Edwin Berg is an award winning improvising pianist, bandleader, composer and teacher. After more than 25 years of international experience as a performing and recording artist, he now gets on stage with his youngest band UMAX. Communicating the desire to share everything he has learned through music and more and to connect with his rapidly growing audience.
Born and raised in the Netherlands with classical and popular music, Berg started enrolling into jazz and improvised music without ignoring his background. Having studied both the classical and jazz majors at the Utrecht Conservatory, confirms the exception he is in his generation.
After graduating 'cum laude', searching for a deeper contact with his musical soul, Berg has travelled to New York. Playing and recording with the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Carl Allen, Chris Cheek, Matt Penman and Steve Altenberg, New York helped Berg finding his own musical voice. He always was and still is exploring the boundaries of jazz stretching towards contemporary, minimalistic and world music. It has brought him prizes, Best European Jazz Band Award (Granada 2002) and claims by the international press like: 'Pure joy!'… 'Moments of jubilee!” (Granada Journal & Festival jury) and 'Berg’s lyrical music creates landscapes of exceptional beauty” (Cuadernos dell Jazz). As a composer, a recording artist and bandleader he has played at festivals (e.g. St. Germain-Des-Pres, North Sea Jazz), theaters (e.g. Mallorca, Madrid, Paris) and clubs around Europe (Bimhuis, Calle 54) as well as in America (e.g.Smalls, Zinc Bar, 55 Bar)) & Japan (e.g. Blue Note Tokyo).
Photography & website design Merel Waagmeester