Results for "piano"

Luca Dell'Anna

Born: October 10, 1975

Italian pianist and composer Luca Dell’Anna, born in Ferrara on October 10, 1975, has built a distinctive voice in contemporary European jazz through a synthesis of melodic depth, rhythmic sophistication and a strong openness to intercultural dialogue. Raised among jazz, blues, Italian folk music and classical repertoire, he developed early on a musical sensibility in which lyricism, improvisation and structural awareness coexist naturally. His formative studies in classical piano were later deepened through jazz training with Bruno Cesselli and Andrea Beneventano in Rome, experiences that helped shape the broad aesthetic foundation of his work as performer, composer and educator. 

George Kahn

Born: January 7, 1952

Playing Records is proud to announce the release “STRAIGHT AHEAD”, George Kahn’s collaboration with Alex Acuña (drums) and Lyman Medeiros (bass). The project is George’s 9th album release and his first in the traditional piano trio format. The album consists 12 new tracks performed by the trio: 7 original compositions, each one in tribute to a pianist that is an inspiration to George (jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, Roger Kellaway, and Joe Sample) and 5 “cover tunes” that are creative takes on current pop artists (Prince, Adele, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran) GEORGE KAHN – PIANO When a young musician’s sources of inspiration are jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Vince Guaraldi, and Wynton Kelly, you’d figure that his own music would turn out to be pretty special — and in the case of jazz pianist and composer GEORGE KAHN, you’d be right

Omar Sosa

Born: April 10, 1965

Composer-pianist-bandleader Omar Sosa was born in 1965 in Camagüey, Cuba's largest inland city. At age eight, Omar began studying percussion and marimba at the music conservatory in Camagüey; in Havana, as a teenager, he took up piano at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Música, and completed his formal education at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana. Among his influences, Omar cites traditional Afro-Cuban music, European classical composers (including Chopin, Bartok, and Satie), Monk, Coltrane, Parker, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Chucho Valdés, and the pioneering Cuban jazz group Irakere. Moving in 1993 to Ecuador, Omar immersed himself in the folkloric traditions of Esmeraldas, the northwest coast region whose African heritage includes the distinctive marimba tradition. He relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1995, and soon invigorated the Latin jazz scene with his adventurous writing and percussive style.

Triio: Triio

by Anya Wassenberg
June 2, 2019

Blending composition and free improvisation on their eponymous release, Triio—a sextet led by Toronto-based double bassist/composer Alex Fournier—offer a distinctive sound, whimsical track titles, and a surprise around every corner. “ESD" is a vibrant track that opens with a trippy piano line which uses the darker tones of the lower octaves to moody effect. ...

Eyran Katsenelenbogen

Born: July, 1965

Eyran Katsenelenbogen is a pianist who has performed throughout the world. In 2019, he released his latest solo album, titled Outstandards, with a concert tour that included venues in the U.S., Europe and Israel. Katsenelenbogen's recordings have been reviewed by jazz publications such as Jazziz, JazzTimes, Jazz Journal International and All About Jazz, which stated in its recent review of Eyran’s previous release: "88 Fingers is truly a virtuoso's work. Perhaps Katsenelenbogen is most in league with Art Tatum for this fact: he sets the bar towards which other pianists must strive." A classically trained pianist with a jazz style, Katsenelenbogen has performed and recorded in venues such as the Iridium Jazz Club, New York; Teatro di Marcello, Rome; the Tel-Aviv Jazz & Blues Festival; the Bechstein Centrum, Hamburg; Mirrors Hall, Saint Petersburg; Scullers Jazz Club, Boston; Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, MA; Saint Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, UK; and the Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto

Carl Kennedy

Carl Kennedy is a Chicago-based pianist and composer who has built a diverse musical career crossing between jazz, soul, fusion, folk and classical traditions. Drawing from his well-rounded skill set, Carl is sought-after for his emotionally expressive playing and original compositions. He has played venues all over the country including the John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts, The Millennium Park Jay Pritzker Pavilion, South By Southwest Music Festival, Summerfest, and countless others. Carl has been the leader of the Carl Kennedy Trio and Carl Kennedy Large Ensemble. These projects feature all original music and have performed regularly in Chicago since 2013

Michael Ragonese

Michael Ragonese is a Los Angeles based pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. He received his Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies at California State University Northridge, where he led jazz combos to 1st place at the Reno and Monterey Jazz Festivals, also receiving the “Best College Performer” award at the Reno Jazz Festival. In 2017, Michael took 2nd place out of 8 piano finalists across the world in Lee Ritenour's Six String Jazz competition. Michael has performed, recorded, and worked with jazz artists such as Bennie Maupin, Charnett Moffett, Alphonso Johnson, Sue Raney, John Daversa, Louise Cole, Darek Oles, Gary Pratt, Walter Smith III, David Binney, Bob Reynolds, Bob Sheppard, Gene Coye, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, and Engelbert Humperdinck

Matthew Green

Born: September 2, 1994

Matthew is a musician based in Buckinghamshire, just outside of London, United Kingdom. Having studied classical piano from an early age, Matthew developed a love of jazz, fusion of jazz and also composition during his years at University studying Theology & Music. Currently he is a Primary School Teacher during the day and a busy musician during the evenings and at the weekends, covering a broad range of styles, genres and locations. Anything from jazz performance, big band, wind band, choral music, church music, solo piano, gospel band, rock band, musical theatre and everything in between will fill his week

Greg Burk

Born: June 24, 1969

Pianist/composer/educator Greg Burk has lived, studied, educated and performed around the world. Over the last decade, living and working in Detroit, Boston and now Rome, he has established himself not only as a vital sideman, but also as a leader with the rare ability to combine original compositions with memorable melodies and a desire to push the creative envelope as an improviser. He has been called "an exceptional pianist/composer" (All Music Guide), "a pianist and composer with vigorous, freewheeling ideas that always feel grounded within a well-reasoned structure" (Boston Herald), "a pianist with a gift for melody and a generous touch that makes you want to like him" (LA Weekly), and a musician that "plays with an apparent love and passion for his craft" (AllAboutJazz)

Simon Lasky

Born: May 10, 1975

Inquisitive, provocative, blessed with the polished skill of balancing the musical idioms that have shaped his unique musical personality, British pianist Simon Lasky has been dazzling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic throughout his career. As a classically trained composer with a lifelong fascination with improvisation, Simon has forged his engaging signature sound from a love of 20th and 21st century symphonic music, the genius of bands like Steely Dan and Weather Report, and the venturesome nature of contemporary Jazz.

After winning the 2018 Ivors Composer Awards for his song ‘Close To Ecstasy,’ Simon moved from England to Tampa, Florida to study with five time GRAMMY nominated Jazz composer Chuck Owen at The University of South Florida. Since then Simon has thrived as an educator, lecturer, radio host and leader of the eight piece Simon Lasky Group. Relentlessly curious, Simon’s attention to detail, compositional sophistication, and intricate musicality, invites listeners to embrace his distinctive artistry, one that excites, enchants, and educates throughout every song, album and concert he brings to life.