01.01.1965
Instrument(e): Piano, Fender Rhodes
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Homepage: dirkbalthaus.com
Jazzpianist, lebt in Amsterdam.
Dirk BalthausDirk was born in 1965 in Oberhausen, Germany, and started to play piano at the age of 6. At the age of 15 he discovered jazz in Kuro's Jazzkeller, a club in his hometown Oberhausen. There he heard pianist Peter Walter from Essen, whose lessons had a big influence on Dirk. From 1986-1991 he studied jazz piano at the Conservatory in Hilversum. His teachers include Frans Elsen, Henk Elkerbout and Rob Madna.
After finishing in 1991, Dirk moved to Amsterdam. In 1994, with Bert Lochs (trumpet/flugelhorn), Sven Schuster (bass) and Steve Altenberg (drums) he formed a quartet and recorded his first CD 'tales of the frog', followed by "The healing", "On Children's Ground" (with the legendary John Engels on drums) and Consolation. Since then he is an active member of the European jazz scene. Countries where he has performed include Jamaica, France, Spain, Romania, Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Scotland, England, Turkey, and the USA.
He has performed on stage with: Frank Morgan, Ack van Rooyen, Benny Baily, Lee Konitz, Lew Tabackin, Dale Barlow, Clarence Becton, John Engels, Herb Geller, Ben Herman, Jack Parnell, Bud Shank, Eric Vloeimans and many more.
At the moment he plays, composes and arranges for the bands Braskiri (the follow up of the exciting formation Lochs/Balthaus/Herskedal), Sietske & band, Gerlo Hesselink Quartet and Karen Vrijburg Group. He was a permanent member of Joan Reinder's Millennium Jazz Orchestra for 7 years and recorded three CD's with this world class orchstra.
Dirk has tought and given masterclasses at the conservatories of Osnabrück, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Enschede and Cluj (Romania).
In Amsterdam he runs a recording studio, called the Marnixstudio where he also teaches privat students.