Prof. Kurt Rosenwinkel

Prof. Kurt Rosenwinkel was born in 1970 in Philadelphia/ USA. Piano lessons at an early age, first compositions at the age of nine, later taught himself guitar. Found his way to jazz via progressive rock und fusion. Inspired by guitarists Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Bill Frisell. In Philadelphia Rosenwinkel took part in blues-jams. 1988-1991 studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. During this time he was booked by vibraphonist Gary Burton. On Bill Frisell’s recommendation Paul Motian took Rosenwinkel into the Electric Bebop Band, with whom he recorded numerous albums for the labels JMT and Winter & Winter. After completing his studies he moved to New York in 1991. With his quartet, including Mark Turner (ts), Ben Street (b) and Jeff Ballard, regular appearances in the "smalls" club. 1995 grant award from the National Endowment of the Arts. Since 1998 CD releases on Verve: "The Enemies of Energy", "The Next Step" and "Heartcore". From March 2004 Rosenwinkel taught in the jazz department of the Academy of Music Lucerne. He was appointed professor for guitar/Ensemble direction in the Jazz Institute Berlin from the winter semester 2007/08.

July 2007