Born: October 19, 1984 Primary Instrument: Piano
Christian Pabst is pianist and composer. The press calls him an „extraordinary lyrical musician“.
He gave concerts in India, South Africa, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Italy, Great - Britain, Switzerland, Austria, France, Monaco, Luxemburg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Christian Pabst is currently studying piano in the new European Jazz Master’s Program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et danse in Paris and at the Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium in Copenhagen.
Christian Pabst was born 1984 and spent his childhood in a German village next to the French border.
In the age of 7, he starts to learn the piano. When he was 15 years old, Christian became the pianist of the local big band where his passion for jazz has its roots. Not long after, he recorded 2 CD’s and toured England and Sicily.
In this band he met his future band members - bassist David Andres and drummer Andreas Klein – with whom he is still playing in his trio, 10 years after they’ve met.
The young musicians founded first the band „Funkintension“. They won several prizes at the nationwide competition Jugend Jazzt 2005 in Germany and played on countless Jazzfestivals in Germany and abroad.
In 2006, Christian decides to move to the Netherlands to study with Karel Boehlee and Rob van Bavel at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
During his studies, he works intensively on his most important group: the Christian Pabst Trio. An ensemble which developed a huge musical trust during the ten years of its existence. The telepathic interplay and personal sound of the trio were honoured on many international competitions, e.g. International Jazz competition Hoeilaart, Belgium 2007, Biberacher Jazzpreis 2008, Internationaler Jazzwettbewerb Straubing 2008, Finalist Int. Jazz competition Bucharest, Rumania 2009, Finalist Dutch Jazz Competition 2010 including a performance at the North Sea Jazzfestival 2010.
Furthermore, Christian received a scholarship for the Berklee College Of Music in Boston and was nominated for the Leidse Jazz Award 2009.
In May 2009, the Christian Pabst Trio wins the 1st prize at the Amersfoort Jazz Talent Award and got selected for the NORMA CD Productiefonds.
With this budget, the trio records finally their debut. In February 2010, the group records 10 original compositions at the Fattoria Studios Osnabrück. British trumpet star Gerard Presencer joined the young musicians and contributed great solistic flights with his gentle flugelhorn- and trumpet sound. From 2008 – 20011, Christian was the pianist of the BuJazzO’s (National German Youth Jazz Orchestra). He worked with conductors and artists such Ed Partyka, Jiggs Wigham, Steffen Schorn, Niels Klein, Julia Hülsman, Mike Herting, the Indian percussion-virtuosos Mr. Mani, Ramamani, Karthik Mani and Ramesh Shotam.
A musical highlight was the project with the BJO (German Youth Symphony Orchestra). They toured through Germany with internationally renowned conductor Dennis Russel-Davies, including at celebrated performance at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The orchestras also played a tour through South Africa as part of the cultural pre-programme of the World Soccer Championship including performances in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elisabeth, Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
In 2010, Christian was chosen by a renowned jury, amongst others Harold Mabern Jr. and Eric Alexander, for the “generations”-Band 2010 at the international Masterclass in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. This ensemble recorded a CD called “Tease My Shoes” for TBC Montreux Jazz Label featuring the Australian trombone-player Adrian Mears and went on a CD-Release Tour through Switzerland in summer 2011.
Christian had lessons from Jacky Terrasson, Aaron Goldberg, Antonio Farao, Larry Goldings, Hervé Sellin, Django Bates, Harold Mabern Jr., Kevin Hays, Achim Kaufmann, Hans Lüdemann, Wolfgang Köhler, Baptiste Trotignon, John Riley, Harmen Fraanje, Justin DiCioccio, Susan & Martin Weinert, Peter Erskine, Eric Alexander, Ed Neumeister, Camerown Brown, et cetera ...
Before finishing the conservatory, Christian became a teacher for harmony and theory at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Furthermore, he is teaching piano and rhythm-section at many jazz-workshops.
In 2011, Christian toured with the BuJazzO through India during the German - Indian year with the support of the Goethe Institute The Indian press was excited about the mix of classical Indian music and Bigband jazz heard in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune.
After living in Paris and Copenhagen in 2011, Christian returned to Amsterdam in 2012 where he finished his master thesis “Playing The Tune Like A Scale - The Interplay of the second Miles Davis Quintet”.
Shortly after, Christian was nominated by an international jury to present the “DarkEnsemble” - his collaboration with art teacher Blanka Pesja - at the NEU / NOW Festival in Porto, Portugal. “The NEU/NOW Festival provides an innovative platform for the most exciting and creative NEU artistic talent NOW emerging from higher arts education institutions and universities across Europe and beyond – to present themselves to wider audiences in the NEU/NOW online and LIVE Festival.”
