Long before the word multi-hyphenate made its way into the popular lexicon; it was already in use by those around Markus when attempting to describe him, “or something like that anyway," he jokes.
For much of his career, he has excelled at the art of juggling many roles, from musician to running a recording studio, or from signing new talent as A&R manager at a jazz label to being an educator and now, music entrepreneur. These roles make up just some of the many facets of his seemingly complex, high-energy persona.
It’s 8:30am and between sipping a cappuccino, his third this morning, reviewing a press release, speaking with his agent in Europe and closing a deal on studio equipment, he nervously hangs up one of the two phones in his hands and jubilantly announces that Reykjavik and Lisbon are now part of the itinerary in this year’s tour schedule.
Then, he suddenly takes a conversational detour, opens one of the two laptops on the table, and proudly displays an album of stunning photographs he has taken while on a recent trip with his family. Another talent.
Amid a string of subsequent detours and interruptions, and perhaps in a nod to his jazz background, he suddenly picks up our conversation just where he left off. Somewhere between another phone call and his daughter’s request for a refill on her milk, without so much as skipping a beat, he swings right back into the conversation.
Burger goes on to enthusiastically announce that his first jazz LP in a decade, 'Accidental Tourists: The L.A. Sessions,' has just been reviewed – and received four stars – from Downbeat Magazine and also by other well-known industry big names.
As the conversation meanders through a maze of topics with spellbinding speed, it becomes abundantly clear that a game of 20 questions might just be my ticket to finishing this interview.
What fuels your energy?
MB-I love what I do. Full stop. It’s not a job for me. It’s living out my passion. Everyday.
What inspired you to go into music?
MB-Many people in my family played an instrument, so it was an obvious choice for me.
But at 16, I made the decision to do it professionally because around that time, I discovered Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett and E.S.T.
Who were your greatest musical influences growing up?
MB-Jarrett and Metheny definitely. But also the Beatles, Police, Brian Eno, E.S.T., Miles and Stevie Wonder.
Was there an album growing up tha