Morten Silberg Schantz (born 19 October 1980) is a Danish jazz pianist.
Morten Schantz | |
|---|---|
 Morten Schantz in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Morten Silberg Schantz |
| Born | 19 October 1980 Aarhus, Jylland, Denmark |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, band leader |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, vocals |
| Labels | Rune Grammofon, Bolage, Edition |
| Website | mortenschantz |
Career
edit
Schantz was raised in Kalundborg, where he started playing classical piano at the age of 6 years but eventually had motivation problems in early adolescence.[1] While getting a new and inspiring teacher, he got back motivation and was introduced to jazz. He was quickly inspired by bands and musicians like Weather Report, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, David Sanborn, and Herbie Hancock.
Schantz formed his first trio as band leader in 1997, and they got the opportunity to play gigs at local clubs and released their first demo album Cantaloupe Island, the year after. In 1998 he formed The Morten Schantz Segment including his earlier so inspiring teacher, Mikkel Uhrenholdt (saxophone) and Jesper Thomsen (drums).
In 2001 he joined the band Mikhalized where he contributed the debut album Jazz Muffin (2003)[2][3] In 2005 he started the highly acclaimed band JazzKamikaze with musicians from Denmark, Sweden and Norway,[4] and that same year they received the award Young Nordic Jazz Comets. They have performed at jazz festivals around the world.[5]
In July 2015 his band Godspeed debuted at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival venue Huset, Musikcaféen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The band is a trio with Marius Neset and Anton Eger.[6] The album Morten Schantz Godspeed with Marius Neset on sax and Anton Eger on drums was released by Edition Records in January 2017. In All About Jazz, Roger Farbey wrote, "Godspeed unceasingly rewards repeated plays and easily qualifies as one of the most exciting and engaging recordings for a long time. Schantz has surely now found his true métier."[7]
Awards and honors
edit- 2005: Young Nordic Jazz Comets, within the band JazzKamikaze[4]
Discography
editAs leader
edit- 2014: Unicorn (Calibrated Music)
- 2017: Godspeed (Edition)
- 2022: Passenger (April Records)
With Schantz Segment
- 2006: Return From Exile
Collaborations
editWith Mikhalized
- 2003: Jazz Muffin[3]
With JazzKamikaze
References
edit
- ^ "Morten Schantz Biografi" (in Danish). Morten Schantz Official website. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ "Morten Schantz (cv)" (in Danish). Morten Schantz Official website. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Mikhalized Jazz Muffin Review" (in Danish). Gaffa.dk. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "Jazz Kamikaze: Supersonic Revolutions (2010) Review". All About Jazz. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ a b "JazzKamikaze – The Return of JazzKamikaze Review". Challenge Records. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ "World Scene Platform:Morten Schantz Godspeed feat. Marius Neset & Anton Eger". Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ Farbey, Roger."Morten Schantz: Godspeed" All About Jazz, 14 December 2016
- ^ "Jazz Kamikaze: Mission 1 (2006) Review". All About Jazz. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
