RUDI BERGER

As a well established traveler between cultures diversity of human expression is the main source of inspiration for Rudi Berger`s pieces and playing, and has influenced the development of his distinct personal tone as a violinist and composer.
Rudi Berger’s career development has seen him achieve his unique standing and musical style in the world of Jazz Violin and has resulted in him being considered one of the most original and trend-setting current voices of his genre.

BACKGROUND

Born and raised in Vienna , Rudi Berger received violin instruction at the Prayner Konservatorium (under Prof. Ms. Steinbauer) starting at age six. He continued his classical training at the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien (Vienna Conservatory) with Karl Barylli and subsequently with Günther Schich. He also had three years of piano instruction with Dora Hermann as a child.
Berger’s initial formative impressions were of folk music, pop, gospel, jazz and rock (Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Haley, Lionel Hampton, Mahalia Jackson and Glenn Miller). In addition, the Beatles’s White Album, blues by John Mayall with violinist Don “Sugarcane” Harris, and a concert by Ray Charles became important impressions that made an impact on Berger’s musical aims. Berger became active as an improvisor starting at the age of fourteen, and his first compositions originated around that time. Performances with the Viennese blues guitarist and singer Al Cook, contacts with the young Viennese “gypsy scene” and first invitations as studio musician ensued. After completing school, Berger performed as a multi-instrumentalist and singer in a night club band, and as a violinist in classical ensembles and in traditional Viennese waltz orchestras.

BIOGRAPHIE

In 1977, at age 22 he became a member of the Vienna Art Orchestra for three years; he continued to perform with the orchestra in various projects, tours and recordings until 2001. Rudi Berger’s group Good News was then founded, and in the Viennese underground scene he met singer Al Jarreau, who advised him to go to the U.S.A.

Before taking this advice (which saxophonist Eddie Harris also gave him), he was named Violinist of the Year by the Austrian music magazine Jazz Live in 1985 and 1986 and he released his debut album First Step. Berger then went on to stay in the U.S. for fourteen years. During his time in New York, he worked with artists including Victor Bailey, Joseph Bowieʼs Defunkt, Phil Bowler, Joey Calderazzo, Mike Clark, Ron McClure, Charles Fambrough, Mike Formanek, Artt Frank, Gil Goldstein, Billy Kilson, Romero Lubambo, Peter Madsen, Adam Nussbaum, and the Jeff Raheb Octet. As part of an Argentinian tango quintet, he also interpreted music by Astor Piazzolla, who was an inspiring presence at their rehearsals. Berger also met the guitarist and composer Toninho Horta, from which a musical friendship of many years developed.

Between 1996 and 2003, he developed his musical interrelationship: Berger was a guest lecturer at the Brazilian University of Belo Horizonte (UFMG) while also performing regularly in New York and Vienna. In 2003, he at long last moved to Brazil. Collaboration with musicians from Belo Horizonte and other parts of Brazil came about via numerous performances with Toninho Horta. Berger also toured with his own Brazilian ensembles.   Over the years, he integrated musicians from South America, Europe and the U.S.A. into his formations (Rudi Berger’s Three World Band). As a studio musician, Rudi Berger has played on more than two hundred recordings,including award – winning soundtracks for animation, film and theatre.  As a band leader and guest soloist, he performs in Europe, Japan, South America, and the U.S.A. Several of his compositions have been recorded by musicians and bands from Brazil, Austria, the U.S.A. and Venezuela.

As guest soloist the Viennese Violinist appears on  Toninho Horta’s latest CD recording “Belo Horizonte” which won the Latin Grammy Award 2020 for best brazilian  music album of the year –  “Melhor album de Musica Brasileira 2020”.