Critics have called Carney an inventive composer and compelling musician" (John Murph, JazzTimes), a smart keyboardist and a broadly imaginative conceptualist and composer" (Nate Chinen, New York Times) and a strong-minded musician and composer whose work sweeps up the full history of American music (jazz, pop, classical) and turns it into something special and personal" (Will Layman, PopMatters.com). AllAboutJazz-New York's Terrell Holmes adds, His excellent composing transcends the established musical borders and stares down current definitions of what jazz should be."
Born and raised in Syracuse, Carney spent 18 years in Los Angeles working as a jazz musician and film/television composer before moving to New York in 2004. A former rock/pop keyboardist, classically trained tuba player and student of such notable jazz figures as John Carter, Charlie Haden and James Newton, he has developed a distinctive poly-stylistic approach to making music, which treats tradition and the avant-garde with equal regard. Highlights of his two-decade career include numerous awards, commissions and grants, five recordings as a leader, and collaborations/sideman work with Tim Berne, Gerald Cleaver, Nels Cline, Ravi Coltrane, Christian McBride and Tyshawn Sorey among many others.
2009 Spring Jazz Series Schedule:
03/20: Julian Lage Group
03/27: Jimmy Greene Quartet
04/03: Pete Robbins/Mario Pavone/Tyshawn Sorey
04/10: George Colligan Trio
04/17: Wadada Leo Smith's Organic Resonance
04/24: Noah Preminger Quartet
05/01: Michal Attias Quintet
05/08: Peter Brtzmann/Nasheet Waits
05/15: James Carney Group
05/22: Michael Musillami Trio + 3
05/29: Ben Allison & Man Size Safe
06/05: Carl Maguire's Floriculture
06/12: Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher
For more information contact Improvised Communications.