Results for "piano"

Satoko Fujii

Born: October 9, 1958

Pianist and composer Satofko Fujii is one of the most original voices in jazz today. For more than 25 years, she has created a unique, personal music that spans many genres, blending jazz, contemporary classical, rock, and traditional Japanese music into an innovative synthesis instantly recognizable as hers alone. Her wide-ranging compositions can incorporate the simple melodies of folk song, the harmonic sophistication of jazz, the rhythmic power of rock, and the extended forms of symphonic composers. As an improviser, Fujii is equally wide-ranging and virtuosic, mingling explosive free jazz energy with delicate melodicism and explorations of the piano’s timbres and textures. “Fujii’s music troubles the divide between abstraction and realism. . . . All of this amounts to abstract expressionism, in musical form. But it’s equaled by her rich sense of simplicity, sprung from the feeling that she is simply converting the riches of the world around her into music,” writes Giovanni Russonello in the New York Times. 

Dave Frishberg

Born: March 23, 1933

It's difficult to find a category for Dave Frishberg's songs. The New York Times described him as "the Stephen Sondheim of jazz songwriting", and The London Daily Telegraph called him "a Woody Allen of song".

Long known as one of the outstanding pianists in jazz, Frishberg has since the early 1980s established himself as an internationally recognized composer and lyricist as well as a solo performer with a loyal following in both jazz and cabaret circles. Four of his albums have won Grammy nominations for best jazz vocal.

Frishberg's unclassifiable but ever-identifiable songs, including cult classics Peel Me A Grape, I'm Hip, You Are There, My Attorney Bernie and Heart’s Desire, are now widely performed and have been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Diana Krall, Bette Midler, Suzannah McCorkle, Tony Bennett,and many others. The New York Times critic Stephen Holden wrote about Frishberg, "Few contemporary writers have produced as many songs that have been embraced by nightclub cognoscenti. In the refinement of his language, he is equalled only by Stephen Sondheim among contemporary American songwriters."

Don Friedman

Born: May 4, 1935

Don Friedman was born May 4, 1935, in San Francisco. His parents loved classical music and they owned a piano. Under their guidance, Don started playing at age four. He began lessons at five with a private teacher named Katherine Swint. Though he had no exposure to jazz at this time Don taught himself to improvise. When he was 15, his family moved to the San Fernando Valley in Greater Los Angeles. Two years later he began to head regularly for the Hollywood Palladium to hear the bands of Les Brown, Stan Kenton and Billy May. That fueled his love for jazz. Kenton soloists Lee Konitz, Conte Condoli, and Frank Rossolino inspired Don as he transformed his focus from classical music to jazz. Don studied jazz at Los Angeles City College and also on his own by playing along with records of Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis

George Freeman

Born: November 19, 1980

As a musical director, George Freeman is well versed in selecting players, communicating concepts and orchestrating powerful shows. His solo full-length debut, Make It Happen, reveals a musical crossroads of jazz, pop, R&B, gospel and neo-soul. Slow burning grooves underscore supple melodies, articulate arpeggios and dynamic keyboard dexterity as the keyboardist, producer and bandleader who plays behind a celebrated roster of musical luminaries steps into the spotlight to showcase his own artistry. Songs from Make It Happen, like "Tengo Un Amor", "Two Step" and others currently play on both national and international jazz radio and internet stations

Russ Freeman

Born: May 28, 1926

Jazz pianist Russ Freeman, was a key figure in the career of Chet Baker in the 1950s, when the trumpeter was making some of his most distinctive music. Though his contribution was eclipsed by Baker's relationship with the charismatic Gerry Mulligan, he was an ideal collaborator, imparting focus and narrative shape to Baker's sound. Born in Chicago, Freeman studied classical piano in Los Angeles. By the 1940s, when bebop was taking over New York's hip clubs, there were few west coast pianists who understood its harmonic complexities - and pianists, with their more sophisticated theoretical awareness, were often crucial to helping other instrumentalists get to grips with how the new idiom worked. With his training, and a spare but flexible technique, Freeman grasped bebop's mechanics fast

Dave Frank

Born: August 10

DAVE FRANK is one of the busiest solo jazz pianists and music educators on the scene today. He is the author of the best-selling Hal Leonard book and video series, JOY OF IMPROV and BREAKTHROUGH TO IMPROV, was an Associate Professor of Piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston from 1987-2004, and was a co-founder of the NEW YORK SCHOOL OF JAZZ (1983-86). In 2004 Dave moved to New York City to direct the Dave Frank School of Jazz in midtown Manhattan. The DFS of J offers private instruction for aspiring musicians at all levels, as well as frequent concerts/workshops for the general public. Since 1994, Dave has been traveling worldwide, and to date has presented solo concerts and master classes in Spain, England, Holland, Belgium, Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland, Argentina, Nicaragua, Peru, Costa Rica, France, and throughout the US and Canada

Mitchel Forman

Born: January 24, 1956

Born in Brooklyn 52 years ago, MITCHEL FORMAN began studying classical piano at age 7. At 17 he entered the Manhattan School of Music for three years of study and began working with bands in New York. Shortly after graduating from MSM Mitchel began touring and recording with Gerry Mulligan, playing in both his big band and quartet. Work with Stan Getz followed. In 1980 his solo career began with a piano performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. This recording became Mitchel's first album, "Live at Newport". The next few years brought new challenges to MITCHEL FORMAN with work on the road with Phil Woods, Carla Bley, Mel Torme, and Astrud Gilberto

Tommy Flanagan

Born: March 16, 1930

Rarely has such unanimously unstinting praise been bestowed on a less self-congratulatory recipient. As genial and matter-of-fact off the stand as he is fiercely individual at the keys, Tommy Flanagan handles his world class ranking with an equanimity, a modesty, an easy friendliness not always associated with the psychic burden of being Number One. Perhaps because almost instant early recognition by his peers and the universal affection in which he has been held by them over the years has made for a warm and artistically rewarding roost in the jazz jungle for Tommy Flanagan. Or perhaps it is owing to his wholesome origins, as one of six children of an upwardly striving, musically enthusiastic family in Detroit. Whatever, Flanagan made his professional debut in 1945 at age 15, joining forces with fellow Motor City budding heavyweights Milt Jackson, Thad Jones, Elvin Jones and Kenny Burrell, playing clubs like the Bluebird, Detroit’s renowned jazz room

Bobby Few

Born: October 21, 1935

Jazz pianist Bobby Few was raised in a neighborhood in the Shaker Heights section of Cleveland, Ohio, along with the influential free jazz player Albert Ayler. Growing up, they listened to Lester Young and Charlie Parker together. Both started gigging while still in high school, and went on to record together as they moved further into the musical exploration and passion of free jazz. Few performs on Ayler's Music is the Healing Force of the Universe, and a few years later played with Archie Shepp. He has also performed with bassist Alan Silva, drummer Sunny Murray, Steve Lacy and Noah Howard, among others.

Allen Farnham

Born: May 19, 1961

Allen Farnham has been active in the New York City jazz scene as a pianist, composer/arranger, producer and teacher since the early 1980's. He has performed and/or recorded with Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Eddie Henderson, Frank Wess, Tom Harrell, Arthur Blythe, Special EFX, the John Fedchock NY Big Band, and Charlie Byrd. He has also accompanied a wide range of vocalists, including Mel Torme, Ernestine Anderson, Mark Murphy, Liza Minnelli, Susannah McCorkle, Roseanna Vitro, and Helen Merrill. Mr. Farnham is active in the recording industry, having recorded extensively as both a leader and side musician, and has worked as a staff producer and arranger for the west coast based jazz label, Concord Records