About

I am a freelance pianist, composer/arranger and producer for World Music and Jazz. I am also a music educator at Codarts (Conservatory of Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Biography

Marc Bischoff, born in 1973 in Hannover, Germany, started classical piano lessons at the age of 6. When he was 11, he was tutored by Kurt Klose who had built up an impressive reputation as one of Germany’s finest Latin-pianists and music teachers. It was at this time, that Marc came into contact with the tremendously inspiring world of Latin Jazz and Afro Cuban music. Kurt Klose introduced him to the music of salsa-piano legend Eddie Palmieri, the virtuosity of Michel Camilo and Gonzalo Rubalcaba as well as to such jazz giants as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.

As an end result of these teachings and influences, in 1995 Marc enrolled in Europe’s only Latin-American music academy, the Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from which he graduated cum-laude in 2001.
While at the Conservatory, he was taught by Jan Laurens Hartong, Rob van Kreeveld, Michiel Borstlap, Leslie Lopez, Ilja Reijngoud, and Bart van Lier. Marc also followed master classes with Larry Harlow, Bobby Sanabria and Orestes Vilató among others.
In 1996, still while at the Conservatory and only in his second year of study, he was asked to perform with Europe’s best-known Latin-Jazz group Nueva Manteca, with whom he performed internationally.
In 1999, and while continuing his studies, Marc was asked to teach Afro-Cuban ensembles at Codarts. He was subsequently asked to also teach Afro-Cuban piano.

During his time with Nueva Manteca, Marc met Lucas van Merwijk who asked him to join his “Cubop City Big Band”. Additionally, around this same time, Marc joined the Netherland’s finest Salsa Orchestra “Rumbatá”.
Now, thirteen years later, Marc has performed with both bands in many countries in countless festivals and concert halls. He has also shared the stage with international Latin legends including Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros (Trumpet), Nelson Gonzales (Tres) and Andy Gonzales (Bass).

During this time Marc has developed into a well respected Latin Jazz / Salsa arranger and producer. As such, he has arranged and composed many songs for the Cubop City Big Band, Rumbatá, Rumbatá Big Band, Nueva Manteca and Gerardo Rosales, as well as for the European Broadcasting Union-Big Band and the respected Metropole Orchestra.
He arranged and co-produced Nils Fischer’s critically acclaimed debut album “Gracias Joe Cuba” with the participation of Alain Perez, Pepe Espinosa and Brian Lynch, as well as Fabian Nodarse’s debut album “Renacer” and the new sensational salsa duo “Doble Jugada”.

Marc currently performs with Curaçao’s most well known singer/songwriter Izaline Calister.

The release of his own debut CD “Later is too Late” in 2009 marks a new period in his career, exploring the territories of World Music and Jazz with a completely new sound of jazz trio playing.