Welcome to the world of Cornelius Claudio Kreusch . Equally a world-class pianist, creative producer as well as successful entrepreneur, his passion is the music .

"One of the most important discoveries in jazz worldwide" (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

"A pianist, who sounds like no one else" (Boston Globe)

"The Alchemist" (France Ouest)

The classically-trained pianist Cornelius Claudio Kreusch (who studied with several teachers including Mordecai Shehori, a disciple of Vladimir Horowitz, & Claude-France Journés, a disciple of Francis Poulenc, among others) & jazz legends Jaki Byard & Mal Waldron is a graduate from Berklee College of Music (Bachelor of Music) in Boston & from Manhattan School of Music (Master of Music) in New York City . This Steinway Artist was selected as the youngest pianist for the Concours International de Piano Jazz Martial Solal in Paris in 1989 & was one of five finalists at the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 1994 .

He is the recipient of many prizes and awards including the Berklee College of Music's Jazz-Performance-Awards ('93 and '94), Manhattan School of Music's President's Award ('95 & '96) & Germany's Scala-Award ('99) for Artist of the Year, as well as the Jazzprize Burghausen, Jazzprize Bieberach & Munich's Cultural Award ("Kulturförderpreis München") . He also was the only European pianist to be a finalist at the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 1994 . He also won first prize in the jazz section at the International Songwriting Competition in 2005 .

Cornelius has performed at some of the most prestigious venues & music festivals including; the Blue Note, Steinway Hall & the Knitting Factory in New York, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Munich Philharmonic Hall, Théâtre des Halles in Paris, Fondacion Miro in Barcelona & the Centro de las Artes in Mexico City, various concert halls in Cuba & many other places around the world . He has performed & recorded with some of the most respected jazz musicians in the world including; Herbie Hancock, Salif Keïta, Miles Davis' last saxophonist Kenny Garrett, saxophonists Bobby Watson & Greg Osby, bassist Anthony Cox & drummers Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Will Calhoun (Living Colour) Terri Lyne Carrington & pianist Joachim Kühn (piano duo) among many others . He has recorded with several prestigious recording companies including; enja records, ACT music + vision and Arte Nova/BMG .

Cornelius Claudio Kreusch (or CCK amongst friends) also writes, records & produces under the ageis of Goldfinga, Pacific East, Bird Jaguar & Ocean Velvet, allowing him to extend his unbridled talents outside the scope of jazz to include; pop, classical, world, ambient, new age, & music for film . As part of a musical family, he also produces music for children with his mother - classical pianist, songwriter & author Dorothée Kreusch-Jacob & the CDs of his brother, classical guitarist Johannes Tonio Kreusch . As a business man & entrepreneur, Cornelius is the Founder & CEO of award winning digital music aggregator & global platform provider - MUSICJUSTMUSIC . A pianist “who sounds like no one else” (Boston Globe), CCK performed the first live internet concert on two pianos across the Atlantic together with Herbie Hancock back in 1995 . His goal is to unite the best in music of any genre with the best in technology for the future music business .

 

MJM Photography by Mark Higashino, on the fire-escape of CCK's loft on Bowery & Bond in New York City .