Uli Geissendoerfer
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Uli Geissendoerfer

Department(s)
Music

Biography

German-American pianist, composer and educator, Uli Geissendoerfer, originally from Munich, is a versatile and remarkable musician exploring rhythms and melodies across many styles of music, with a special emphasis on World, Jazz and improvisation. He worked with among others William Cepeda (awarded a Grammy nomination), Groove Collective, Giovanni Hidalgo, Blood Sweat & Tears, Leslie Uggams, Tito Puente, Cirque du Soleil, Kofo the Wonderman, Ute Lemper, David Cassidy, several symphonies, the Connecticut Opera and more.

His current projects include, “Colors” a World Jazz Quintet, the “Beregovsky Project”, a duo with fabulous award winning violin virtuoso Alicia Svigals and “Bangalore Breakdown” (first release “Diary”), an Indian World Jazz project featuring Premik Russell Tubbs. Premik and Uli also just recorded a Duo CD ”Passport to HappYness’” released last Fall.

In 2009 he moved to Las Vegas where he was the conductor, pianist and bandleader with the Cirque du Soleil production “Viva Elvis”. He resurrected the Latin Jazz Ensemble at UNLV which since won downbeat awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (1st place). Aside from initiating a lecture series at the university, serving as curator for the Steinway Concert Series, he also founded the “Jazz Club at the Dispensary Lounge” (winning Best of Las Vegas) which is in it’s 4th year having been graced by luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Brandon Fields, Sam Most, Rick Margitza, Dick Griffin, Danny Gottlieb and more.