Jazz Articles about Claire Ritter

Claire Ritter: Waltzing The Splendor

by Dan McClenaghan
September 15, 2007

Pianist/composer Claire Ritter's expansive artistic vision comes into sharp focus on her ninth CD release, Waltzing the Splendor.

It's music that won't slip into a neat category, though “classical jazz"--if you must apply a label--might be as good a fit as you'll find for her highly melodic approach. And that sharp focus is laid out on a very wide screen, employing everything from delicate classical beauty to Monkish angles to rollicking stride grooves.Here, as on her ...

Claire Ritter: Greener Than Blue

by Dan McClenaghan
November 17, 2004

Dichotomy prevails on pianist Claire Ritter's Greener Than Blue --rhythmic blues motifs versus peaceful impressionism; rags vs. tone poems; alternating west and east atmospherics; the rent party vying with the parlor. And still it holds together, thanks to the music's spare beauty and Ritter's always interesting melodic vision.Ritter delivers here on solo piano and in a reed/piano/drums trio with the occasional added viola, erhu, and various exotic percussion. The set starts out with a sort of mini-suite, a ...

Claire Ritter: Castles In The Air & River Of Joy

by Glenn Astarita
November 1, 2001

Charlotte, NC-based composer/pianist Claire Ritter has earned numerous awards from various organizations while also teaching at the “New England Conservatory of Music” and garnering kudos for her works, which have been recorded by some of jazz’ best and brightest.

On Castles in the Air, Ms. Ritter spins a symmetrical web consisting of slightly disparate motifs that align into a cohesive series of frameworks, namely with the four-part, “Opus 17: New Southern Symphonic Suite for Modern Dance.” On this piece, Ms. ...