Maria Baptist | Piano & Composition
Andreas Henze | Bass
Michael Kersting | Drums

The Maria Baptist TRIO connects Jazz and classical aspects. The TRIO plays contemporary jazz with an enormous variety of sounds, a breathtaking impulsiveness and a sensitive elegance. The band has received tremendous critical acclaim and has developed an original sound from chamber music influences to heavy grooving parts full of intensity and drive. The main goal for the musicians is to always reach an inner emotional deepness in their music.

Baptist`s musicians play in the worldwide hot Jazz Clubs and on international festivals. Michael Kersting/drums was on stage with legends like Chet Baker, Ack van Rooyen und Jaco Pastorius, Andreas Henze/bass played with Lynne Arriale und Lee Konitz.

PRESS

Radio Station NDR 06/2010:
„Maria Baptist has set new standards with her piano trioTrio and is a trueTrio specialist."

Jazzthetik 07/2010:
"Spring 2010 may not have been what inspired Mary Baptist to her new CD. It was not there. And it was not necessary. Because her music exudes even sunlight."

CD Review Jazz Podium 07/2010:
"... Spring in Berlin is a listening pleasure!"

Jazzthing 06/2010:
"...unique!"

Critic Concert Lüneburg Jazznight 2008:
“Techniquely the three musicians are capital, amazing in their artistic presentation, full of passion while playing.”

Critic Potsdam Jazz Festival:
“Accompanied by bass and drums the extra ordinary pianist Maria Baptist took the audience to a higher sphere.”

LVZ:
“Highly professional and individual in playing and Trio conception.”

Maria Baptist | Piano & Composition
Ayumi Paul | Violin
Laura Rajanen | Violin
Kristina Labitzke | Violina
Zoé Cartier | Cello                     

An unusual instrumentation in Jazz? The answer is clearly yes – the young ensemble with the pianist & composer Maria Baptist who is living in Berlin and New York is a true cosmopolitan group. Elements of Jazz and classical structures flow naturally together. We find Messiaen in a salsa groove; rhythmical patterns and mystical sounds go along together as well as a fuge and a blues.  

The quintet connects: 4 countries, 4 languages and 2 continents: Japan, Finland, France and Germany. Berlin is their center. Beside this special project all five woman are working internationally in different projects. 

With ease the Maria Baptist Trio overcomes genre limitations: In collaboration with the Vogtland Philharmonie the Trio performed a world premiere of Maria's composition:

Night Scenes for Jazz Trio & Orchestra in 4 Movements (duration 23 minutes)

PRESS

Concert review:
"Her composition gives the orchestra and the Trio open spaces: They interact in dialogues and merge into a unique and faszinating sound."

Critic Concert Vogtland Philharmonie & Maria BaptistTRIO,2009:
“The highlight of the evening was the premiere of Baptists composition “Night Scenes for Jazztrio + Orchestra”. One could hear the master self-conception of the artist and her ability to combine jazz and classical music.”

During her studies in New York with Maria Schneider, she got introduced to the large jazz orchestral world. Since then she has achieved success in numerous international competitions f.e. in 2000 the Thad Jones Composers Competition Award.

Since then Maria works regulary with International Orchestras as the Reykjavik Bigband, the "hr Bigband", the Budapest Jazz Orchestra, the NDR Bigband, the Vogtland Philharmony and many others. In 2011 she will conduct the Bundesjugendjazzorchester.

COLLABORATION WITH

Germany's Youth Jazz Orchestra (BuJazzO) | 2011
Reykjavik Bigband | 2010, 2008
Vogtland Philharmonic | 2009, 2003
Jenaer Philharmonic | 2005
Youth Bigband Jena | 2005
Mittelsaechsische Philharmonic | 2005
RIAS Bigband | 2001, 1996, 1995
Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra | 2000
Gitte Haenning & Bigband | 2000-2002
Big Band of the HR Radio Station | 1999, 1996, 1995
Maria Baptist & the New Jazz Orchestra | 1999
NDR Bigband | 1998
Budapest Bigband | 1998
Youth Bigband of Brandenburg | 1998

PRESS

Maria Schneider (composer, N.Y.):
„Her music is a gift, infused with all the creativity, power, emotion, generosity and warmth that she exudes in life.“

Konzertkritik Jazzfestival Reykjavik 2008:
„Maria Baptist is an outstanding talent.“