solomon lindenberg 

pianist/composer

about


official bio


Solomon Lindenberg is a pianist, composer, improvisor and educator originally from Door County, WI and currently based in Chicago, IL. Solomon can be seen and heard playing in groups around Chicago and the greater midwest including his own trio, the progressive quartet “Folkus,” which he co-leads, as well as with a range of other musicians including Ernest “Khabeer” Dawkins, Ted Sirota, Katie Ernst, Dustin Laurenzi, and more. He has performed at some of the great midwest jazz venues including the Jazz Showcase, Hungry Brain, the Jazz Estate, Berlin, Merriman’s Playhouse, and Epiphany Center for the Arts. While mainly an exponent of the jazz tradition, he is also largely influenced by European classical, gospel, folk, rock and avant-garde musics, and seeks to weave stories with his playing that incorporates the traditions of the vast range of music he loves.



the real story


I was born in 2002 in Green Bay, WI. I spent my childhood spending a lot of time outdoors. I was the 3rd baseman on my little league baseball team. I was the home run leader in my final two seasons. I retired from my promising baseball career to pursue playing the piano. Many of my peers and coaches considered this a grave mistake. Nonetheless, I refused and dreamt I would reach a similar status and glory in music as I had attained in little league baseball.

I am mostly self-taught. I never took piano lessons as a child. I skipped lunch at school and went to the music room to try and figure out how to play by ear. I learned all the music that was around me. During this time I fell in love with the music of Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, J.S. Bach, and Miles Davis.

Throughout high school I played in church, in local bands, and solo piano gigs. After graduating high school I moved to Chicago to study jazz piano at Columbia College Chicago and then the University of Illinois-Chicago. While I am largely self-taught, mentorship has been very important to my development. I have had the opportunity to study in varying capacities with world renowned artists including Reggie Thomas, Tia Fuller, Larry Goldings, Bill Carrothers, Dennis Luxion, Sebastian Huydts and Melissa Aldana. I studied in college with Peter Saxe and Dr. Michael Stryker.

I also teach piano. I believe that the most essential thing about being a musician is to have a deep love of music, a love of playing, and a love of learning. My musical journey has been characterized by hours and hours of experimentation, trial and error, learning by ear, and finding value in mistakes. My job as a teacher is to instill all of these things into my students.

I have lived in Chicago since 2021 and currently reside in Logan Square.