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Oli Rockberger

NYC based, London born Singer/Songwriter and Pianist Oli Rockberger is winning wide acclaim for his 2005 Independent release "Hush Now"(project Co-Produced by Oli Rockberger and Jesse Hayes). Described by 'All About Jazz' as a "concise treasure rippling with hip pop & R&B harmonies laced with jazz devices" (Phil Di Pietro), this record was written, arranged, produced and recorded by Oli in his home studio, while living in Boston during 2004 and 2005. Over the course of the album's 8 songs "about love and longing for love" (Michelle Blumsack - STL PLAYBACK), Oli blends influences ranging from R&B, gospel, jazz and pop to form a sound that is truly his own. "Hush Now", which follows on from Oli's 2003 release "The Oli Rockberger Band" (both available on ITUNES and CDBABY) has confirmed Oli Rockberger as a soulful artist of substance, well worth watching, and well on his way...

As a solo artist, Oli is fast establishing himself as a first rate international performer with many high profile performances already to his name including: The Royal Albert Hall London 1998, The Phoenix Jazz Festival Japan 2001 (opening for Makoto Ozone Trio), Brecon Jazz Festival 2003, The City Showcase London 2004 (opening for Hamish Stewart), Steinway & Sons Boston 2004 (Songwriting Workshop & Trio Performance), US Embassy Sponsored Tour of Ecuador (2004) and UHF Cable TV Performance and Interview (NYC 2006). In July 2006 Oli will be headlining the opening night of NYC favorite jazz venue Cornelia Street Cafe's annual Blues Festival. As a sideman Oli has performed at The Jazz Cafe London, The Blue Note New York, Scullers of Boston, and has shared the stage with the likes of Frank McComb & Branford Marsalis, Abe Laboriel, Jackie De Shannon, George Duke, David Fiuczynski, Jason Eskridge & Antonio Hart, Marlon Saunders, Larry Watson, Danny Sadownick, Eska, Bembesegue, Jason Yarde and Jade Fox amongst others.

Born in North-West London, Oli was inspired by his parents record collection (Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Smith, Stevie Wonder, The Crusaders, James Taylor..the list goes on...) and began playing by ear and improvising tunes on the living room piano from before the time his legs could touch the pedals. After studying privately in London, Oli won a Full Tuition Scholarship to attend Boston's world renowned Berklee College of Music in 1999, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2004 (Degree, Professional Music - Composition, Performance, Music Business). In addition to receiving college awards for Jazz Performance, Songwriting and Academic Achievement, in his senior year Oli won the prestigous 'Quincy Jones Award', given to an "Outstanding Writer" by the college's Writing Division (past recipients include the late Grammy Winning producer Arif Mardin).

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2
Album Review

Oli Rockberger: Sovereign

Read "Sovereign" reviewed by Roger Farbey


Undoubtedly, Berklee College of Music educated keyboardist and singer Oli Rockberger possesses a truly irresistible voice. True, his compositions and vocal style are vaguely reminiscent of Mose Allison, Georgie Fame and Sting (and, pray, is that a bad thing?); but there's definitely a uniqueness to the delivery of his attractive and memorable songs. He's lived in America for sixteen years but has now returned to his native London, but not before recording this fine album in New York City, released ...

230
Album Review

Oli Rockberger: Hush Now

Read "Hush Now" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


At 25, Oli Rockberger has made short work of the distance from his London birthplace to Boston's Berklee School of Music, where he earned every formal accolade they could hand him.

Like the two most precocious new whiz-kid pianists singing “jazz today, Jamie Cullum and Nellie McKay, Rockberger's pedigree originates across the pond, but that--along with remarkable keyboard and vocal chops--is where similarities end. Rockberger's a jazz, soul, and funk piano man with a heavy melancholy streak expressed through emotive, ...

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Recording

Oli Rockberger With New Solo Album

Oli Rockberger With New Solo Album

Source: FlipswitchPR, LLC

Whether you first discover Oli Rockberger through his work as a singer-songwriter, producer, arranger, keys sideman, or as one third of acclaimed band/production team Mister Barrington, you’ll find a distinctive musical voice running through the rich and varied work he does. Londoner Rockberger, who currently lives in NY, first came to the US on a Full Scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music ('99-'04). Since then, he has shared stages and studios with musical icons Levon Helm and ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sonicwonderland

Telarc Records
2023

buy

Sovereign

Whirlwind Recordings
2017

buy

Old Habits

Oli Road Records
2011

buy

Hush Now

Oli Road
2005

buy

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