Ernst Bier

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It is unimaginable to talk of the current German jazz scene without mentioning Ernst Bier.

A former student of master drummers Billy Brooks, Charlie Persip, Vernell Fournier, and Elvin Jones, his drumming has been lauded for its "high level of sensitivity, self-abandon, and invention", while the Bonn Magazine TV show highlighted his "musicality and scintillating play". Like many European jazz musicians, Bier felt the magnetic pull of jazz's Mecca, and so in 1982 Bier turned up on the New York scene where he would remain until 1987. It was in New York that Bier began his continuing musical relationships and personal friendships with Mack Goldsbury, Ed Schuller, and Herb Robertson. Whether with the Perry Robertson Quartet, the Christoph Adams Trio or with such stars as Atilla Zoller, Chet Baker, Lester Bowie, Sonny Fortune and Walter Norris, Ernst Bier is seldom involved simply as a sideman. Besides his solid musical input, he is known for his enormous organizational talent. Since returning to Europe, Ernst has been continually on tour, working on and in a number of different projects. Looking for the liveliest music scene he could find, Bier settled in Berlin. His continuing series of workshops keeps Ernst in contact with the fundamentals: for young musicians his "Living School" has developed into an institution.

Marty Cook