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A view years back
Education
State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart/Germany.
Master’s degree in Teaching, Arranging, and Performing Jazz and Popular Music.
Q&A
What Kind of Pianist am I?
I play both acoustic piano and electronic keyboards. I also use state-of-the-art computer-based sounds both live and in the studio.
What Genre do you prefer?
I have never felt the urge to settle on a particular genre, simply because I love all kinds of music. (Check out my music here).
But I definitely have a strong tendency toward contemporary music, especially jazz-influenced genres. This includes various jazz styles, blues, Latin, funk, soul, and other genres that feature any or a combination of those styles.
Experience
As a versatile jazz pianist and popular music keyboardist, I performed and recorded with bands and ensembles of all sizes, instrumentations, and genres in Europe and the United States.
When I was young, I participated in many masterclasses and workshops and took private lessons with some of the greatest musicians and educators, such as Jamey Aebersold, David Berger, Bill Dobbins, JimMcNeely, J.J. Johnson, Chuchito Valdés, to name a few.
In my 20s I was the keyboardist with the German Pop Band ZigZagZoo. The band secured 2nd place in the Yamaha International Competition for Best Pop Band of Germany, just one place short of qualifying for the final round in Japan. This was before Facebook and YouTube! Check out the video below to hear us play!
While trying to be a pop star, I was also the jazz pianist for several German groups, such as Lubber Blue, which I co-founded with my long-time musical partner and saxophonist Peter Lehel . Together, we produced my first CD in the USA called The Windy City.
Shortly after we recorded the CD, I moved to Chicago and accepted a position as the principal jazz pianist Chicago Jazz Ensemble . We toured Europe and the United States, performing in legendary concert halls and jazz clubs such as Birdland/NYC. Simultaneously, I created my own bands, The Thomas Gunther Trio Plus, and Thommy Gunther’s Taste Of Chicago Band that I took to Germany for a nice little tour.
I have also recorded and produced plenty of original music across various styles and genres over the years.
Performing with Vocalists
Thomas with vocalist Ines
(way back in the days)
I was the keyboardist, musical arranger, and music director for many vocalists and vocal groups. I have been the musical director for shows, and accompanist for vocalists specialized in musical theater, jazz, and other popular music styles.
The intimacy of the Vocal-Piano Duo
There is hardly a musical setting more intimate than that of the vocal-piano duo.
Two people feeding off each other’s energy while listening carefully to what the other is doing, with the common purpose of creating something wonderful and deeply personal.
Thomas with
show band HONEY PIE,
Stuttgart/Germany 1996
I have played in almost any setting you can think of. This includes solo piano, duos (with singers and instrumentalists) all the way to huge ensembles, including symphony orchestras with jazz band. I love it all.