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J. R. Spencer

J R. Spencer: Jazz Vocalist/Pianist, Musicologist and Teacher

About Me

J. R. Spencer is an internationally recognized jazz pianist/vocalist musicologist/author, music coach and artist developer. He currently resides in Long Beach, CA. He is the owner of Spencer Music and Artist Development [spencermusicschool.com] where he currently coaches students of all ages/levels in: piano, keyboard, harpsichord, voice, acting, violin, viola, mandolin, theory/comp, musicology, kindermusik and music therapy.

As a jazz pianist and vocalist he has premiered throughout the US, Canada and Caribbean. As a recording artist his last album “Blue Gardenia” featured original cool jazz solo piano arrangements of standards inspired by film noir. His upcoming album due out in January 2014 is entitled “Ragtime Elegance” and features standards by Scott Joplin and rare classical rags from the 1901-1912.

As an author, recording artist and performer, J. R. is a specialist in Cool Jazz, Exotica, Stride and Brazilian. He wrote the first book on Julie London entitled; LADY LIBERTY: THE DEFINITIVE JULIE LONDON HANDBOOK. He also wrote a book that addressed the German stage collaborations of the composer Kurt Weill entitled: AN HISTORICAL STUDY OF KURT WEILL'S DER SILBERSEE. Both books are available for sale at Amazon.com Look for his upcoming book entitled Postcards From Shangri-la: The Definitive Biography of Martin Denny.

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