Bassist Frank Herzberg was born in East Berlin, the capital of former East Germany. In 1990, he began studying double bass at the Hanns Eisler Music Conservatory. While attending the conservatory, Frank won a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition and Performance. While at Berklee, he studied under late jazz pianist Charlie Banacos and trombonist Hal Crook. After returning to Berlin to finish his studies, he moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where he has lived since. After several years, Herzberg met and developed a relationship with Brazilian drummer Zé Eduardo Nazário and Brazilian pianist Alexandre Zamith, and the Frank Herzberg Trio was formed. In 2011, the trio recorded and released their debut album, Handmade. Stylistically, the album is a contemporary jazz trio format but with significant Brazilian and Latin influences. Dan Bilawski of All About Jazz stated that it is "a jazz album born in Brazil, rather than a Brazilian jazz album." The album was generally well received, with Matt Warnock of Guitar International stating that "the grooves are energetic" and "the improvisations [are] conversational and melodic. In May 2012, radio publicity companies AirPlay Direct and Powderfinger Productions announced that the Frank Herzberg Trio won their Jazz Radio Promotion Contest, which will result in a national radio campaign for the music on Handmade and for the trio.