My name is Mads Baerentzen (b. 1974). I grew up in a very musical family and my sister is the violinist Birgitte Bærentzen Pihl. I started playing the violin at age 5 and when I turned 13, I switched to classical piano. After a few years I discovered jazz and decided to follow that path instead.
I studied at The Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark and graduated as the first jazz musician in Denmark with a Master Performance Degree in June 2001. Furthermore, I lived in New York in 1999 where I studied with the American pianist Kenny Werner.
Since I graduated I have played in many different groups besides being a leader of my own trio, The Mads Bærentzen Trio, since 1997. Among many others I have had the pleasure of performing with great artists such as Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, John Abercrombie, Tim Ries, Donny McCaslin, Sienna Dahlen, Chris Minh Doky, Cæcilie Norby, Marie Bergman and Alex Riel.
I have performed in most parts of the world including Thailand, USA, Canada, Australia, Russia, Greenland and most of the countries on the European continent.
Currently, I am a member of the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (fka. Kluvers Big Band) and Veronica Mortensen Band besides working on my own projects. See more information about my discography, pictures ao. in the Biografi mm menu.
Furthermore, I have played a number og solo concerts during the last 3 years, primarily with a repertoire of old Danish psalms and folk songs, which I have prepared in new, contemporary arrangements including improvisational elements. I have released two albums with this material "Se, Nu Stiger Solen" from 2012 and "Natten Er Så Stille" from 2015.
In the beginning of 2016 I furthermore release a big project for Danish school children based on the idea of singing together in the schools around the country, which have become more and more rare. I hope this project will bring back the focus on the beautiful Danish song tradition and give the children a possibility of getting to know it a lot more.
You can also see my concert schedule under "Koncertkalender".
Contact: madsbaerentzen@youmail.dk
