Anne Sajdera

As a pianist, composer, bandleader and accompanist, Anne Sajdera is a creative force whose music encompasses an unusually far-flung array of traditions. With musical roots spanning the globe, she melds American and Brazilian jazz to her training in European classical music, creating an utterly personal sound that’s melodically verdant, harmonically sophisticated and rhythmically compelling.

Created from a chance meeting at a jazz club in Prague 2014, Anne Sajdera’s newest project, New Year, was released in November of 2018 and features two award-winning young composer/instrumentalists from Prague: Miroslav Hloucal (trumpet) & Jan Fečo (alto sax), a special guest appearance by the renowned sax player Bob Mintzer, as well as some of the finest musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area. Produced by Ray Obiedo & released by Bijuri Records, DownBeat Magazine chose it for the December 2018 Editor’s Pick list and Jazz Station Blog included it in the 2018 Best Instrumental Jazz Albums list. The ensemble performs original compositions, driving arrangements of traditional Roma melodies, as well as music of modern jazz masters like Herbie Hancock & Kenny Kirkland - at times lyrical, at times angular, yet always rooted in the rhythm, this ensemble reveals a skillful and inspiring sound that reaches musically across two continents and several cultures. 

A regular Bay Area presence since 2001, her trio depicts the unique flexibility of the piano trio format with virtuostic arrangements of Brazilian and American repertoire as well as original compositions. Co-produced by Ray Obiedo and released by Bijuri Records in 2012, her first CD project, Azul, highlights her exquisite touch, rhythmic acuity, and melodic resourcefulness. The project received a place on one of JAZZIZ Magazine's 2012 Top Ten Critic's Polls, Latin Jazz Corner's Great Latin Jazz Albums from 2012 and features the legendary percussionist Airto Moreira, among others. With the dynamic rhythm section pair, Gary Brown (bass) & Deszon Claiborne (drums), the trio is currently performing in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.

A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, pianist/composer Anne Sajdera received a B.Mu. in Composition. She has performed in many of the Bay Area’s most frequented venues including The California Jazz Conservatory, Herbst Theater, Piedmont Piano Company and SFJAZZ, with her own ensemble as well as with Bay Area luminaries Terrence Brewer, Alexa Weber Morales, and Sandy Cressman, among others. In 2020, just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, she performed with Hindustani master violinist Kala Ramnath for the Global Fusion concert in Dubai. 

Sajdera has received a grant from Intermusic SF to fund her next recording project scheduled to be released in 2023.

Awards

Musical Grant Award from InterMusic SF 2018 Jazz Station Blog's Best Jazz of 2018 Number 5 for Acoustic Piano 2018, Jazz Station Blog Jazz Magazine's 2012 Top Ten Critic's Poll: Azul Latin Jazz Corner's Great Latin Jazz Albums, 2012 Number 5 for Best New Talent 2012, Jazz Station Blog

Gear

Pleyel, P124 Upright; Kurzweil PC1x, Nord Electro 3