Results for "piano"

Martin Bejerano

Born: March 9

Martin Bejerano, a native of Miami, Florida, has been active as a professional musician since the age of fifteen, when he began his performance career playing George Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" concerto with the Mexican-American Bi-National Symphony while still in high school. A graduate of the esteemed New World School of the Art, he received a full scholarship to attend Florida State University, where he studied classical piano with Leonidas Lipovetsky, and jazz piano, composition, and arranging with Bill Peterson, whom he cites as one of his most important influences. He then went on to receive a Master’s degree from the University of Miami, also under full scholarship

Wynne Alexander

She’s played for Pearl S. Buck of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize fame and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. It's Jazzed. It's Blues. The Cabaret crowd is very pleased. Cosmopolitan Rock will do but why quibble. Just let her play. Rock legend Richie Havens said, "She's a one woman show. There's a Broadway aspect to her that is unmistakable." Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Message Music Founding Father, two-time Grammy winner Kenny Gamble said, "Given only one word, 'Strong' best describes Wynne’s music, her performances and lyrics. Her record as a voice for social justice is equally bold and impressive..." Began life as an investigative journalist, says training in a newsroom was the best music conservatory possible, just finished writing a history book on the Civil Rights and Protest Movements where she convinced 17 music superstars to donate their lyric and sound rights to better illustrate the study

Melani Skybell

While breakthrough ability may not be a word, according to Webster, Melani L. Skybell's musical talent certainly should compel the editors of today's New World Dictionary to consider adding it to the book. Her repertoire includes traditional jazz numbers, sultry ballads, swing standards, bossa novas, pop classics, and her original jazz-pop compositions. With a new, unique sound of her own, Ms. Skybell's style stands apart from other entertainers and their treatment of those familiar favorites. Melani L. Skybell is a vocalist and classically trained pianist, who began her musical journey at age 5

Don Switzer

Over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults privately and in schools. I am good with children and experienced teaching them. Lessons are tailored to each individual. My rates are very reasonable. I have a BA in music and nearly completed MM (Master of Music in Composition).

Linda Presgrave

Born: October 12, 1951

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

Joan Stiles

Born: June 1

Pianist/composer Joan Stiles has been gaining recognition for her highly creative approach to the jazz tradition. She recently joined the roster of pianists who have appeared on Marian McPartland’s PianoJazz show and she was profiled on WBGO’s hour-long “Jazz from the Archives” broadcast. Her 2nd CD, Hurly-Burly garnered a 4-star review from Downbeat Magazine and topped JazzWeek Radio charts. Ted Panken writes, “Joan Stiles possesses the chops, craft, imagination, wit and sophistication to be mentioned iwith the most distinguished descendants of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Mary Lou Williams.” Stiles’ 3rd CD, Three Musicians (Fall 2011 release on Oo-Bla-Dee records) is an adventurous trio outing with repertoire ranging from standards, show tunes, Monk, Strayhorn, Mary Lou Williams to Beatles and Clapton. Highlights include collages on LOVE— “In the Sunshine of My Funny Valentine’s Love” and MONEY — "“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” meets “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Stiles' compositions, "West End Boogie," a soulful rhythmic odd-meter blues, and her Gillespie/Dameron- inspired "Bebopicity" add to the eclectic mix. In Pablo Picasso’s iconic Cubist masterpiece “Three Musicians,” the Spanish painter constructs a joyous geometric collage portraying himself and two close friends as a carnivalesque combo

Pablo Ziegler

Born: September 2, 1944

Pablo Ziegler is an Argentine composer based in Buenos Aires and New York City. He is currently the leading exponent of nuevo tango, thanks to the skills and reputation he gathered while working extensively as Astor Piazzolla's regular pianist from 1978 until the maestro's retirement for health reasons in 1989. In 1985 Ziegler composed the music for the film Adios Roberto, and in 1990, he established the New Tango Quartet. His playing style, both sharply percussive and metallically lyrical, is instantly recognizable and bears some similarities to that of Vladimir Horowitz as well as some of the wistfulness of Bill Evans

Jamba

Born: October 23, 1979

"The first time I sat at the piano, it was literally like something magical happened. Maybe it sounds corny, I dont know; but it was one of those life-changing experiences for me. I knew I had to do this for the rest of my life." Jamba (a.k.a. Jammes Castro) isnt given to hyperbole. After his childhood introduction to the piano he promptly set about dedicating his life to the instrument with such a fierce commitment that now, still only in his mid 20s, the New York based singer/songwriter/musician has amassed the kind of credentials seasoned artists twice his age would be proud to have on their resume. "A lot of great things started to happen me as a teenager when I left New York," explains Jamba, who was born in a small town in Brazil, just outside Sao Paolo, to a musician father and hairdresser mother. "First, I moved to South Florida where I played in a lot of different bands and ended up meeting the bassist Abraham Laboriel (George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones)

Alex Clements

Alex Clements; so many adjectives can be used to describe the many facets of this talented, creative, well-rounded Canadian jazz pianist and composer. Clements is an internationally recognized artist, performing in the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, Morocco, and Cyprus. One of Clements’ highest accomplishments is an Alberta Achievement Award, which was presented to him by the Government of Alberta However, this is only the beginning of his accomplishments; Clements holds a Master's degree in Jazz Performance from McGill University and a Bachelor's degree in Arranging from Berklee College of Music

Ezra Weiss

Born: January 16, 1979

Composer/pianist Ezra Weiss is “a bold, inspired figure in the contemporary jazz arranging scene.” (DownBeat) He has released seven albums as a bandleader: The Five A.M. Strut (2003), Persephone (2005), Get Happy (2007), The Shirley Horn Suite (2010), Our Path To This Moment (2012), Before You Know It [Live in Portland] (2014), and We Limit Not the Truth of God (2019). All of these albums have received substantial national and international acclaim from the press, and have spent significant time on the JazzWeek Radio Charts.