Born in Schötz/LU, lives in Aarau. Peter Schärli began playing the trumpet at the age of ten. He attended the Swiss Jazz School in Bern, graduating with a diploma in 1981. Since then, he has made an outstanding name for himself as a professional musician with his own bands, as a versatile sideman in a wide variety of ensembles and styles, and as a composer of theater music. His diverse engagements have taken him to music and theater festivals in Europe, India, the former USSR, Africa, Central, and South America. Peter Schärli taught for 40 years as a lecturer (professor) at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Music (formerly Jazz School Lucerne).

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Schärli brings his signature clarity and transparency to all his projects. Thanks to his many years of experience with regular working bands and constant practice, he has achieved an impressive sound culture and makes it clear that in the end, only one thing counts in music: spirit. His improvisations are not based on scale drills, but on melodic intuition that brings form and feeling together. This is what makes his music so compelling and beautiful.

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He currently works primarily with his own bands:​

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Peter Schärli Trio featuring Glenn Ferris

Thomas Dürst (b), Glenn Ferris (tb), Hans-Peter Pfammatter (p), Peter Schärli (tp)​

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Quartet 9321
Hans Feigenwinter (p), Wolfgang Zwiauer (b), Norbert Pfammatter (dr), Peter Schärli (tp)​​​

 

Schärli & Zytynska «duoplus»

Peter Schärli (tp), Sylwia Zytynska (perc)​​​

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Schärli-Moreira-Feigenwinter
Juarez Moreira (g), Hans Feigenwinter (p), Peter Schärli (tp)

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Peter Schärli double vision
Lars Vindvall (tp), Peter Schärli (tp), Vince Benedetti (p), Hämi Hämmerli (b), Elmar Frey (dr)

 

Peter Schärli: «So auch!»
Elian Zeitel (voc), Madlaina Küng (b), Ben Jeger (acc), Peter Schärli (tp), Samuel Schärli (dr)​

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Blooming Rhythms
Chris Jaeger (perc, fender rhodes, comp), Michael Jaeger (ts), Peter Schärli (tp)