Addison Frei
Ever since Addison Frei (“Fry”) began playing piano professionally at age ten in local restaurants around Lawrence, Kansas, he has garnered accolades far beyond his years. The New York-based pianist has won first prize in several competitions including the 2017 Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, the 2016 UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa, the 2015 American Jazz Pianist Competition in Melbourne, Florida, and the 2012 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. He has released two albums on Armored Records, Intentions (2014) and Transit (2016), featuring frequent collaborator and Manhattan Transfer co-founder Janis Siegel. His latest recording on TCB Records-The Montreux Jazz Label will feature a new trio comprised of bassist Tamir Shmerling and drummer Mario Gonzi.
Frei also co-leads AMP Trio, contributing compositions to Three (2017), m(y)our world (2015), which rose to #24 on the Jazz Week charts, and Flow (2013). AMP Trio recently completed a Japanese tour and alongside vocalist Tahira Clayton, was selected as the winner of the DC Jazz Prix, earning a DC Jazz Festival performance in 2018. With his 2016 single and music video “Postcard”, Frei again teamed up with Clayton, this time expanding into a broader production palette. Following in this sonic path, he explored political themes in a digital EP, Future Speak (2017).
Frei currently holds the piano chair in the Juilliard Artist Diploma Ensemble, regularly performing and touring with the conservatory’s flagship jazz ensemble. In New York he has held residencies at the Kitano and the Cell Theatre. Frei performed a concert series at the 2017 Lucerne Piano Festival. He was also a featured soloist with Drew Zaremba’s Unity Orchestra in Dallas. Frei headlined the 2015 Wichita Jazz Festival and brought his group to the Dallas Museum of Art. He has toured alongside vibraphonist Christian Tamburr, Felix Peikli and Joe Doubleday’s “Showtime Band”, and the Charles Turner Quartet. His acclaimed compositions have earned him invitations to Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead and Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute. Frei is a two-time recipient of the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award sponsored by ASCAP. He served as musical director of B-Side Productions’ Adding Machine and The Wild Party.
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Album Review
- My George Jones Songbook by William H. Snyder
- House of Mirrors by Jerome Wilson
- Our Highway by Jack Bowers
- Elegant Traveler by David A. Orthmann
- Truth by Jack Bowers
- Realization by Hrayr Attarian
- Elegant Traveler by Dan McClenaghan
Photos
Albums
Where Is your Wealth
From: Our HighwayBy Addison Frei
It Could Happen To You
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
The Last Hour of February
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
On A Clear Day
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
Red
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
Frost
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
Here's That Rainy Day
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
What If
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
The Hudson
From: Truth (Seth Weaver Big Band)By Addison Frei
Realization
From: RealizationBy Addison Frei