” is being awarded by an anonimous jury with the “Best European Jazz Band Award”. The Award consists of a som of money, an international record-contract and a performance on the  Festival de Jazz de Granada in november 2002. Press responds on the concert are very enthousiastic, using expressions like: “The concert was a revelation in terms of level and originality.”

In march 2003 “Heartland”, the latest recording of Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij was officialy presented on a pressconference and a tour around Granada, organised by the organisation of the International Jazz Festival of Granada. On this recording the now in New York residing Steve Altenberg plays drums and Eric Surmenian, from Paris, double bass.

Later that year, Edwin Berg goes back to New York on a Dutch scolarship. Besides playing a lot with the local scene, people like Scott Lee, Chris Cheek, Michel Gentile, Elie Massias and Chris Higgins, he takes lessons with Kenny Werner. After meeting and playing with guitarist/singer Elie Massias, the latter invites him to join his group “Brooklyn Project” on their Spanish fall 2003 tour where they hit places like the Jazzcava in Terrassa and Jamboree in Barcelona. After finishing that tour, Berg plays a three week tour in Spain and Holland with his own band, presenting “Heartland”. They play, amongst others at the reknowned “Bimhuis” in Amsterdam and are featured in the legendary national radioshow “Tros Sesjun”

In 2004 Berg gets nominated for the prestigious Deloitte & Touch Jazz Award. With flute player Mark Alban Lotz’ band “Lotz of Music” he tours Dutch theaters with a modern play, “Pendant la nuit_” in which two actors act, sing and jam with a jazzband (2004/2005). In the summer of 2004, Berg goes back to  New York to start recordings with “Brooklyn Project” and form a duo and record with saxophonist Sam Sadagurski. In winter of that same year the Edwin Berg Trio plays a five week tour through Holland, France and Spain, playing amongst other places at the famous club”Calle 54″ in Madrid, the International Jazz Festivals of Ciudad Real and Gijon and the “Week of Music” in Palma de Mallorca. Bassplayer Eric Surmenian introduces Edwin to French drummer Frederic Jeanne. With that new formation they start playing in Holland and Paris which ultimately results in summertours in the south of France in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Reactions from international press:

“Right from the start of Heartland it’s clear why this group was awarded the “Best European Jazz Band Award” on the Granada Festival 2002….a band in complete balance…Berg’s compositions, the pastel-colors, whith which he paints his reflective, amazingly open improvisations, make all this an exemplary European album.

Mark Stroeks – JAZZ july 2005

“Heartland’s lyrical frasing combined with the melodical compositions lead this new album to landscapes of exceptional beauty. The “locked-in” rythmsection Surmenian and Altenberg create a music that penetrates unnoticed and profoundly, until it returns to the place it came from.”

Enrique Turpin - CUADERNOS DEL JAZZ (Spanje juli/augustus 2003)

“The concert was a big surprise, merely hunched by the jury of the festival. Their extreme lyricism, sensitivity and originality brought about marvelous moments during the concert. The mostly original repertoire, except for a piece by Billy Joel,  was covered with a rare shine that at times resulted in pure joy. (…) On the highly sensitive Efcharisto Berg demonstrated a fantasy on the keyboard which reminded of some of the beautiful albums that Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek and Charlie Haden recorded, halway the seventies”.

Juan Jesús García - IDEAL Granada, Spain 22November 2002

“Especially Edwin Berg is the jokercard of the quartet. His compositions, like Platina, that starts out thoughtfull and then keeps getting hotter and more hypnotising, have contour and a profile and betray a lot about Berg’s further musical horizon”.

Hans von Draminski - NÜRNBERGER NACHRICHTEN Germany,  februari 2000

“Berg’s playing is fresh and positive!”

Erno Mijland DraaiOmJeOren.com februari 2005

“Edwin Berg deserves much more recognition”

Jaap Ludeke Jazzflits.nl februari 2005

“Berg is brave and original (…) his music is outstanding for its maturity (…) his compositions are fresh and bubbling (…) Book that guy!”

