Jazzkonzert: Markus Burger u. Jack Cooper

The Erfurt Jazz Project, the Language Center of the University of Erfurt and the Jazzclub Erfurt e.V. are jointly presenting a jazz concert on 11.6.2024 at 8 pm in Erfurt's Kaufmannskirche (Anger 80, 99084 Erfurt). Two very experienced and internationally renowned top musicians, Markus Burger (piano, Germany) and Jack Cooper (saxophone, USA), will continue the collaboration between German and American jazz musicians envisioned by the Erfurt Jazz Project.

The Markus Burger/Jack Cooper duo

Markus Burger is a German pianist, composer, music producer and professor who has lived and worked in California for 20 years. He has been playing the piano since the age of 6 and has studied under John Taylor, Chucho Valdés, Peter Herborn, Jiggs Whigham and Kenny Wheeler, among others. He has won numerous prizes in the fields of classical and jazz music. As a musician, he is very versatile: among other things, he works with Bach and choral music, writes music for film and television (e.g. He also plays in classical jazz ensembles with jazz greats such as Joe LaBarbera (Bill Evans Trio), Bob Magnusson (Shirley Horn & Stan Getz), Peter Erskine (Weather Report, Steps Ahead), Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone and other leading international artists .Together with saxophonist Jan von Klewitz, his album Spiritual Standards Uno reached the top 20 of the German charts in 1999.

Jack Cooper, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Memphis, is an award-winning saxophonist from Los Angeles. He has worked as an instrumentalist, composer, music director, producer and arranger with Marc Secara and the Berlin Jazz Orchestra, Bernie Dresel, Jiggs Whigham, Marc Marshall, Kenny Rogers, the Temptations, Macy Gray and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, among others.He is a versatile musician who spans the spectrum from chamber music and film and television music to jazz and pop music, but is also particularly interested in composing and arranging for big bands. His album Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra is a milestone in the connection between modern jazz and classical music and was a resounding success. He also works in smaller formats. His Sonata for Trombone, for example, is an integral part of the modern trombone repertoire.

The duo's concept reflects the versatility and origins of the two musicians: they will play a series of original compositions that combine influences from classical music, jazz standards and jazz fusion.