MICHAEL DREXLER

MICHAEL DREXLER is an award-winning pianist and performer with two Grammy nominations to his name.

Born in Munich (Germany) Michael started his music education at the tender age of four and had his first regular piano lesson at age seven. As an eight-year old Michael was chosen for a national TV show as a singer and subsequently performed on television, radio and appeared on various recordings throughout Europe as singer and pianist for many years, including projects with Boney M., The Piano Blues Duo, The 1984 Olympic Games (Ralph Siegel), and many others.

Michael fell in love with ragtime, blues and jazz music early on after attending his first jam session at age twelve and soon thereafter started taking formal jazz piano lessons in additional to classical. Michael graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) with a degree in jazz piano performance after having finished his masters degree in music production & piano performance at the famous Hochschule für Musik Detmold (Germany).

Throughout his busy music career Michael performed nationally and internationally as a pianist and keyboardist, both as a featured soloist and sideman with various jazz, pop, rock and EDM acts. A few years ago Michael rediscovered his love for ragtime and early jazz and subsequently won medals at the "World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing" Contest., winning 5th place in 2016 and 3rd place in 2019.

Michael Drexler developed a unique style at the piano that combines soundscapes that bridge the gap between nostalgia of boogie woogie, ragtime, blues, jazz standards with the freshness of the future.  Michael has entertained crowds as big as millions of people to the humble intimate settings of piano bars. His influences range from Scott Joplin, Albert Ammons, and Meade Lux Lewis to Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and modern pop artists. Drexler says, “Some people speak through words, I speak through piano keys.”