Furthermore, he was selected for the “Keep an eye Jazz Award” with the John Albert Group.
Awards:
- chosen for the winning band "Generations Unit" at the International Jazzmeeting Frauenfeld Switzerland - Finalist Dutch Jazz Competition 2010 - Winner NORMA CD Productionfonds 2010 - Winner of Amersfoort Jazz Talent Award 2009 - nominated for the "LeidseJazz Award" 2009! - 2nd prize "Biberacher Jazzpreis" 2008 in Germany - Finalist "29th International Jazz Hoeilaart Competition" 2007 in Belgium - 3 awards at the German national competition "Jugend Jazzt" in Koblenz 2005“4 stars **** - Twentysomething German pianist Christian Pabst is a talent to watch and this is the debut release from his trio. Despite their comparative youth, they have been playing together for a decade - and it shows. The sparse accompanying booklet doesn't give much information, but it does contain a Herbie Hancock quote - “Life is not about finding our limitations, it's about finding our infinities” - which captures something of the optimistic, consciousness-enhancing quality of the trio's sound and texture: there's a sensibility at work here that's reminiscent of EST in their heyday.” Jazzwise, UK
“Beautiful compositions with master musicians accompanying – this and more can be heard on the wonderful CD simply titled Days of Infinity, the new recording by pianist/composer Christian Pabst. The Christian Pabst trio has more than proven that they are not ordinary in any way. The music they create is far more than a multi-layer jam session. They work as a cohesive unit with each knowing exactly what note to play next without ever speaking a word among themselves. It is wonderful.” Birmingham Times, USA
“...their new album Days Of Infinity is a real treat bursting with new twists on old ideas. “A Poet’s Path” is one of the better amalgamations of hip hop with organic jazz I’ve heard from anyone.” Something Else Reviews
“The Christian Pabst Trio have with Days Of Infinity put together an album full of captivating ideas and interesting structures that will appeal to a broad cross section of jazz lovers everywhere.” Sea of Tranquility - Music for the new intellectual
“Days Of Infinity is a mature debut, on which Pabst wrote all but one song himself, shows he is a promising composer and musician.” Jazzmozaïek, Netherlands
“Indeed, I am thrilled with the music embodied on “Days of Infinity”! Why, because I love the piano as the lead instrument. As I hear it, this apparatus forces the artist to score music regardless of scale with power, humility and grace effortlessly without fear as they blend composition, playing ability and arranging skills together with a sense of creativity and inventiveness. Pianist Christian Pabst has done so brilliantly with this amazing recording” The Urbanflux Music Blog
“well-honed and empathic ensemble work!” Living Scotsman, Scotland
“Yes, Pabst is one of those interesting players that you really have to keep an ear on. Still under 30, he plays like your fave black, piano jazzmen of the late 50s but he does it with an edge that lands somewhere between hippie and pomo. (”Days of Infinity”) A sweet as pie set of sitting down jazz, it brings high energy in it’s wake and there’s certainly no dust on it. A little too hot to be cool jazz, it’s right in the pocket for some solidly good listening. Simply well done and made for your enjoyment.” Midwest Record, USA
“Christian Pabst has an ear for texture. On Days of Infinity (Challenge), Pabst plays both acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes, and the result is a cool heat found in Bobby Hutcherson's vibes in the late '60s. Playing original compositions, Pabst reaches inside for a brooding, think-out-loud approach that never loses sight of melody or drama. On tracks where he adds the Fender Rhodes, there's a completely different mood—a little more pensive and fully aware of how the ringing chimes sound of the notes will affect the listener.” Jazzwax
“Ambient sound, a touch of tradition and a sense of time and place are the ingredients for the Christian Pabst Trio’s Days of Infinity (Challenge Records, 2011).” Smooth Jazz
“The piano is vibrant, mostly upbeat. The trumpet and flugelhorn offer a nice change of pace.” Tom Hull Music Blog
“This trio is a wonderful collaboration of 3 accomplished musicians who have, after years of playing together, have developed into a very cohesive group that is able to take you on a wonderful musical journey. Their latest cd (Days Of infinity) is a joy to listen to.” Billy Drummond
“The Christian Pabst Trio creates sounds that give you something to think about, and something that you can feel. The perfect combination.” Gabriel Alegría
“A remarkable pianist who knows the tradition as well as his own music” Jury Dutch Jazz Competition
“This trio goes far beyond the material. The smalles band gave the biggest presentation: the Christian Pabst Trio won gloriously the Amersfoort Jazz Talent Award. The musicians play intense and subtle together, present themselves naturally and loose and play with depth. “ Jury Amersfoort Jazz Talent Award
Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Amsterdam
