An evening that sparks with energy: When internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso and Grammy winner Marian Petrescu takes the stage alongside the brilliant bassist Joel Locher and drummer Felix Schrack, the result is a trio that uniquely blends classical elegance, explosive energy, and timeless jazz aesthetics.

Anyone who has heard Marian Petrescu play will have noticed the influence of the great Canadian master Oscar Peterson. Petrescu and his fantastic trio infuse Peterson’s style and finesse—as well as that of other pianists—with their own artistic touch, incorporating contemporary influences such as Pat Metheny alongside original compositions by Petrescu himself. A special highlight features excerpts from classical works by composers including Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart, performed in specially crafted arrangements. These adaptations reveal new sonic perspectives on famous works without sacrificing their poetic depth or dramatic tension.

Born in Bucharest in 1970, Marian Petrescu comes from a large family of musicians. He began playing the piano at the age of four. He pursued his studies at the Conservatory for Classical Music and Jazz in Sweden and subsequently at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Building on a solid classical foundation, he developed a successful career as a jazz pianist—clearly inspired by Oscar Peterson—marked by international acclaim.
Petrescu has performed with world-renowned jazz greats and appeared at major festivals, including the Montreux Jazz Festival. It is not without reason that his mentor in Paris, Martial Solal, calls him the "Horowitz of jazz piano." He has played with legends such as Toots Thielemans, Didier Lockwood, Ulf Wakenius, Ray Charles, and many others. He also won a Grammy as a member of the Resonance Big Band.

Joel Locher (Bass)
Hailing from Stuttgart, he is a highly sought-after and respected double bassist active in modern jazz, Gypsy jazz, classical music, Brazilian music, and more. He studied classical double bass at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart.
Furthermore, he has performed and collaborated with ensembles such as the Stuttgart Philharmonic, the Bachakademie Stuttgart, and the German Pops Orchestra. He has worked with musicians including Martin Taylor, Howard Alden, Ludovic Beier, André Ceccarelli, Pee Wee Ellis, Roby Lakatos, Dusko Goykovich, Biréli Lagrène, Jim Rotondi, Scott Hamilton, Charly Antolini, Giovanni Weiss, Marius Preda, Harry Allen, Gerd Dudek, Philip Catherine, Shihiro Yamanaka, and Stochelo Rosenberg—as well as with the Marian Petrescu/Joel Locher Trio, Gismo Graf Trio, Jermaine Landsberger Trio, Gee Hye Lee Trio, and Wawau Adler Quartet, among others.
He has toured extensively throughout Europe and internationally, performing in Japan, Canada, Korea, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa.
Joel Locher’s debut album, *Intensity of Bass*, was released on the GLM label in late 2018, and his new CD, *Live at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen*, was released in June 2022.

Felix Schrack (Drums)
After completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s studies in jazz in Stuttgart, Kraków (Poland), and Würzburg, he developed his own drumming style alongside outstanding fellow musicians. Moving away from the role of a mere accompanying instrument, he evolved into a melodic and musical counterpoint—while always remaining in the service of the music being played. Tours across Europe with musicians such as Tony Lakatos, Jim Rotondi, and Matthias Schriefl, along with concerts featuring Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Fola Dada, Gregor Hübner, and many other brilliant artists, have taken him to countless jazz clubs and festivals. Marian and Joel have shared a long-standing musical friendship since they first met—the trio has been touring worldwide for eight years (having first crossed paths at the 2015 Cosmopolite Jazz Festival in Oslo).
Their debut trio album was recorded live in 2021 at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, featuring legendary drummer Alex Riel.

Graceful improvisations, moving ballads, classical pieces, original compositions, and distinctive favorites from the American Songbook—a pianistic tour de force that transforms the stage into a world-class concert experience.