Linda Presgrave

Linda Presgrave, jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, relocated to New York City in 1998 leaving a very active music career in her native city of St. Louis. Since that time, Linda has released four CDs on the Metropolitan Records label with her newest release being "Along the Path" (2015). She continues on a mission to bring attention to compositions by "inspirational jazz artists who happen to be women". Linda has performed on prestigious jazz festival stages including the “JVC Jazz Festival, New York”, the “Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival” at the Kennedy Center (Astoria Big Band), “Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola” (Jazz at Lincoln Center), “World Forum on Music” (Los Angeles), “VI. Festival International de Musique Catalogne” (Ceret,France), “Many Colors of a Woman” (Hartford, CT) and ControCanto: Donne in Jazz (Fondazione Adkins Chiti: Donne in Musica) Rome and Frascati, Itay. When not performing with her own group she is in the piano chair of Carol Sudhalter’s Astoria Big Band and also with a new group “Ladies Day” led by MJ Territo that features music and lyrics by women.

Before arriving on the New York jazz scene, Linda performed with her own group, After Six Jazz, at the finest jazz venues in St. Louis including Jazz at the Bistro and Just Jazz. At the same time, she worked with the Sessions Big Band, the Modern Vintage Jazz Quartet and the Kim Portnoy Jazz Orchestra. As a former professional French Horn player, she performed regularly at the MUNY, FOX and RIVERPORT theaters in orchestral settings behind top entertainers, world class ballet ensembles and national theatrical productions.

Awards

Affton School District - Education Foundation - HALL OF FAME - March 5, 2011

Tags

Album Review

The Journey by Terrell Kent Holmes
Inspiration by Woodrow Wilkins

On "Along the Path" - (2015)

“Along The Path, which is filled with colorful solos and rich melodies, is one of Linda Presgrave’s finest recordings and is a strong step forward for the talented pianist-composer”. ~ Scott Yanow (Jazz Author)

"If it's solid piano and all original jazz you're yearning for, look no further than this excellent album from Linda!" ~ Rotcod Zzaj On her newest CD, Linda Presgrave takes the listener along on a musical journey from several ports of call in Asia to the Catalan region of France. The 10 original tracks by Presgrave capture the sights, sounds and impressions along her emotional, musical and spiritual path. Tracks 1-10 were composed by Linda Presgrave. *Track 11 “Universal Freedom” by Stan Chovnick. Linda Presgrave – piano, Harvie S – bass, Allison Miller – drums & gongs, Stan Chovnick – soprano sax, Todd Herbert – tenor sax, Vincent Herring – alto sax, MJ Territo – voice/lyricist

On "Along the Path" - (2015)

"The entire session is rich with warm melodies and good feeling making Along the Path one of Presgrave's best outings yet!" ~ D. Oscar Groomes

On Various CDs:

Quotes from Reviewers

On INSPIRATION :

“She (Linda Presgrave) has the potential to make a major impact on the jazz world, with the highly enjoyable and creative music of Inspiration inspiring other musicians to develop their own voices.” ~ Scott Yanow – Jazz author

“Pianist Linda Presgrave is a talent awaiting discovery by the jazz public….Highly recommended.(INSPIRATION) ~ Ken Dryden – All Music Guide

“Pianist Linda Presgrave delivers a gem of a recording proving what inspired play can produce, music that jazz audiences will enjoy and critics will rave about.” ~ Edward Bianco – Ejazznews.com

“A smart, tasty set that covers a lot of ground, Presgrave knows her way around the keys and delivers the goods. A nice find for piano fans on the prowl for something new that’s sure to tingle their ears.” ~ Chris Spector - Midwest Record

“Together this band grooves hard, listen hard and play memorable, forward thinking modern jazz.” (“Inspiration”) ~ Tom Chandler – JazzReview.com

On THE JOURNEY : "With her lyrical playing and a stellar ensemble, Presgrave adeptly mines the secular and spiritual side of the music while paying homage to her heroines." ~ Terrell Holmes - All About Jazz/New York

“The main star, however, is Linda Presgrave, whose piano style is pretty original and whose five songs are worth exploring.” Recommended. ***** ~ Scott Yanow - ALL MUSIC GUIDE

On IN YOUR EYES: "Linda Presgrave is truly a discovery who is pouring her heart into her first recording of national distribution." ~ Don Williamson - 52nd Street Jazz

“She (Linda Presgrave) tells beautiful stories in the music she writes” ~ John Stubblefield (Saxophonist)

“The St. Louis transplant Linda Presgrave, a probing, resourceful mainstream pianist with an impressive debut album, In Your Eyes, prowls the bebop landscape for all the stylistic diversity it can offer.” ~ The New Yorker

“Linda Presgrave shows that she is one of the finer young pianists in the modern mainstream of jazz today.” ~Scott Yanow - Jazz Heritage Society

Show less