BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin Schatz started playing the violin at the age of four and the piano at the age of six. After studying classical piano in Trossingen (Prof. Tomislav Nedelkovic-Baynov), Los Angeles (Prof. C. Ritchie) and Leipzig (Prof. J. Christof), he became a student of the world famous jazz pianist Richie Beirach at Musikhochschule Leipzig where he graduated in 2008.
After moving to Vienna/Austria he studied at the Konservatorium Wien with Oliver Kent and composition with Andy Middleton and received in 2012 "Master of Arts" with distinction.
He studied in masterclasses with Cedar Walton, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Werner, Marc Copland, Jim McNeely, Fred Hersch, Aaron Parks, Jimmy Cobb, Buster Williams, Billy Hart, Lewis Nash, Peter Bernstein, Dave Liebman.
Benjamin Schatz is a faculty member at the „Joseph Haydn University of Music“ in Eisenstadt , Austria.
Masterclasses & Private Lessons
Benjamin Schatz teaches at masterclasses worldwide and gives private lessons on a variety of topics.
Jazz Piano: a quick start to jazz improvisation / how to get started
Advanced concepts for jazz piano reharmonisation and motivic improvisation
Jazz phrasing for classical pianists: how to play a written piece in a "jazzy" way
Finding a musical identity: how to develop your own style
Songwriting: how to write a song in 45 minutes
Joseph Haydn University of Music
Benjamin Schatz teaches Jazz Piano (major subject) at the Joseph Haydn University of Music in Eisenstadt (Austria) for Bachelor and Master students.
PRESS & QUOTES
“SUBLIME SONGS - LOTS OF EMOTION WITHOUT BEING MELODRAMATIC, PEACEFUL WITHOUT INDUCING DROWSINESS.”
— All About Jazz
“...His pianistic skill is more evident through his refined touch than through rapid passages...”
— SR 2 KULTUR RADIO
“...PRESENTED IN A DELICATELY COMPLEX AND UNDERSTATED WAY - WHICH I LIKED A LOT…”
— John Taylor (about the album Distant Light)
“What becomes immediately audible and fascinates from the first note is the immense feeling with which the pianist approaches the matter.”
— MICA - music austria
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Scholar of the Baden - Württemberg Art Foundation
Winner of a complete CD production in 2009 at the "International Jazzmeeting Generations 2008" in Frauenfeld/Switzerland. His CD production for the Suisse Radio DRS 2 (2008) was selected (out of 50 recordings) for the "JazzThing - Next Generation" series by JazzThing Magazine/Double Moon Records (2010)
1st Prize in the "International Music Competitions of the Val Tidone" in Pianello/Italy (2000)
Winner of the "Concerto Competition, California State University, Long Beach/USA" (2004)