Beat’s scrapbook

Beat's Scrapbook

Beat pictures hanging

The early years

Beat Zimmermann, the 1967-born Swiss started his musical career receiving classical piano lessons starting at the age of 10 after having played the recorder for 4 years and showing significant musical talent. He soon was able to play some rather difficult pieces on the piano, such as pieces from Moussorgsky's "pictures at an exhibition" and Tchaikovsky's "seasons" or Beethoven Sonatas.

Despite wanting to join the conservatory of music at the age of 20 as a pianist, Beat reluctantly decided to pursue a career in aviation/air traffic control instead, mainly due to the lack of his family's support for his musical ambitions. In 1986, he co-founded the neo-prog rock band Carol with a friend, reaching the 1988 Swiss finals (8 out of over 300 bands) of the Yamaha Live-for-Tokyo contest.

Becoming pro

By 1994, Beat left Carol to explore new musical horizons. In 1996, he enrolled at the Swiss Jazz School (now part of Bern University of Arts), studying piano under Immanuel Brockhaus and drums as a secondary instrument. As a freelancer, he performed with various jazz bands, including his own trio with Lorenz Beyeler on bass and Martin Stadelmann on drums, averaging 80+ gigs annually. His talents took him to festivals in Jamaica, France, and Italy with the University of Bern’s Big Band.

Beat playing frame
Pintings hanging frame

Addicted to fusion

Fusion was Beat's main interest so he founded the 5-piece band "Actual Proof" with drummer Martin Stadelmann and fellow student André Rossier. Actual Proof played fusion tunes written by Dave Weckl, Steps Ahead, Al Jarreau, Scott Henderson, John Scofield and the likes. In the mean time the band had to be renamed to "Proof Coalition" as some other artist started to use the name "Actual proof". The band is however currently not active.

For his own educational institute in aviation, Beat produces instruction videos, for which he also writes and performs the music in his recording studio.

Playing with well-known artists

Over the past two decades, Beat has lent his skills as a sideman to artists like Ronan Keating, the Bellamy Brothers, Matthias Reim, DJ Ötzi, and Nik P.. Though less active on stage in recent years, he’s remained prolific in his studio, producing music.
Keating etc
My pic on a table with frame

New album "every picture tells a story"

 

In 2024, Beat teamed up with a group of world-class musicians for a prog-rock album, Every Picture Tells a Story, featuring nine original compositions, tentatively set for release in late Q3 2025. “The songs blend my fusion influences with my prog-rock roots. I’m thrilled with the phenomenal musicians involved—they’re doing an outstanding job,” Beat shares.