Intimate jazz with an unmistakable sound
Bill Petry is a musician whose artistic vision extends far beyond the boundaries of jazz. His programs combine original compositions with surprising arrangements of pop acts and singer-songwriters – stylistically open, personal and always with a clear musical signature. Bill Petry stands out above all for his exceptionally warm, soft and “singing” trumpet tone.
This openness also characterizes his collaboration with artists from a wide range of genres: in addition to international jazz greats such as Riccardo Del Fra, Billy Hart and Till Brönner, he has also performed on stage with renowned classical musicians such as Daniel Hope and Lisa Batiashvili.
Growing up in Berlin as the son of parents from the artist and squatter scene, Bill Petry came into contact with a diverse record collection at an early age. As a child, he began to play the piano as a self-taught musician, learning melodies by ear and composing his first pieces. From the age of eight, he was a member of the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir and gained formative stage experience early on in major oratorios, concert tours and TV productions.
During Bill’s school days Till Brönner became aware of his extraordinary talent and gave him lasting support. This was followed by studies at the Berlin Jazz Institute with Gerard Presencer as well as formative lessons with Malte Burba, among others. At the same time, Bill Petry developed a busy concert schedule that took him to national and international stages. He tours regularly at home and abroad and has played concerts in Germany, France, Italy and China, among others.
The legendary bassist Riccardo Del Fra described Bill Petry as a “true poet” who touches his audience deeply. Till Brönner says of him: “I only have to hear two notes – and I know it’s Bill Petry.”
Bill Petry works just as convincingly as a composer as he does as an instrumentalist, for example for theater productions at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. His album “Close Your Eyes” (produced by Till Brönner) received high praise from media such as Jazz thing and RockTimes. As a trumpeter, he is now one of the most distinctive voices of his generation – a musician who doesn’t want to impress listeners, but to reach them.
On the meetMUSIC Open Air stage he plays in the line-up:
Bill Petry | trumpet
Christian von der Goltz | Piano
Olaf Casimir | Bass
Sebastian Merk | Drums
