Markus Burger The Vienna Sessions - Cr73535 - Jazz - by Challenge Records

In August 2019, I had the privilege of spending two afternoons in Vienna, the music capital of Europe, recording.I traveled to Vienna with my friend and producer, Jim Linahon, to spend two days recording in the Bösendorfer piano showroom, courtesy of Ferdinand Bräu. Vienna has been my favorite European city for a long time. And I have been a fan of Bösendorfer pianos since studying at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, where I fell in love with the sound of this amazing instrument. For the past 20 years, I have visited Vienna many times, and have played in various ensembles around this beautiful capital of Austria. Vienna has always had a distinct impact on me. The city’s people, their humor, elegance, and joy, are like few other places I’ve been. While recording, I enjoyed exploring the sound of the piano, especially in the upper register. I also chose to improvise in a minimal way to let the instrument guide me on a musical stroll. I found my time in Vienna relaxing, inspiring, and deeply spiritual. I hope you, the listener, will enjoy the music as much as I enjoyed playing it. (Markus Burger)