Oliver Kent was born 1969 in Innsbruck, Austria. He studied classical piano with his father Fuat Kent in Vorarlberg, Austria. In 1987 Oliver Kent moved to Vienna and concentrated on jazz piano. Very quickly he received his first engagements with internationally known artists including Karl Ratzer, Art Farmer and Idris Muhammed.
From 1993 to 1995 he lived in New York City, where he worked together with the trumpeters Valerie Ponomarev and Eddie Henderson.
Oliver Kent is a well-known member of the Austrian/European jazz gallery. He has played together with musicians such as Sheila Jordan, Leo Wright, David Friedman, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Mark Murphy, Howard Johnson, Lou Tabakin, Clark Terry, Allan Praskin, Delfayo Marsalis, Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna, Jazz Big Band Graz, Gansch and Roses, Nguyen Le, Ron McClure, Bobby Shew, Pete Yellin, Ingrid Jenson, Alvin Queen, Vincent Herring, Bobby Watson, Jim Pepper, The New York Voices, Take Six, Ed Neumeister, Warren Vache, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Don Menza, Patti Austin, John Hollenbeck, Theo Blackman, Kurt Elling, John Hendricks, Bennie Mauphin, Grant Steward, Dusko Goykowich, Benny Baily, Dzihan & Kamien, Marianne Mendt, Mario Gonzi, Herwig Gradischnig, Roman Schwaller, Jimmy Cobb, Johnny Griffin, Paulo Cardoso, Andy Scherrer, Franko Ambrosetti, Benny Golson, Ferdinand Powell,…
He has played at european as well as at international Jazz Festivals in the USA, Turkey, Mexico, Mongolia, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Ukraine, South-Afrika, Serbia, Switzerland,…
In 2008 Oliver Kent co-founded with Uli Langthaler WORRY LATER.
Awards:
2007 first prize: “New German Jazz Award“
Hans Koller Preis 2004: “Best CD of the Year“
Hans Koller Preis 2002: “Sideman of the Year“
Teaching:
Since 2002, Professor for jazz piano at The Conservatory/Private Music University of Vienna
2007/08 Visiting Professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts of Graz
Additionally: Workshops for jazz piano in Austria and abroad.