Welcome to my website – thank you for looking me up!
My name is Robert Schönherr. I have been playing the piano for more than sixty-five years
and working as a jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger throughout my musical life.
In 2026, I celebrated fifty years as a professional performing musician. Since the very beginning of my career, I have enjoyed performing in a wide variety of musical settings and continue to be involved in many different projects. I am frequently invited to appear as a sideman, accompany vocalists, perform with big bands, and collaborate with smaller ensembles. Musical versatility has always been one of my greatest passions.
My motto is simple:
"I'm happy to play anywhere they'll have me."
Born in Vienna on January 3, 1958, I started playing around on the piano at the age of three and gave my first public performance in kindergarten when I was five. In 1976, I performed with the Zappa-inspired Viennese-based Hechzl Group, following Leonard Cohen's appearance during the festival at Vienna ́s legendary ”Arena”, which at the time was firmly in the hands of squatters. Looking back, that concert marked the beginning of my journey towards becoming a professional musician.
In the 1970s and 1980s, jazz-rock was my main musical home as a keyboard player. In 1977, together with guitarist Peter Legat, I founded the fusion band Incognito. The band remained active for twelve years and drew inspiration from leading fusion acts of the era, including the Chick Corea Electric Band, Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters, and, above all, Joe Zawinul's
Weather Report. With Incognito, we recorded two albums: Maracuja Uja (1983) and Naschmarkt (1985). During those years, I also performed with the group Ostinato.
Alongside my musical activities, I studied piano at the Vienna Jazz Conservatory with Fritz Pauer and Roland Batik while simultaneously pursuing medical studies. I completed my medical degree and earned my doctorate in medicine in 1983.
Over the years, I have performed with numerous bands and artists in a broad range of styles, including jazz, jazz-rock, Brazilian and Cuban music, soul, and funk. The driving force and inspiration of my musical work, however, has always been my own band.
The Robert Schönherr Trio, later expanded into a quartet and ultimately into the quintet it is today. It provides the creative home where I can develop and perform my own compositions and arrangements, as well as those of my fellow musicians. It ́s like being on a magic carpet ride.
What makes this ensemble particularly special is not only its musical quality but also the fact that its members are among my closest and longest-standing friends.
I find it simply the best band in the world.
As an artist, who could ask for anything more ?
Robert Schönherr Quintet – 2026
Robert Schönherr, piano
Joschi Schneeberger, double-bass
Mario Gonzi, drums
Herwig Gradischnig, tenor saxophone
Christian Havel, guitar
For concert dates, please see the „Termine“ section of my website.
For bookings and enquiries:
Classical Jazz Interpreted with a Modern Voice
Everything comes together beautifully: memorable melodies framed by warm, richly textured arrangements; expressive musical narratives that continually create atmosphere and momentum; A graceful, effortless tiptoeing swing, that seems to barely touch the ground and the playful elegance with which the musicians approach every performance. Spontaneous changes and subtle surprises are woven seamlessly into the music, keeping it engaging from beginning to end.
Robert Schönherr's goal is simple: to entertain his audience with sophistication, style, and musical substance - sophisticated without ever becoming overly intellectual. Together with his band,
he accomplishes exactly that.
Michael Ternai
MICA - Music Information Center Austria