Frans van Leeuwen - NRC HANDELSBLAD The Netherlands, september 2000

“Edwin Berg sounds like a hornplayer on the keyboard (…) as a trio the band sounds complete. It brings music which is earthy and reflects integrity.

Edo Dijksterhuis - NCR HANDELSBLAD  The Netherlands, Juli 2001

National and International Festivals and Clubs Highlights

Festival de Jazz Villa Real 2005 (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Elorrio Jazz Festival 2004 (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Altxerri Jazzclub 2004 San Sebastian (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Teatro Xesc Forteza 2004 Palma de Mallorca (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Can Festis 2004 Barcelona (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Calle 54 Jazzclub 2004 Madrid Edwin Berg Trio

La Bilbaina Jazzclub 2004 Bilbao (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Jazz Festival Gijon 2004 (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Jazz Festival Ciudad Real 2004 (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Beauforthuis 2004 Austerlitz (Netherlands) Edwin Berg Trio

Festival Internacional de Jazz Ezcaray - 2004 (Spain) Edwin Berg & Amsterdam Quartet

Can Festis 2004 Barcelona (Spain) Edwin Berg & Amsterdam Quartet

Bimhuis Ámsterdam 2004 - Deloitte Jazz Award  - Edwin Berg & Jazz Orkest van het Concertgebouw

SJU Jazz Festival Utrecht 2004 Jazz Sessie Edwin Berg & friends

Parade Amsterdam & Utrecht 2004 Lotz of Music (Edwin Berg Trio) theaterproduction “Pendant La Nuit”

Theater Lantaren/Venster Rotterdam 2004 Lotz of Music in “Pendant la nuit_”

Teatro Xesc Forteza 2004 Palma de Mallorca Deborah J. Carter Quartet

Akellare 2004 Mahon (Spain) Deborah J. Carter Quartet

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Beauforthuis 2003 Austerlitz (Netherlands) Edwin Berg Trio & Tom Beek

SJU Jazz Podium 2003 Utrecht Edwin Berg Trio

Granada (Spain) 2003 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij (cd promotion concerts)

SJU Jazz Festival Utrecht  2003 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

HR centre for preserving Jazz and Blues 2003 Washington Edwin Berg

Arthur’s Tavern New York 2003 Edwin Berg

Blue Fin New York 2003 Edwin Berg

Mackintosh Theatre Gibraltar 2003 Brooklyn Project

Clamores Jazz Club Madrid 2003 Brooklyn Project

Jamboree Club Barcelona 2003 Brooklyn Project

Jazz Cava Terrassa (Spain) 2003 Brooklyn Project

Jazz Festival Cabezas de San Juan Sevilla (Spain) 2003 Brooklyn Project

Tros Sesjun Beauforthuis Austerlitz 2003 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

Musis Sacrem Arnhem (Netherlands) 2003 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

Bimhuis Ámsterdam 2003 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

De Linck (Lievekamp) Oss (Netherlands) 2003 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

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Kleine Zaal Vredenburg  2002  Utrecht  Edwin Berg Trio

Kleine Zaal Lievekamp “Muzelinck” 2002 Oss Edwin Berg Trio

Beauforthuis 2002 Austerlitz, Tettero

Jazz Club Café Barcelona 2002 Mallorca (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Cultural Centre Galileo 2002  Madrid (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Café Continental 2002 Ciudad Real (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Jazzfestival Jazz bij Duurstede 2002 Wijk bij Duurstede (Netherlands) Miles Griffith Group,

Festival de Palma de Mallorca “Nits a la fresca 2002” (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Festival  de Jazz Internacional de Granada 2002  (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

Jazzclub De Tor  2001 Enschede  Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Jazzclub Murphy’s Law 2001 Den Haag Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Sala del Emperador de Munich 2001  (Germany) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Pompoen Theater 2001 Amsterdam, Jack Walrath & Edwin Berg Trio

Cultural Centre Dudelange 2001 (Luxemburg) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Teatro Deutscher Schauspielhaus 2001 Hamburg  Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Jazzclub Dizzy  2001 Rotterdam,  Ronald Douglas
Theater Café Hofplein Veenendaal, Tettero

