Marcus Schinkel, one of the most accomplished artists to bridge the genres of jazz, classical, electro and pop, can look back on a successful career: he has performed with Maestro Kurt Masur, Paul Kuhn, Charlie Mariano, Eric Vloeimans and the Beethoven Orchester Bonn. His stylistic influences include Keith Jarrett, Esbjörn Svenson, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.

As one of his many musical projects, Marcus Schinkel founded his eponymous piano trio in 1992 with Wim de Vries (drums) and Bas Rietmeijer (bass). Marcus Schinkel met his two fellow musicians whilst studying in the Netherlands: Wim de Vries – one of Europe’s best-known drummers and one half of the Drumbassadors, who are causing a sensation worldwide – and Bas Rietmeijer – a fixture on the Dutch jazz scene, who has played with Eric Vloeimans, Jasper van’t Hof and Eef Alberts, among others.

For 20 years, the original line-up has been performing on stages and at festivals throughout Germany, Europe, Russia, the Caribbean and even for the German Embassy in Vietnam. The Schinkel programme Crossover Beethoven is based on a quote by Thomas More: »Tradition is not the preservation of ashes, but the passing on of the fire!«