Martin Listabarth is an exceptional musical storyteller, whose music begins exactly where words are no longer enough. Deeply rooted in jazz, his sound also moves within the tension field between classical and pop, all seasoned with a touch of oriental flair.
He draws inspiration for his compositions from landscapes and cities, people and personal encounters. The result is highly emotional music – at times melancholic, at times full of tension, then again witty and playful, enriched with harmonic and rhythmic subtleties that “recall the lively, songlike lines of Stefano Bollani”
With keys and pedals instead of brushes, Listabarth creates remarkable sound paintings, masterfully preparing his audiences for each piece with his engaging introductions.
His two solo albums, Short Stories (2019) and Dedicated (2022), as well as his two trio albums, Postcards (2023) and Live in Vienna (2025, recorded at the Vienna jazz club Porgy & Bess), have not only impressed the national media (ORF, Ö1, Die Presse, Der Standard), but have also attracted international attention: the British Pianist Magazine describes him as ‘one to watch’, BR-Klassik described him as ‘a musician who is highly recognisable both as a pianist and as a composer’, and he received a nomination for the German Record Critics’ Award.
Viennese pianist Martin Listabarth is now at home at jazz festivals and concerts around the world – his tours have taken him from Cairo to New York. He was nominated for the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 in the Best Newcomer category.
