Results for "piano"

Roberto Fonseca

Born: 1975

Cuban music is currently enjoying a thriving renaissance; musicians from all over the island are performing in the world’s most prestigious venues, and pianists are undoubtedly the stars of this varied Cuban musical offer. Theirs is a golden generation, with renowned virtuosos displaying incredible technical prowess, and who’ve captured and charmed us. However, in the last decade, until now no one has emerged that is capable of brings together virtuosity and technique, and plays a music imbued with passion; with a unique, wordless voice that evokes feelings and makes us travel through different landscapes, a constant journey entering and exiting the island, without the need for a specific destination. Born into a musical family in Havana in 1975, Roberto Fonseca remains faithful to the wish he has had from the beginning of his career: "I want my music to reach people who don’t know me, and I dream of one day becoming a reference for my audience…” He started studying piano at the age of 8, though his initial passion was percussion

David Michael Lee

Born: March 27, 1959

Portland pianist David Michael Lee has released the CD  "Harbor Morning"  introducing nine original songs featuring Jeff Leonard (bass), Carlton Jackson (drums), John Bishop of Origin Records (drums) and Michael Bard (saxophone).   The songs Celebration, Multnomah Falls and Out Of Limbo are upbeat Pop/Jazz fun.  Silhouette is perhaps the Smooth Jazz "hit" with the amazing soprano sax work of Portland's Michael Bard.  Lee demonstrates his strong film score-esq composing skills with the title song Harbor Morning, Wildlife, Sun On The Horizon and others.   David Michael Lee began his professional career in Portland at the age of 14 playing jazz pipe organ at the Organ Grinder Restaurant

Elio Villafranca

Born in the Pinar del Río province of Cuba, Steinway Artist, Grammy Nominated, and 2014 Jalc Millennium Swing Award! recipient pianist and composer Elio Villafranca was classically trained in percussion and composition at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba.

Since his arrival in the U.S. in mid 1995, Elio Villafranca is at the forefront of the latest generation of remarkable pianists, composers and bandleaders. In 2015, Mr. Villafranca was among the 5 pianists hand picked by Chick Corea to perform at the first Chick Corea Jazz Festival, curated by Chick him self at JALC. Elio Villafranca’s new album Caribbean Tinge (Motema), received a 2014 Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik Nomination by the German Records Critics Award, as well has been selected by JazzTimes and DownBeat magazines for a feature on their very competitive section Editor’s Pick. He also received a 2010 Grammy Nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year category. In 2008 The Jazz Corner nominated Elio Villafranca as pianist of the year. That year, Mr. Villafranca was also honored by BMI with the BMI Jazz Guaranty Award and received the first NFA/Heineken Green Ribbon Master Artist Music Grant for the creation of his Concerto for Mariachi, for Afro-Cuban Percussion and Symphony Orchestra. Finally, his first album, Incantations/ Encantaciones, featuring Pat Martino, Terell Stafford, and Dafnis Prieto was ranked amongst the 50 best jazz albums of the year by JazzTimes magazine in 2003.

Chano Dominguez

Born: 1960

Though the association of flamenco music and an instrument is primarily the guitar, Chano Dominguez has been steadily taking his jazz approach on the piano head on into the genre with brilliant results. "In jazz you improvise with a structure in the background and in flamenco [the improvisation] is part of the form. In flamenco, in a soleá, or in a bulera, the guitarist doesn't know what the cantaor is doing until the moment comes, and the cantaor doesn't know the falseta (variation, or melodic phrase, interspersed between successions of chords) that the guitarist is going to play for him." Chano Dominguez is one of the jazz musicians that have been "recruited" by flamenco, although, at least in this instance, Chano had already had flamenco training, as the guitar was the first instrument that he learned to play, by ear

