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Sebastian Liedke

Sebastian Liedke (born 29th november 1976) is a german musician driven by passion for jazz.

initially autodidactically, sebastian began to experiment with electric-bass at the age of 15 and formed a death metal band together with his older brother (guitar).

first studies of the electric-bass with jan peters in hildesheim and nelson arriagada in hanover helped him on his journey to jazz, and were followed by double-bass studies with prof. sigi busch, prof. pepe berns and marc muellbauer, as well as studies on composition and electric-bass with max hughes, all of them in berlin.

2004-2005 studied at a private jazz-school in berlin (jazzschule-berlin), improvisation classes with claus rückbeil, ensemble classes with wolfgang obert, rhythm studies with michael griener and double-bass studies with stefan weeke. for quite some time sebastian accompanied vocal students of jazzschule-berlin.

however, sebastian took a detour before accepting music as his destiny. after leaving school he met general expectations and chose a respectable job, started with a professional training as draftsman, studied later civil engineering at the university of applied sciences in holzminden and at the technical university in braunschweig. working in different regions of germany was part of it, finally the overseas experience in abu dhabi.

not finding fulfillment in his job, sebastian focused more and more on music over the past years and finally gave up civil engineering for good.

early 2009 sebastian was introduced to lizzy scharnofske (drums) and dirk flatau (piano) in berlin, who have known each other from jazz studies at the conservatory of amsterdam. a fortunate coincidence, as only a couple of sessions and rehearsals later it became quite clear that sebastian’s compositions would sound like they were intended to sound with those brilliant accompanists. (release `to walk in the past´)

in 2010 sebastian met the wurlitzer-pianist and composer hans arnold in berlin. together with drummer julius heise they renewed arnold's band `heniu´. a few month and concerts later the three recorded their first album `von hier nach dort´. later this year sebastian decided to work on his own project again and formed his new trio with lucia martinez on drums and felix otterbeck on the piano, the release `zeitenwende´ as their first outcome.

sebastian finished his studies in audio-engineering at a berlin based academy for music and media in autumn 2012, and is currently working as a freelance engineer and musician.

Gear

slovakian doublebass, acoustic image combo, tech 21 sansamp paradriver, bassbalsereit pickup (http://www.bassbalsereit.de/)


Tags

111
Multiple Reviews

Two Sides Of The Trio Coin: Sebastian Liedke and Heniu

Read "Two Sides Of The Trio Coin: Sebastian Liedke and Heniu" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


These two albums make it abundantly clear that bassist Sebastian Liedke doesn't look at music as a unidirectional art form, and his life experiences likely have a lot to do with his outlook. The young, Berlin-based artist had put his instrument on the back burner while he was gainfully employed as a civil engineer, but lack of enthusiasm for his chosen career helped him find his way back to the bass. This circuitous route to the music camp clearly helped ...

114
Album Review

Sebastian Liedke Trio: Zeitenwende

Read "Zeitenwende" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


This second release from Germany's Sebastian Liedke Trio is initially so unassuming that it is only on repeated listens that the music unfolds in understated complexity. Within the treatments of its six original tunes, the contemplative nature of the music is infused with a bristling energy. Roughly translating to a “turning point," Zeitenwende is, indeed, that for bassist Liedke. Parting company with his original drummer and pianist, Liedke is now partnered with Lucia Martinez and Felix Otterbeck in those respective ...

183
Album Review

Sebastian Liedke Trio: Zeitenwende

Read "Zeitenwende" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


There are times when bombast, noise and heavy riffs seem like musical perfection, and other times when beauty, gentleness and melody are exactly what's required. For those other times, Zeitenwende is an ideal choice. The second album from bassist Sebastian Liedke's Berlin-based trio builds on the success of 2010's self produced debut, To Walk In The Past, with another collection of tunes characterized by his considered and affecting compositions and the sympathetic interplay of his fellow musicians. ...

116
Album Review

Sebastian Liedke Trio: To Walk In The Past

Read "To Walk In The Past" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Piano, bass and drum trios abound in jazz: their history mirrors the history of the music itself and many of the greatest jazz players have worked within the format. Any new piano trio has to face up to some stiff competition if it is to leave its own unique mark. The Berlin-based Sebastian Liedke Trio is new. To Walk In The Past is its debut recording--and it's one of the freshest and loveliest releases of 2010. Bassist ...

106
Album Review

Sebastian Liedke: To Walk In The Past

Read "To Walk In The Past" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Different people often have different thoughts of what a piano trio should be: some view Oscar Peterson-style groups as the archetype in this category; others, just as easily, point to Bill Evans and feel that his body of work is the alpha and omega when it comes to piano group interaction and chemistry; while younger, rock-leaning enthusiasts may turn their noses up at both of those legends, preferring the bombast-meets-jazz of The Bad Plus. No two people will have the ...

129
Album Review

Sebastian Liedke Trio: To Walk In The Past

Read "To Walk In The Past" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


It's possible to identify some of the more acoustic elements of the late Esbjörn Svensson's trio, e.s.t., in Berlin-based, Sebastian Liedke Trio's debut. The bassist's group appears ready to step into a creative breach, uniquely combining a strong sense of melody with imaginative variations. Within its creative process, the trio may be on its way to setting up a template for subsequent hybrids of Euro-jazz. Unlike the pioneering e.s.t., Liedke's trio is devoid of synthesizer effects and rock influences, but ...

157
Album Review

Sebastian Liedke: To Walk In The Past

Read "To Walk In The Past" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


One of the enduring allures of the piano trio is the intimacy it creates, something that German bassist/composer Sebastian Liedke does superbly on his debut, To Walk in the Past. The record consists of 10 modal sonatas with rich texture, painted in dark sounds and lush tones. Eight are composed by Liedke, and two by pianist Dirk Flatau, and all share a similar theme that helps maintain the unity of the entire work. This, in no way, ...

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check http://www.sebastianliedke.de/#6 for more press comments:

"...overall a record filled with mystery, shadows, contrasts, exciting and with tender poesy enchanting and beautiful. one can say, perhaps something like trance-jazz after all." (PIANO NEWS 04/2010)

"...a really impressing trio!" (GITARRE&BASS 09/2010)

"...a breezy, well-arranged, smooth and sweet melancholic jazz record, that is definitely worth listening to... highly recommended!" (DRUMS&PERCUSSION 05/2010)

"...these three perform together beautifully and create intensely soulful music that makes you imagine morning fog rising over the spree. amazing!" (GITARRE&BASS 10/2010)

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Zeitenwende

Self Produced
2011

buy

To Walk In The Past

Self Produced
2010

buy

Zeitenwende

From: Zeitenwende
By Sebastian Liedke

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