Besides Bernward Koch created piano-based instrumental-compositions, enriched with keyboards, flute, guitar and percussion, with a relaxing, metaphorical character and his discernible tuneful signature, always with a strong melody. In 1989 he signed his first recording contract by the Erdenklang Label in Hamburg for a solo project under his own name. With his debut album "FLOWING" Bernward Koch had a successful debut in the USA in 1990, when he received a strong airplay especially from the major California radio stations THE WAVE in Los Angeles and KKSF in San Francisco and popularized the music of the still unknown German pianist. Koch`s fame began to ascend when his song “Ever returning” was chosen for two Aids-benefit-compilations, by chairman Elisabeth Taylor, initiated by the radio stations KKSF and THE WAVE. He contributed his track besides artists like Bonnie Raitt (Nick of time), Al Jarreau (One way), Sting (Fragile), Lauren Wood (Fallen, from the motion picture Pretty Woman), Dave Grusin/Lee Ritenouer (Early a.m. attitude), Eurhythmics Dave A. Stewart + Candy Dulfer (Lily was here), Bob James/David Sanborn (Maputo), Ottmar Liebert (Heart still beating) and Yanni (Once upon a time). In 1992 an important step in his career followed. His record “LAGUNA DE LA VERA” stayed high in the american Billboard New Age charts for a couple of months. Simultaneously it became one of the most highly acclaimed instrumental records of the year in various other countries.
The US organization "Massachusetts Fallen Soldiers" uses his music to heal suicide-prone soldiers who have come back from crisis areas in different places in the world and often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Also you hear his music in movies, e.g. in SHANIKO, the title of an award-winning motion picture of 2008 with Melissa Goad. His composition “Childhood Hour” from the WALKING THROUGH CLOUDS record is sounding. Shaniko is concurrent the name of a ghost town in Oregon where the movie was shooting. Nobody, who knows Koch`s music, will be surprised by his success: the artist composes pieces of outstanding formal maturity with an astonishing musical finesse. For Bernward Koch himself music means telling stories.
His piano-based arrangements are always marked by a tasteful balance of natural and synthetic sounds. The exqusite flute playing of melodies performed by his wife Christiane Böhm has over the years become a trademark feature in his sound which is enriched with the organic pulse of a percussionist and guitar player, Bernward`s brother Christoph.
"Bernward Koch's music unfolds a soothing and seductive charm", say the press. And he says: Music gives wings to a brighter life.
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