Scott Gwinnell

Born: June 14, 1974

Scott is a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger residing in the Metro-Detroit area of the United States. He is also an educator, a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo, in Ohio. He is the jazz piano instructor there as well as a teacher of jazz improvisation, arranging and composition, ensembles, and jazz history. Scott also the music director and accompanist for jazz vocal legend, Jon Hendricks, and his vocal group, Vocalstra. As a performer, Scott has has performed, recorded, and/or toured with internationally known musicians such as: Dizzy Gillespie- trumpeter, co-creator of bebop Jazz with Charlie Parker Jimmy Heath- saxophonist, innovator of hard bop Jazz Terry Gibbs- vibraphonist legend Billy Hart- drummer, one of the world's most requested sidemen since 1970s Claudio Roditi- trumpeter in the tradition of Dizzy Gillespie Marcus Belgrave- trumpeter, long-time member of Ray Charles group

Fern Lindzon

Born: December 10

JUNO Award nominee, Fern Lindzon has just released her 4th CD (November 2024) as a member of  TRYPTIQUE with Colleen Allen (flute/saxophones) and George Koller (bass). Combining the fluidity of jazz improvisation with the precision of chamber music, Tryptique brings an innovative sound that spans centuries, embracing Baroque, bop, blues, and beyond, with a distinct nod to Canadian composers. https://www.fernlindzon.com/tryptique/

Lindzon is a muti-faceted pianist/vocalist/composer with a technique Whole Note Magazine called “intricate, yet commanding”, and her latest CD Two Kites, “breathtakingly beautiful.” Montreal critic Irwin Block writes that Fern is a “rare and fascinating talent”, and the Los Angeles Jazz Scene’s Scott Yanow describes her as having “a warm and haunting voice along with excellent technique on the piano and an adverturous spirit.” Fern's highly original arrangements fly gracefully on the winds of contemporary jazz.

Arturo O'Farrill

Born: June 22, 1960

2015 Grammy Nominee & 2014 Latin Grammy Award Winner Arturo O'Farrill, an Winner of the Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award for 2003, was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. In 2002, Mr. O'Farrill and Wynton Marsalis created the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for Jazz at Lincoln Center due in part to a large and very demanding body of substantial music in the genre of Latin and Afro Cuban Jazz that deserves to be much more widely appreciated and experienced by the general jazz audience. His debut album with the Orchestra "Una Noche Inolvidable" earned a GRAMMY award nomination in 2006. Educated at the Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn College Conservatory, and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Mr. O'Farrill played piano with the Carla Bley Big Band from 1979 through 1983. He then went on to develop as a solo performer with a wide spectrum of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole, The Fort Apache Band, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte.

Marc Hoffman

Born: April 16, 1961

Marc Hoffman is an composer and performer of jazz, film, concert, theatrical, pop, choral, and gospel music. As a pianist and vocalist, Marc performs 200+ dates per year with a repertoire of original jazz and piano instrumental, and his own arrangements of standards, ballads, and pop. He most often performs with his trio, but works as a soloist and with other ensembles as well, at concerts, festivals, clubs, and other public and private events. Marc’s music has been performed across the US and in the UK and Europe by orchestras, and other ensembles and soloists.

In November 2024, Marc released Telegraph, a concert piece for woodwind trio, which was recorded in Lviv, Ukraine. A string quartet was also recorded in Lviv, by members of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine. These pieces and other concert works are published by Ludwig Masters Publications, and distributed by Alfred Music.

Dennis Hughes

Freelance jazz pianist. Berklee Grad '87 Jazz Composition. Piano/Keyboards performance, instruction, writing and arranging. Leader of the band Brass Force. Brass Force is a 20 year established 9 piece, high energy, funk and R&B band located in Rhode Island. Available for clubs and private funcions.

Jacob Koller

Born: March 9, 1980

At the age of 4 Jacob Koller began studying classical piano. At age 5 he gave his first piano recital and before entering high school he won over 10 classical piano competitions (including the Arizona Yamaha Piano Competition). In high school he devloped a new passion for jazz and improvisation. He began working professionally in the Phoenix area from the age of 14, playing with the finest jazz musicians in the valley including Dennis Roland, Jesse Mcguire, Margo Reid, Dwight Killian, Dom Moio, and Fred Forney. He attended Arizona State University on a full jazz scholarship and studied under Chuck Mahronic. He has also studied privately with world class pianists such as Kenny Werner, Fred Hersch and Uri Caine and has performed all around the globe with the likes of Mark Dresser, Terrence Blanchard, Tony Malaby and Martin Denny.