Joja Wendt


Joja Wendt is a German jazz pianist and composer.

Education and early career

Wendt was born in Hamburg. The son of a female singer and a doctor, he began playing the piano at the age of four. He decided soon after leaving school at the Lise-Meitner-Gymnasium in Osdorf, Hamburg to turn to jazz. He then played regularly in the Hamburg music pub Sperl, where he was discovered by Joe Cocker. Cocker took Wendt as the opening act of his tour of Germany, so he became known quickly throughout the country.
Important stations were concerts with Chuck Berry, whose Germany tour he accompanied on the piano, or with the band Pur in the sold-out Arena Auf Schalke, and the soundtrack to 7 Zwerge – Männer allein im Wald. After working in the Dutch town of Hilversum and studying in New York City, he returned to Hamburg, where he now lives with his wife and two children in Groß Flottbek. In addition to his passion for jazz, blues and boogie-woogie, he also cares about early musical education of children.

Awards

Wendt was awarded a Louis Armstrong student award and has been included in the circle of Steinway artists by Steinway & Sons.

Discography