Matti Klein

Matti Klein began playing piano at the age of ten. After joining a boarding school for aspiring musicians for a classical education, he continued his professional studies in the major of jazz piano at the University of Arts / Jazz-Institute Berlin with Prof. Wolfgang Köhler, Rolf Zielke and Hubert Nuss.

As a popular soloist and sideman in Berlin Matti Klein has had the pleasure of playing with extraordinary musicians such as Nils Landgren, Allan Harris, David. T. Walker and Gunther Hampel. He played keys and acted as musical supervisor for the Scottish disco-pop legend Jimmy Somerville (Bronski Beat, The Communards) on his first ever solo tour “Freedom To Dance” with a 10-piece live band. Due to the success of this tour Matti Klein was given the opportunity to produce the live album for BMG. Since 2013 he acts as musical director and keyboard player for worldwide performances with the Brazilian soul-jazz icon Ed Motta.

Matti Klein’s work has taken him to the world’s most renowned jazz locations, such as Blue Note Tokyo (Japan), Ronnie Scott’s London (UK), Highline Ballroom NYC (USA) and New Morning Paris (France) as well as being invited to international Jazz Festivals, including Leverkusener Jazztage (Germany), Jarasum International Jazz Festival (South Korea), Pori Jazz (Finland), Jazz in Marciac (France) and many more.

Matti Klein is not only a brilliant piano player. Moreover, the German magazine KEYBOARDS dedicated a four-part workshop series to his Fender Rhodes Style, which especially enthused listeners during ten years of international touring with the jazz funk quartet Mo’ Blow. The band released three albums on the renowned label ACT Music in collaboration with the Swedish trombonist, singer and funk activist Nils Landgren. Further studio work as a pianist and/or arranger can be heard on Edward Maclean’s album “Me & You“, De-Phazz “Garage Pompeuse” as well as Herbert Groenemeyer’s release “Schiffsverkehr“.

Matti Klein’s passion for vintage instruments such as Wurlitzer, Rhodes Bass, Clavinet and analogue synthesizers sparked the idea for his current soul-jazz project “Matti Klein – Hands on Soul”, a unique groove assembly of vintage keys, bass clarinet/sax and drums.

In 2011/2012 Matti Klein received a teaching assignment for directing the Big Band from the University of Arts and Conservatory „Hanns Eisler“ Jazz-Institute Berlin. Since 2017 he teaches ensemble performance and piano at the University of Popular Arts (hdpk) Berlin.