Results for "piano"

Jan Lundgren

Born: March 22, 1966

Lundgren, born in Kristianstad in southern Sweden on March 22nd 1966, and raised in Ronneby, Blekinge, had his first piano lessons at age five. He was soon discovered to have an exceptional musical talent. After a long period of classical training, he discovered jazz more or less by chance in the late 1980’s. He was instantly hooked, rapidly absorbed the jazz piano tradition from Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner to Bud Powell and Bill Evans, and acquired a depth of knowledge of the Great American Songbook like possibly no other European jazz pianist. While sailing through his studies at the renowned Royal College of Music in Malmö, he also took up a busy schedule as a professional musician that quickly helped to build his reputation in Sweden

Jacques Loussier

Born: October 26, 1934

Jacques Loussier was born in Angers, in northwestern France, October 26, 1934. He started playing piano at the age of ten and quickly demonstrated tremendous ability. When Loussier was just sixteen, he entered the Conservatoire Nationale de Musique in Paris where he studied with Professor Yves Nat whose youthful compositions were praised by Faure and Saint-Saëns, and whose prodigious gifts as a pianist were encouraged by Debussy. Continuing this distinguished lineage, Loussier was to become one of Nat’s most accomplished pupils, heading the conservatory’s piano class of over five hundred students before leaving to commence a freelance career that included travels to South America and the Middle East as well as work as accompanist for Catherine Sauvage and Charles Aznavour. In 1959, Loussier hit upon the idea that was to make his international reputation, combining his interest in jazz with his love of J.S

Mike Longo

Born: March 19, 1937

Mike Longo began his professional career at the age of fifteen in South Florida where he began working with his father’s club date band around the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. He actually began playing piano at the age of three in Cincinnati, Ohio his birthplace. By the age of four, the family took him to the Cincinnati Conservatory where he began formal lessons with a teacher. The family later moved to Ft. Lauderdale when he was at a very early age where he grew up and began playing boogie woogie piano. His professional career took roots after winning a local talent contest at the age of twelve.

Cripple Clarence Lofton

Born: March 28, 1887

Cripple Clarence Lofton - Boogie woogie Pianist (1887 - 1957) Although he figured in the boogie woogie craze of the ‘20’s and ‘30’s and was much celebrated by the early jazz collectors of the 78 rpm era, Cripple Clarence Lofton has suffered from historical obscurity, known but to the die hard audiophiles who delve deep into the origins of this piano genre. Cripple Clarence Lofton’s name is synonymous with energetic boogie-woogie and deep blues piano. Though his style was not highly sophisticated, actually unusually eclectic, his playing was lyrical and infectious. In addition, he more than compensated with his voice, his songs and his stage presence

Joe Locascio

Joe LoCascio, a native New Yorker, has resided in Houston since 1977. A prolific performer/composer, he has twelve recordings to his credit, many of them having attained prominent radio airplay nationally and abroad. He has performed and/or recorded with jazz luminaries such as Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Ernie Watts, Tim Hagans, Conrad Herwig, Marvin Stamm, George Coleman, and George Mraz among others. Jazz critics nationwide have acclaimed him as one of the finest artists on the contemporary scene. He is currently Assistant Chairman of Jazz Studies at Houston Community College where he teaches Piano, Jazz History, Jazz Ensemble and Improvisation Theory (follow this link to view syllabi). LoCascio performs and records with his trio

Little Richard

Born: December 5, 1935

One of the original rock & roll greats, Little Richard merged the fire of gospel with New Orleans R&B, pounding the piano and wailing with gleeful abandon. While numerous other R&B greats of the early '50s had been moving in a similar direction, none of them matched the sheer electricity of Richard's vocals. With his bullet-speed deliveries, ecstatic trills, and the overjoyed force of personality in his singing, he was crucial in upping the voltage from high-powered R&B into the similar, yet different, guise of rock & roll. Although he was only a hitmaker for a couple of years or so, his influence upon both the soul and British Invasion stars of the 1960s was vast, and his early hits remain core classics of the rock repertoire. Heavily steeped in gospel music while growing up in Georgia, when Little Richard began recording in the early '50s he played unexceptional jump blues/R&B that owed a lot to his early inspirations Billy Wright and Roy Brown

Little Willie Littlefield

Born: September 16, 1931

Little Willie Littlefield began his career as a recording artist at the age of 16 for Eddie's Records in Houston. His first recording "Little Willie's Boogie" was a hit in Texas. In Houston Willie recorded 8 tracks for Eddie's Records and Freedom Records in 1948/1949. While in Houston, word reached the Bihari brothers (owners of the Modern-label in Los Angeles) about a teenage wonderboy pianist who was currently breaking up at the Eldorado Ballroom. Before leaving Houston Jules Bihari had already inked a contract, recorded Littlefield's first side "It's Midnight" and arranged for Littlefield to come to the West Coast. When Littlefield arrived in L.A.later that month "It's Midnight" was a big hit (peaked at 3) in the charts nationwide and he was booked in L.A.'s Melody Club and in Johnny Otis' famous Barrelhouse in Watts

Jason Lindner

Pianist Jason Lindner has been a fixture in the New York jazz scene since the mid-90s when the venerated Greenwich Village club, Smalls, became the home for a new generation of forward-thinking jazz musicians. Lindner's large ensemble performances quickly became the focal point for critics who frequently wrote about the club, and record label representatives eagerly tried to capitalize on the buzz. Lindner regularly drew sold out crowds on Monday nights at Smalls, something more established musicians could only accomplish on weekends. This earned them their Imulse records debut on Jazz Underground/Live At Smalls, which led to their full-length release on Chick Corea’s Stretch label, Premonition

Kirk Lightsey

Born: February 15, 1937

Kirk Lightsey’s profound pianisms originate from the Motor City. Kirk LIGHTSEY was born into Detroit 's rich music scene on February 15, 1937. He grew up in a town known for its jazz pianists, which included Hugh Lawson, Sir Roland Hanna, Barry Harris, Hank Jones and Tommy Flanigan, whose brother gave Lightsey his first piano lessons at the age of six. He then took lessons with Glady's Wade Dillard, who also taught pianists Barry Harris, Alice McCloud and Tommy Flanagan. At Cass Technical High School Hugh Lawson and Paul Chambers introduced Kirk to playing jazz. They all performed in the school orchestra, which included Ron Carter and Kiane Zawadi

Joe Liggins

Born: July 9, 1915

The top selling R&B record of the year 1945 was pianist Joe Liggins’ “The Honeydripper,” which followed the trend started by Louis Jordan of smaller jump bands recording for the growing radio market. This period also saw the expanding importance of Los Angeles as an influential music city. Joe Liggins was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma on July 9, 1916. After attempting to learn various brass instruments, Joe Liggins settled down to study musical composition and piano arrangement. After moving to California in 1939, he began writing for and playing with local bands, graduating in the 40s to the respected units of Cee Pee Johnson and Sammy Franklin; he was working with the latter when, in 1945, he left to form his own group, the Honeydrippers