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Biography

As a well established traveler between cultures diversity of human expression is the main source of inspiration for Rudi Berger`s pieces and playing, and has influenced the development of his distinct personal tone as a violinist and composer. He has released 5 albums and has featured on more then 200 recordings, some of them Grammy nominated, including award-winning soundtracks for animation, film and theatre. Several of his compositions have been recorded and released by musicians in Brazil, Austria, the USA and Venezuela.Since his first European Tour as a bandleader in 1990 he has represented his music in 27 countries worldwide. He has been living fourteen years in New York and moved 2003 to Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Born and raised in Vienna, Rudi Berger began studying Classical Violin at Prayner Conservatory when he was 6 years old. At the age of seven he took up piano lessons for four years. His grandfather who was an amateur accordion player & folklore singer taught Rudi to play with him by ear. At age fourteen he started to improvise on the violin, wrote his first songs on the piano and played Rock & Blues guitar in School and Church bands. One year later he made his first public appearances and recordings with his mentor Blues guitarist & singer Al Cook and began jamming with his friends and musicians of the Viennese Gypsy scene. After finishing high school he played as a multi-instrumentalist/singer in a night club band for two years, alongside playing violin with classical and traditional Viennese Waltz orchestras and finishing his studies of classical violin at the Conservatory of Vienna.

Before moving to New York in 1986, Rudi had already created a stir within the European Jazz scene with his formations (Rudi Berger`s Good News, R.B. Group, R.B. Quartett and R.B. Project) and his three-year stint as soloist of the newly-founded “Vienna Art Orchestra”. He released his debut album “First Step” and was voted Violinist of the year in 1985 & 86 by the European magazine “Jazz Live”.

After one year living in the city the legendary jazz broadcaster WKCR invited him to play a "Live Special" with his first New York Quartet ( Joe Calderazzo, Mike Formanek and Adam Nussbaum).

In 1989 he has been performing the music of Astor Piazzolla at the American Music Theatre Festival (New York, Philadelphia, Charleston), under the supervision of the tango composer himself.

In the same year he met Brazilian guitar composer Toninho Horta whom he has teamed up with on more than 500 occasions.

In 1999 he held a post as guest professor of the University of Belo Horizonte (UFMG) for two years and moved 2003 to Brazil.

Over the years Rudi Berger has performed all over Brazil with many of the finest instrumentalists and singers and continues his journey writing new music, developing his violin styles and being involved in social projects supporting native Indians.

Rudi Berger's career development has seen him achieve his unique standing and musical style in the world of Jazz Violin and has resulted in him being considered one of the most original and trend-setting current voices of his genre.

Discography