Session Pianist/Keyboardist

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Veronika Vitazkova, a wonderful flutist who is also based in Vienna. Check her out, her work is amazing.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Is this possible? - In most cases, yes ;)

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That being a jazz pianist means being a bit "stiff upper lip" about other genres.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your vision for the production? What kind of sounds/style do you want for this production? Is there a deadline for me to keep in mind? How do you want to handle it regarding credits and PRO royalties? ...

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Try to look for references for the piano style that you expect from me. Be as specific as possible in your requests.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My Nord Piano, my Moog Sub 25, my audio interface, a microphone and my headphones.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I've been playing piano since I was 4 and been growing up studying classical piano. When I was 15/16 I started to improvise more than actually practicing the pieces I was supposed to be practicing. So I grew into playing jazz as an autodidact. The first time I really learned about jazz theory was actually at the music university in Vienna. Since then I've been mostly playing with Jazz projects, but also accompanying choirs and other projects.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I like to combine diverse musical concepts and manage the balancing act between intellect and emotions. My stile is a mixture of classical influences, concepts coming from film scores, a jazz education and a percussive tone.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I'd very much like to work with John K Samson. I just think he's a brilliant lyricist!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen to everyone's opinion with an open mind.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I usually work on jazz compositions or pop tunes.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say it's my eagerness to think outside the box.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring attention to detail and a full focus on the goal of delivering a 100% satisfying track.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I record piano/keyboard tracks for all kinds of uses. No particular type.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I'm especially proud of a project I worked on, writing an arrangement of "Lady Madonna" by the Beatles for a concert entitled "Beatles Reimagined". I was very fortunate to do this under the guidance of Steve Sidwell, a conductor and arranger known for his work with Robbie Williams and others. It was a thrilling experience to arrange this music (especially for me as a Beatles fan) and I got a lot of advice regarding arranging for Big Band out of it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Besides other things, I'm currently working on a new trio album, so composing and arranging new pieces.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Good question. I guess, a mix of both.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: That you'll be 100% satisfied and happy in the end.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I can get inspired by creative minds all around the world.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First of all I discuss all the details with you and then I'll get to work using the rough mix I received. I record the desired tracks and send them back to you.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio setup consists of two speakers, a good audio interface with 4 inputs/outputs, a Nord Piano 3 and Moog Subsequent 25, an Ibanez Electric Guitar, an Acoustic Guitar, a Saxophone, a small mixer, a computer screen, a microphone including a mic stand and smaller things such as a camera.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Oh, that's a big question. I'm a huge fan of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (Svensson sadly passed away in 2008), but yeah, the've definitely been a big influence on my path as a musician. I'm also particularly fond of Johann Sebastian Bach, his compositions are just so elegant and logically perfect. Inspiration also comes from The Beatles, as I've been growing up to a lot of music from that time (through my father's record collection). I could go on and on about inspirations but that would take too much time, I guess.