Home » Jazz Musicians » Marc Brenken

Marc Brenken

Marc Brenken (born June 17th, 1973) started to play piano at the age of eight and soon discovered his love for jazz and improvisation. He studied at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany and attended masterclasses with Kenny Werner, John Taylor, Fred Hersch, Marc Copland and Richie Beirach.

In 2006 his debut CD "Eight Short Stories" was released. Marc composed the music for this album.

2009 a trio album, "It Could Happen to You", followed, featuring Alex Morsey on double-bass and Marcus Rieck on drums. The album was recorded at the renowned "Fattoria Musica" in Osnabruck, Germany.

In 2012 he released his third album: "Starting Our Journey" with the Marc Brenken - Jean-Yves Braun Quartet, featuring original compositons of guitarist Jean-Yves Braun and of his own.

Concert tours have taken him a. o. to Romania, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Lebanon and Mongolia. Furthermore he is also featured on CD releases of the Literaturkommission für Westfalen (jazz & poetry projects - "Live auf dem Kulturgut").

Awards

2010 the Marc Brenken Trio was semi-finalist of the "Neuer Deutscher Jazzpreis" (New German Jazz Award), Mannheim. In December 2011 the Marc Brenken - Christian Kappe Quartet was voted the winner of the "First Jazz Prize Ruhr" by the audience at domicil, Dortmund.


Tags

636
Take Five With...

Take Five With Marc Brenken

Read "Take Five With Marc Brenken" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Marc Brenken:Marc Brenken (born June 17th, 1973) started to play piano at the age of eight and has constantly been developing his own musical language since his studies at the Folkwang Academy of music in Essen, Germany.

In 2006 his debut cd eight short stories (with his quartet featuring trumpeter Christian Kappe) was released. Marc composed the music for this album.

Now, in 2009, a new trio album, It Could Happen to You, is released, featuring Alex ...

Read more articles
100

Recording

Marc Brenken Trio Release "It Could Happen to You"

Marc Brenken Trio Release "It Could Happen to You"

Source: Michael Ricci

Marc Brenken – piano, composition Alex Morsey – double-bass Marcus Rieck – drums

Marc Brenken’s musical world is rife with suprise. In his new album It Could Happen to You;, together with bassist Alexander Morsey and drummer Marcus Rieck, the pianist tells everyday stories that are all but mundane: With ants in his pants he bashes the listener “Raus ausm Bett” [out of his bed], just to join us on a bicycle ride through ...

"as unusual as his body language are the musical short stories that pianist and composer Marc Brenken tells (...) stories that characterise him as a highly enjoyable author" (Münstersche Zeitung)

"true jazz, rooted in the tradition without quoting it unconsidered (...) an exciting musical journey that offers quite a few discoveries" (Jazzpodium)

"fabulous piano magic" (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung)

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

ear training, improvising, composing, learning to play any tune by heart, harmony / voicings, phrasing, expression, creativity

Clinic/Workshop Information

listening to each other in a band, practicing group improvisation, finding new ways to arrange standards and other compositions

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Starting Our Journey

Marc Brenken Music
2012

buy

Durch den Regen fahren (Riding Through the Rain)

From: It Could Happen to You
By Marc Brenken

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.