Martin Listabarth – Solo Piano
Image: Theresa Pewal
OCTOBER 22 | 6:30 PM
PLEASE RSVP HERE
Join us for a concert by Austrian jazz pianist and composer Martin Listabarth.
About the Concert
On his sophomore solo release, Dedicated, Martin Listabarth dives deep into the topic of personal inspirations, resulting in an album that combines tonal elegance and musical ingenuity with playfulness, wit, and a heavy dose of storytelling. It’s not unusual for a musician to dedicate an album or song to someone who has been influential in their life. Austrian pianist Martin Listabarth takes this one step further, though, using the stories of 10 people who have fascinated or inspired him as the basis for 10 highly original compositions.
Musically, Dedicated is a treasure trove of solo piano technique, running the full spectrum from soft and melancholic to dramatic and bold. Shimmering, classical-inspired ballads give way to blues-infused vamps and high-octane swing. The resulting collection of music is both playful and challenging, accessible yet complex—something heightened by the narrative that inspires each song.
“Hercule Poirot,” dedicated to the author Agatha Christie, sits alongside tributes to an eclectic cast of characters, including archaeologist Maria Reiche (“Nazca Lines”), soccer player Diego Maradona (“The Hand of God”), and scientist Alan Turing (“Turing’s Pattern”). This concept of storytelling is not new to Listabarth; his well-received solo debut, Short Stories (2019), also explored the idea of narrative in music and a passion for character arcs.
Dedicated takes this further, though, taking the listener on a captivating journey that stimulates the imagination.
About the Artist
Martin Listabarth is an Austrian jazz pianist, composer, improviser, and bandleader. He studied both jazz piano and classical piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. His music is deeply rooted in jazz but also features strong classical influences that give Listabarth his unique musical voice. His work is often described as playful and challenging, accessible yet complex. The Austrian newspaper Die Presse highlights another important aspect of his playing: “Music with subtle humor and irony.”
Listabarth has performed at several venues and international festivals in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Finland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, Japan, and Peru. Some of these include Porgy & Bess, Wiener Musikverein, ORF Radiokulturhaus, Piano City Madrid, Tastentage Klosters, Gjon Mili Jazz & Blues Festival, International Jazz Piano Festival Kalisz, Jazzunique Festival, Haskovo Jazz Festival, and Ciclo de Jazz Europeo Lima. In 2024, he’s set to tour even more outside Europe, reaching audiences in Africa, North America, and Latin America.