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J. R. Spencer
J R. Spencer received a double emphasis Master and Bachelor of Music in piano and vocal performance from California State University, Fullerton (1995, 1992), a performance degree in Harpsichord from Royal Academy of Music, University of Victoria, B. C. (1989) and is a fellowship London College of Music Exams coach in piano, voice, strings and musicology/theory.
As a pianist/vocalist Mr. Spencer has entertained for jazz clubs, resorts, and cruise lines throughout the US, Canada, and Caribbean. His favorite genres of performance in jazz include: Cool Jazz, Brazilian, Exotica, Stride and Classical Ragtime. His last album "Blue Gardenia" contained original cool jazz piano arrangements of songs from film noir classics. His upcoming album "Ragtime Elegance" contains rags of Scott Joplin and rare rags from the years 1900- 1912.
J. R. Spencer is the author of the first book on Julie London entitled: LADY LIBERTY: THE DEFINITIVE JULIE LONDON HANDBOOK. He is also the author of: AN HISTORICAL STUDY OF KURT WEILL'S DER SILBERSEE. Both book s are available for sale through Amazon.com
Awards
CSUF keyboard areas highest honors: (95) Piano Master Classes: Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Andrej Dutkiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy First Place: Chapman University Piano Concerto (92) MTAC Young Artist Series Newport Jazz Festival Performer
Tags
Backgrounder: Leon Spencer - Bad Walking Woman
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
After reviewing Wonderful!, Mike LeDonne's new organ jazz album yesterday, I was drawn to my favorites from the late 1960s and early 1970s. To give you a feel of this jazz period, I thought I'd select a few lesser-known gems. Today, I'm featuring Leon Spencer Jr.'s Bad Walking Woman. Recorded in 1972, this LP was Spencer's third studio album as a leader. The compositions, all by Spencer: Hip Shaker Down on Dowling Street In Search of Love If You Were ...
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Backgrounder: Leon Spencer's 'Louisiana Slim'
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Leon Spencer Jr. was and remains my favorite organist. In the early 1970s, he was part of Prestige's stable of soul-jazz musicians who recorded relentlessly as leaders and sidemen on other artists' albums. One of my first albums purchased, in 1971, was Spencer's Louisiana Slim. Backing Spencer were Virgil Jones (tb) Grover Washington, Jr. (ts, flute), Melvin Sparks (g) Idris Muhammad (d) and Buddy Caldwell (congas)—the classic Prestige lineup at the time. Bob Porter produced and the engineer was Rudy ...
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Earle Spencer: Early Progressive
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
The start of progressive orchestral jazz can be traced to the day Igor Stravinsky became a naturalized U.S. citizen in January 1946. The aristocratic Russian composer was at the forefront of modern classical music and long had ties to American classical institutions. After being sponsored for citizenship by actor Edward G. Robinson, Stravinsky was shrewd enough to move to Los Angeles and network with a wide range of prominent avant-garde artists, poets, writers, actors, choreographers and musicians who settled there ...
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Jazz this week: Ken Page, Miller, Mulkerhar & Lefkowitz-Brown, C. Spencer Yeh & Andrew Lampert, Mark Lettieri, Anat Cohen & more
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
It's a busy week for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with performances in styles ranging from cabaret to vintage jazz to fusion to experimental intermedia and beyond. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, April 4 Singer, actor and St. Louis native Ken Page, now living back in his hometown after a distinguished career on Broadway and in film, will perform his cabaret show for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro . Page (pictured, ...
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Jazz Of "Many Colors" By Joyce Spencer New CD Pre-Order
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Joyce Spencer
Dallas/Ft Worth entertainer and independent recording artist, Joyce Spencer, is back with her much anticipated second CD release entitled Many Colors, bringing the many colors of jazz from traditional to contemporary and smooth to funk/fusion, along with three covers (John Coltrane, Billy Cobham and Billie Holiday) and seven original tracks. The original music, including lyrics, were all written and produced by Joyce Spencer, and the CD is slated to be released on January 15, 2015. No matter what “groove", Joyce's ...
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Jazz Crooner Spencer Day's New CD Receives Rave Reviews
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Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
San Francisco, CA - The music press worldwide is buzzing with excitement about the release of jazz/pop crooner Spencer Day's critically acclaimed CD Daybreak! Spencer Day is widely regarded for his original songs that blend compelling melodies, smart lyrics and lush arrangements. Audiences around the world have enthusiastically supported Spencer for over ten years at venues as diverse as Birdland in New York, the Hollywood Bowl, Jazz Alley in Seattle, the Pacific Rim Jazz Festival in Manila, the Kennedy Center ...
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Jazz And Pop Crooner Spencer Day Readies New CD "Daybreak" Featuring Both Standards And Originals
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
Los Angeles, CA - Acclaimed singer/songwriter Spencer Day returns to his musical roots with his fifth full-length album Daybreak, and his first independent album in seven years. His past two albums were released on the legendary Concord/Jazz label. With Daybreak, Spencer has created an album of signature interpretations of well-loved songs from the 1960’s along with five brand-new compositions written in homage of these classic American tunes. There was a time, a sound, a feel, and a sensibility that defined ...
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Jeremy Spencer Announces 2014 US Tour & New Release Coventry Blue
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Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
Dublin, Ireland: Jeremy Spencer’s fans in the US have long been waiting for his return. In fact, except for a few brief US appearances (in 2006 and 2010), 43 years have passed since Jeremy last toured the US (with Fleetwood Mac in 1971). Jeremy announced today that he is scheduled to tour the US in February and March of 2014, initially booking venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. Jeremy has launched a Kickstarter Campaign offering advance ...
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New CD From Original Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Jeremy Spencer To Be Released Worldwide On August 28, 2012
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
San Francisco, CA: On April 21st, legendary guitarist Jeremy Spencer, an original member of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and featured artist on Propelz, released a limited edition double vinyl album titled 'Bend In The Road' for International Record Store Day. The release packs a “vintage vibe” by way of Jeremy’s handmade touch, fusing his artistry as a consummate slide guitarist, singer/songwriter, interpreter, and illustrator. His evocative watercolor graces the timeless gatefold ...
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Leon Spencer Jr. (1945-2012)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Leon Spencer Jr., one of the most melodically funky organists during Prestige's Hammond B-3 era in the early 1970s and whose voicings and guitar-like touch on the instrument provided a powdery groove behind lead horn players, died on March 11. He was 66 and lived in Houston. Spencer's recording career began in 1968 but didn't become significant in small-group settings until Lou Donaldson's Pretty Things in June 1970. Spencer's style wasn't as bombastic as Charles Earland's nor was it as ...
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Primary Instrument
Piano
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Spencer Music and Artist Development All Ages/Levels Areas: Piano, Keyboard, Harpsichord, Voice/Acting, Violin, Viola, Mandolin, Music Theory/Ear Training, Music Composition/Theory, Musicology, Kindermusik (ages 5-10), music therapy. WEBSITE: spencermusicschool.com Email: [email protected] Messages: 562 394 2694 Open M-T, Thurs-Sun Specialized Jazz Coaching: Piano, Keyboards, Voice
