In 1987, the pedagogical institute in Weingarten, Germany awarded a scholarship for a one-year exchange program at the University of Alabama to one of their students, jazz pianist Monika Herzig. Together with her partner and guitarist Peter Kienle, she arrived in the States on a one-way ticket, with one suitcase of belongings and one guitar in August 1988.
Since then she has completed her Doctorate in Music Education and Jazz Studies at Indiana University, where she is now a faculty member. As a touring jazz artist, she has performed at many prestigious jazz clubs and festivals, such as the Indy Jazz Fest, Cleveland’s Nighttown, Louisville’s Jazz Factory, the W.C.Handy Festival, Jazz in July in Bloomington and Cincinnati, Columbus’ Jazz & Rib Fest, to name just a few. Groups under her leadership have toured Germany, opened for acts such as Tower of Power, Sting, the Dixie Dregs, Yes, and more.
Recently she has received her third “Individual Artist Grant” from the Indiana Arts Commission in support of her newest CD project. Her previous release In Your Own Sweet Voice – A Tribute to Women Composers has received much praise. Thomas Garner from Garageradio.com writes, “I was totally awed by the fine musicianship throughout”. As a recipient of the 1994 Down Beat Magazine Award for her composition “Let’s Fool One” and with several Big Band Arrangements published with the University of Northern Colorado Press, Herzig has also gathered international recognition for her writing skills.
The current repertoire of the Monika Herzig Acoustic Project includes originals and arrangements of standard repertoire, such as Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend”, Kern/ Hammerstein’s “The Song Is You”, and Charlie Parker’s “Yardbird Suite”. The Monika Herzig Trio can be heard every Thursday and Saturday at Rick’s Cafe Boatyard at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis. For current tour listings and sound samples/ videos visit www.monikaherzig.com.
Distinctive originals and well-chosen standards reveal Herzig's warmhearted, reflective side and her cleverly playful nature.
Nancy Ann Lee
Jazz Times contributor and co-editor of MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide
“A lovely example of a thoroughly schooled, thoroughly modern jazz pianist.”
Cherilee Wadsworth Walker, Eastern Illinois University
The lady can get down and play! John W. Patterson, AAJ Fusion/ Progressive Editor
Check out the Monika Herzig Acoustic Project Ringtones
I noticed you enjoy playing music around Bloomington: Please stop by the Colorado SteakHouse in B-town (Every Thurs. 6-10pm) if you want to perform a song or two?
Hey MOnica! Great to hear from you!! I hope you and your had a great NEw YEars!! We are getting back on track from the holidays and have all sorts of stuff coming up. Would love to hear the new acoustic project out here soon! Hopefully we will all make it out to see you at the STation. Take care! We will be in touch soon! BEst of Luck to you and yours for 2008!
Was at the Studio on Saturday night and the music was wonderful! Just so sorry there wasn't a larger crowd there to enjoy it. Hopefully we will be able to hear you again soon! You spoke with my husband and son but I didn't get a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed it.
Thanks Again!!
Hey, great stuff. Thanks for stopping by. You can check out our brand new CD of original music on iTunes or at http://cdbaby.com/chamberjazz or http://chamberjazzensemble.com/. Keep on making great music!
"We are at the moment when our lives must be placed on the line if our nation is to survive its own folly. Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest,"
Martin Luther King, Jr.
yeah, monika. it was great playing with you again last weekend. hope you get back to nyc before the iaje convention sight is back here again. have a great rest of the year. cheers, st
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