Rob Burger | Biography

Composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist piano, accordion, organ, vibraphone, marimba, dulcimer, celeste, glockenspiel, melodica, toys, chamberlin, synthesizer, harmonica, zither, banjo, steel guitar, ukulele, orchestral arrangements.

Born in New York, composer and performer Robert Burger built his musical reputation in the Bay Area during the 1990's, after having received his formal education at the University of Massachusetts in improvisation and classical piano. It was en route to the West Coast that Robert picked up the accordion as a natural extension of his piano studies, and shortly thereafter that he kicked off his professional career toting his squeezebox alongside the other Bill Frisell Band members on the jazz luminary's North American and European tours. Robert subsequently co-founded the Tin Hat Trio with whom he toured extensively, and co-produced, co-wrote, and recorded four full-length records on various labels. In the meanwhile, Robert utilized his multi-instrumental capabilities performing and recording with a diverse range of artists including Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Lucinda Williams, Antony, Laurie Anderson, Iron & Wine, Peruvian singer Susana Baca, and John Zorn. At the end of 2002, after returning to the East Coast, he released a recording of his own compositions entitled "Lost Photograph" on the Tzadik label. A remarkably versatile musician, Robert has written children's piano music through commissions from the NEA, and has also applied his textural and colorful palette of sounds to the musical world of film, TV, radio, theater and dance. In 2006, Robert was appointed as musical arranger for the Leonard Cohen documentary "I'm Your Man," and has contributed his musical prowess to several other acclaimed films such as "The Treatment," 2006, "Everything Is Illuminated," 2005, and "The Good Girl," 2002. Robert has also composed for the multi-media retrospective "Timescapes: A Portrait Of New York," which now remains a permanent fixture at the Museum of the City of New York. He currently lives in Brooklyn.