Jazzclub Hamburg 2001 Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Jazzclub Dreesden 2001 Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Benefiet Concert Amnisty International 2001 Hamburg Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Jazz Festival Freiburg 2001  (Germany) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

North Sea Jazz Festival  2001 Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

Pompoen Theater 2001 Amsterdam  Edwin Berg Trio & Tom Beek

Theater De Meervaart 2001 Amsterdam,  Michiel Borstlap & friends

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Jazz Festival Kempten 2000  (Germany) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Den Haag Jazz Festival  2000   Scott Hammilton

Traumraum Tonstudios  2000 Augsburg (Germany) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Jazzclub Unterfahrt 2000 (Germany) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Beauforthuis  2000  Austerlitz Edwin Berg Trio

Café Central  2000 Madrid (Spain) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Jazzfestival Venlo  2000 Venlo (Netherlands) Ronald Douglas

Salt Club Restaurant New York 2000 (USA) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Cleopatra’s Needle Club Restaurant  New York 2000 (USA) Edwin Berg Trio

SJU Jazz Podium 2000 Utrecht (Netherlands) Tettero

Jazzclub Dizzy  2000 Rotterdam Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Theater de Tobbe  Voorburg (Netherlands)  2000 Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Summer Festival Munchen 2000 Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Festival Stummsche Reithalle 2000 Neunkirchen (Germany) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Programa Willemsens Musikszene 2000 German TV ZDF Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Festival de Sóller 2000 Mallorca (Spain) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Club Black Note  2000 Valencia (Spain) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

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Jazz Festival Leuven 1999  Leuven (Belgium) Deborah J.Carter Quintet

Teatro Municipal de Palma 1999 Mallorca (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Casa de Cultura van de Gemeente Palma 1999  Mallorca (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Festival de Sóller 1999 Mallorca (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio

Café Central 1999 Madrid (Spain) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Café Jazz Populart 1999 Madrid (Spain) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

Festival Muziek aan de Maas 1999 Cuijk (Netherlands)  Edwin Berg Trio

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Festival de Villa Franca 1998  C’an Picafort (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio & Agusti Barò

Festes de Felanitx 1998  Mallorca (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio & Agusti Barò

Jazz in Duketown Festival 1998  ‘sHertogenbosch (Netherlands) Deborah J.Carter Quintet

3e van Mahler 1998 Arnhem (Netherlands) Edwin Berg & Guus Tangere Bigband

Kleine Zaal Lievekamp “Muzelinck” 1998 Oss Edwin Berg Trio

SJU Huis Jazz Podium 1998 Utrecht Edwin Berg Trio (final-exam concert)

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Concours de Jazz International  à Vienne 1997 (France) Edwin Berg Trio (Dutch Jazz Trio)

Festival de Palma de Mallorca “Nits a la fresca 1997”  (Spain) Edwin Berg Trio & Agusti Barò

Rode Hoed 1996 Amsterdam, Henk Batenburgh

Business Gala 1996, Theater Lievekamp Oss, Maaike Widdershoven

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Selective Discography

- “Brooklyn Project / Brooklyn Days” (2006, NY) with Ellie Massias

- “Pendant la nuit_” (2005)  with Lotz of Music flute player Mark Alban Lotz

- “Heartland” (2003/2005) Edwin Berg Trio & Jorg Kaaij

- “Downtown Daze” (2003) Jorg Kaaij Quintet

(contains Edwin Berg’s compositions: Platina, Efcharisto & Dr. Genie).

- “Water” (2002)  Edwin Berg Trio & Tom Beek & Jorg Kaaij

“Best European Jazz Band Award 2002” op Granada Internationaal Jazz Festival

- “Fate smiles on those who stay cool” (2000) Carolyn Breuer Quartet

contains Edwin Berg’s compositions: Platina en Dipertido).

- “Unicicle” (2000) Tettero

- “Scuse me” (1998) Deborah J. Carter Quintet

contains Edwin Berg’s composition: Remembering you).

- “Debut: live!” (1998)  Edwin Berg Trio