Sebastian Schunke, born on May 16, 1973, in Göttingen, Germany, is a pianist and composer known for his contributions to jazz. He studied law at the University of Göttingen before moving to New York City to explore Afro-Cuban rhythms and study jazz piano at the Manhattan School of Music. Schunke's debut album Symbiosis (2000) introduced his Euro-Latin style, blending modern European jazz with American Latin jazz. Subsequent releases included Mouvement (2004), Vida Pura (2007), and Back in New York (2008) featuring Paquito D’Rivera. His 2018 album Elusive Beauty incorporated elements of 21st-century European avant-garde music, creating what is known as the "Fourth Stream." Schunke has won multiple awards, including the Berlin Senate's Jazz Prize and the Premio Internacional Cubadisco for Elusive Beauty. He has taught at institutions such as the Jazz Institute Berlin and the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
