"the stylistic breadth of hamburg-born pianist/organist henning pertiet spans from pseudo-classical via contemporary to jazz, minimal music, rock and pop as well as indian music. asked about his main focus, he states that it is not about composing [...], but rather „about setting free energy, notes, resonance and experimental sounds with and without (compulsory) context.”...helmut peters writes in german organ journal.

this is a wonderful and accurate delineation of henning pertiet’s approach to improvised music!

henning pertiet (born 1965) is presently one of europe’s most expressive blues-pianists; winner of the GERMAN BLUES AWARD in 2017.
besides that he is a versatile and innovative improvisator on piano, synthesizer and pipe and church organs.

initially brought up close to hamburg and later in verden/aller (lower saxony), he has been exposed to and involved in music ever since he was born – be it at home where music was a part of everyday life, with the larger family (e.g. gottfried böttger was his uncle) or with friends and school mates.

unfortunately, all his teachers´efforts to engage him in a musical career ended with little to no success; piano lessons were taken, but stopped soon after without any significant success.

at age 23 henning pertiet discovers the boogie woogie-piano: a record by axel zwingenberger aroused such overwhelming feelings that he dedicated all his time and energy to become „conversant“ with this instrument. Success came quickly, in the forms of being engaged as piano player for the legendary austrian MOJO BLUES BAND, touring europe with them for four years.

back in germany he played many years as soloist with various instrumentations, leaving his footprint and building a reputation in the german as well as european blues & boogie scene.

in 2001– inspired by personal hardships as well as by his many acquaintances in modern jazz – pertiet started experimenting with free improvisation and also discovered how many jazzmusicians nowadays use electronic instruments.

henning pertiet is a musical autodidact; he plays exclusively based on profound feelings (which are perfectly connected to hearing) and with a very personal intention.