Projects
Whether performing as a soloist, leading her orchestra, working with jazz ensembles, or engaging in crossover projects – each of her endeavors makes a distinct mark on contemporary music.
Piano Solo
Maria Baptist is one of the leading solo pianists in contemporary jazz. Praised as “masterful” and “virtuosic”, she crafts her solo performances as a seamless, dramaturgically refined process in which composition and improvisation flow effortlessly together. Each concert becomes a unique and continuously evolving soundscape.
Press
“A breathtaking piece of high emotion and world-class refinement” – All About Jazz
“Masterfully between jazz and classical music” – Bremen Zwei
“Virtuoso, powerful, sophisticated, full of polyphonic surprises and exuberant poetry” – hr2-Kultur
“Independent, full of character and ideas” – Deutschland Funk Kultur
“A magnificent album” – Kultkomplott
“Maria Baptists rhapsodic, free-flowing piano style evokes Bill Evans & Keith Jarrett” – Downbeat
Orchestra
The Maria Baptist Orchestra is shaping new directions in the orchestral landscape and is recognized as a pioneer of symphonic jazz. With the premiere of “Jazz Symphony No. 1”, it transcends the boundaries between classical orchestration and large-scale jazz composition. The orchestra’s debut album, “Here & Now”, was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award, underscoring its significance in contemporary jazz.
Line-Up
5 Reeds, 4 Trumpets, 4 Trompones, Rhythm Section
Jonas Schoen, Jan von Klewitz, Paulo Cedraz, Nils Feldmann, Patrick Hamacher, Nik Leistle, Philip Sindy, Fabian Engwicht, Ruben Giannotti, Alexander Gibson, Will Pethick, Julius Hopf, Geoffroy de Masure, Laszlo Griese, Christopher Sauloff, Fabian Timm, Johannes Schauer, Heinz Lichius, Stephan Genze, Henry Hahnfeldt
Press
“Maria Baptists compositions are in a league with key figures of modern big band jazz such as Schneider, Gruntz, McNeely and Bley.” – All About Jazz
“Maria Baptist’s music stands for itself.” – Downbeat
“The Maria Baptist Orchestra proves how permeable the line between jazz and classical music can be.” – Morgenpost
“Baptist’s musical instincts, harmonic intelligence and compositional imagination combine and expand the classical-jazz tendencies of Maria Schneider.” – Downbeat
“The Maria Baptist Orchestra plays in the 1st league of jazz.” – jazz-fun
Ensembles
Maria Baptist redefines chamber music interaction within a jazz context—an open dialogue that is at once precise and exploratory. With her ensembles, she has performed at leading German and international festivals, including Jazz Baltica, Jazz im Palmengarten, Jazzopen Stuttgart, the Hong Kong Jazz Festival, and the Reykjavik Jazz Festival.
Duo: Piano, Alto-Saxophon
Jan von Klewitz
Trio: Piano, Bass, Drums
Fabian Timm, Heinz Lichius
Quartet: Rhythm Section , Alto-Saxophone
Jan von Klewitz, Fabian Timm, Heinz Lichius
Quintet: Rhythm Section, Alto-Saxophone, Tenor-Saxophone/Bass Clarinet
Richard Maegraith, Jan von Klewitz, Fabian Timm, Heinz Lichius
Presse
“Maria Baptist succeeds in bridging the gap between jazz and chamber music.” – rbb
“A sound like an orchestra.” – All About Jazz
“Echoes of classical music.” – Crescendo
Crossover & Commissions
Maria Baptist composes for jazz ensembles, string quartets, and full symphonic orchestras. Her works transcend stylistic boundaries, opening new perspectives between jazz and classical music. From her piano concerto for orchestra to collaborations with string quartets and other genre-defying projects, her compositions reflect the full breadth of her artistic vision.
Biography
Let’s stay in touch –
Inner Circle
Once a month, I write a letter.
It’s about music and what it sets in motion. About moments on stage and at the piano. About silence, structure, freedom.
If you’d like to be part of it, you can sign up here.
Please note: The newsletter is in German.
Yours Maria
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