Join my inner circle
Subscribe to my monthly (german & english) newsletter and be one of the first to know about new CDs, projects and concerts
must watch videos
Maria has given concerts at
About me.
Multi award winning pianist/composer Maria Baptist is widely recognized as an artist of the highest calibre — she has given more than 1,000 concerts in 20 countries on 4 continents. The german television broadcaster ZDF estimates her as a „role model of a whole new jazz generation“.
Maria is performing as a soloist or with her own highly acclaimed Orchestra and has released 14 CDs to her name. She gave a private piano concert for Michael Jackson in the 90s. Maria is a university professor for composition & improvisation at Hanns Eisler Berlin. New York City is Maria’s home of heart, Berlin her home-base. Besides, she is a mindfulness and meditation-devotee.
Her original music has freed itself from all genre descriptions and has simply become itself. On stage she creates out of the present moment – for the present moment. „It sounds almost paradoxical, however Maria Baptist is able to create something like an extroverted inwardness.“ (LV)
Maria has been seen „in a league with the key figures of modern Jazz“ by All About Jazz, while Grammy-Winner Maria Schneider says: „Her music is a gift, infused with all the creativity, power, emotion, generosity and warmth that she exudes in life.“
Maria Baptist’s music is a gift, infused with all the creativity, power, emotion, generosity and warmth that she exudes in life.
Maria Baptist is in a league with the key figures of modern Big Band Jazz such as Schneider, Gruntz, McNeely and Bley.
Maria Baptist created one of the most interesting contemporary jazz formations in Europe.
Maria Baptist connects the European tradition with the American Jazz ethos.
Maria Baptist travels around the globe as a crossover ambassador of music.
Musicians like Maria Baptist are role models of a whole new jazz generation.
Resonance.
Maria Baptist has always been considered to be a „magician of the soul of the piano“ (WDR). On her new album Resonance she follows her reputation as a „seductress of the 88 keys„: Resonance is highly emotional, evocative and vivid as life.“ – All About Jazz
Resonance outlines Maria’s relationship to music and mindfulness — and by extension, inspires her listeners to dive deeper into the present moment with her. The music she recorded is as intellectually compelling, as it is emotionally intense — it is filled with magical moments that resonate with the listeners’ soul. „It sounds almost paradoxical, however Maria Baptist is able to create something like an extroverted inwardness.“ (LV)
„Resonance, simply said, is great piano music that doesn‘t need the categories of classical, contemporary or jazz music. It speaks for itself.“ –Cosmo Scharmer
Piano & Sax Duo.
Album & Tour coming autumn 2020!
Maria Baptist’s & Jan von Klewitz’s music is characterised by an openness that breaks down genre boundaries, mixing classical and jazz influences to create a music full of intensity and drive. The upcoming album with all original compositions by Maria Baptist & the Tour will be in September 2020.
Her duo partner Jan von Klewitz is a genuine master on his instrument. His clear voice creates an enormous stylistic range from a classical to a contemporary sound. As he already showed on Maria’s 2017 Quartet recording „Poems without Words“, both musicians create „deep worlds of sounds, which are seldom heard in Europe today“ (Cosmo Scharmer).
Poems without Words.
With her trio plus one Maria Baptist has created one of the „most exciting contemporary jazz formations in Europe“ (artistic director 12on14 Jazzclub). On their new album „Poems without Words“, they create „deep worlds of sound, which are seldom heard in Europe today“ (Cosmo Scharmer).
Touching melodies, contrasting with powerful outbursts, balladic lines transform into fast-paced sequences of notes. All this is presented with a „technical ability at the highest level and with a musical intelligence that forms a perfectly harmonious band“ (AAZ). „A concert by the Maria Baptist Trio plus One is a musical revelation“ (KN).
Jan von Klewitz (sax), Fabian Timm (bass), John Betsch (drums)
Video: Trio-Ballad / Trio plus One Up-Tempo / Trio Energetic
Here & Now.
Here & Now 2: Release on September 4, 2019!
Over the past few years, Maria Baptist has established her profile as an international pianist with her solo recording Resonance (2018) and her quartet album Poems without Words (2017), and has strengthened this profile with highly visible concerts at festivals such as Jazz Baltica or the upcoming Hong Kong Jazz Festival. Now she is once again focusing entirely on her skills as a composer with her sequel album Here & Now 2 for her jazz orchestra.
Supported by Baptist’s 16-piece ensemble, which features a first-class line-up of musicians, Maria Baptist transfers her aesthetic and unique style to Here & Now 2. The seven new, complex compositions emphasize the uniquely creative voices and individual personalities of each member of the band. Here & Now 2 reflects on the present moment, on what represents the „here & now“ in a broader sense.
The Maria Baptist Orchestra is one of the leading big bands in the pulsating Berlin jazz scene. They have been playing their monthly concert series at Kunstfabrik Schlot since 5 years. The Berlin Senate supports the Orchestra with a jazz funding and their previous album Here & Now was nominated for the German Record Critics‘ Award. The music, all composed by Maria Baptist, has been seen „in a league with the key figures of modern Big Band Jazz such as Schneider, Gruntz, McNeely and Bley“ by All about Jazz.
Video: Teaser #1 / Teaser #2 / Teaser #3 / Teaser #4
Rhythm: Piano-Maria Baptist, Bass-Fabian Timm, Drums-Heinz Lichius Reeds: David Beecroft, Jan v. Klewitz, Niko Zeidler, Richard Maegraith, Nik Leistle Trombones: Julius Hopf, Jan Landowski, Rasmus Holm, Christopher Sauloff Trumpets: Greg Bowen, Fabian Engwicht, Ruben Giannotti, Eddie Hayes
latest news
Funding for my Orchestra
January 2019: Happy to be supported by the Berlin Senat für Kultur & Europa to make our 5th year of the Maria Baptist Orchestra monthly concert series in Berlin happen!! Very honored to have received the fund for the second time!!!
Tour with 20 concerts
April 2019: I gave almost 20 concerts during the first months of the year. Highlights have been the tour with my Trio plus One project and the Berlin concerts in March when I invited Sigurdur Flosason from Iceland to join my projects.
Concerts in Lyon, London & Liechtenstein
August 2019: I had an amazing trip to London playing with my UK rhythm section at 606 jazzclub, a beautiful piano solo concert in Lyon on an epic stage and an equally wonderful solo concert and premiere in Liechtenstein.
New Orchestra CD ``Here & Now 2`` is released!
September 2019: I have been in the studio with my Orchestra and 7 new compositions of mine!! Here & Now 2 will be released on September 4. Berlin release concert will be on September 20.
Hong Kong calling
September 2019: Hong Kong calling! Jan and I will perform at the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival in September. We also received a travel fund by the Berlin Senat for this journey.
New Duo CD coming autumn 2020
September 2019: Jan and I will finally record a Duo album. Release and tour are scheduled for autumn 2020.
connect with me.
Newsletter
Join my monthly Inner Circle for an inside look at my life not shared anywhere else!
Instagram
My favorite place. Almost daily updates on what’s going on in my life. And nice pictures too.
Facebook
The most direct & personal way to reach me for 1-1 conversations.
YouTube
The place where I share my videos in full length. Perfect for enjoying my live performances, when I’m not on stage.
Twitter
Stay up to date on everything I do. I tweet about concerts, new projects and my life as a musician.
Spotify
Listen to all my recordings: Resonance, Poems without Words, Here & Now and more than 75 songs from 9 albums.