Geoffrey Keezer

David Whitman: Ode To Joe

by Jack Bowers
October 10, 2023

While West Coast drummer David Whitman's Ode to Joe [Henderson] is a rather brief one at less than thirty-three minutes, it is otherwise admirable for what is enclosed within its concise parameters. Whitman leads a well-schooled septet whose makeup is freshened by rotating tenor saxophonists Bob Sheppard and Rob Lockart and guitarists Bruce Forman and Chris Montgomery. Whitman and trumpeter Andrew Neesley share composer credits, and Neesley handles the arrangements, awakening warm memories of the Golden Age ...

David Whitman: Ode To Joe

by Richard J Salvucci
September 17, 2023

Dipping into this fine recording is, to mix metaphors a bit, like opening a time capsule. That capsule is called One For All (A&M, 1990), perhaps the final studio recording of Art Blakey with The Jazz Messengers. It was not a perfect outing, but it was a memorable one. The lines got into the head and stayed there, just waiting for a chance to be reawakened. Well, now is the time with Ode to Joe. A convenient link between the ...

Michael Dease: The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill

by Jerome Wilson
April 14, 2023

Gregg Hill is a jazz composer favored by several jazz musicians who have recorded entire albums of his work, such as guitarist Randy Napoleon and bassist Rodney Whitaker. Here trombonist Michael Dease joins the party with a full album of Hill pieces arranged for a quintet. Hill's writing on this album delves into a wide array of conventional forms such as blues, ballads, and Latin jazz, but always with unique twists and ideas present. Some of his compositions ...

Michael Dease: The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill

by AAJ Staff
March 26, 2023

"Think of any big city," Greg Hill says, introducing the narrative armature of his composition, “The Other Shoe," the denouement and title track of this stimulating collaboration with Michael Dease, who arranged each of Hill's 10 compositions contained herein. “It's 2 in the morning, you're still awake, and your neighbor comes in upstairs. You hear the first clunk when his shoe hits the floor. Then you wait. He may be inebriated. It may take a while to get the other ...

Brian Landrus: Red List

by Jerome Wilson
September 2, 2022

Saxophonist Brian Landrus created this project with a purpose summed up in its subtitle, Music Dedicated to the Preservation of our Endangered Species. The album was made to create awareness about all the animal species on Earth in danger of extinction, thirteen of which are explicitly referenced here. For most of these, such as the Malayan tiger and the snow leopard, only a few hundreds or thousands are still alive. For the Javan rhino, there were only 67 left at ...

Brian Landrus: Red List

by Jack Bowers
July 26, 2022

No matter how one receives his music, there is no doubt that woodwind specialist Brian Landrus' heart is in the right place. Red List, his eleventh album as leader, is dedicated to the preservation of Earth's endangered animal species. Landrus names thirteen, at least five of which--the kakapo, Malayan tiger, gharial, vaquita and Javan rhino--are all but gone, with less than three hundred of each species remaining. In fact, it is estimated that only eight vaquitas (a species of porpoise ...

Brian Landrus: Red List

by Angelo Leonardi
July 18, 2022

L'undicesimo disco di Brian Landrus è un progetto a difesa di tredici specie animali minacciate di estinzione. Vegetariano dell'età di 12 anni e poi vegano, il sassofonista di Reno (Nevada) ha sempre operato a sostegno del mondo animale. Per sua stessa ammissione è questa la passione della sua vita, assieme al jazz. L'anno scorso, dopo aver aperto una sottoscrizione su Gofundme.com, Brian ha raccolto un settetto base più ospiti, per registrare quindici nuove composizioni dedicate alle specie minacciate, ...

Premier Marimbist Mika Stoltzman Premieres Works By Geoffrey Keezer, Joel Ross, And John Zorn At Carnegie Hall May 2nd

Source: AMT Public Relations
March 28, 2023

Premier Marimbist Mika Stoltzman Returns to Carnegie Hall for the Eleventh Time in One-Night Only Concert May 2, 2023 Including world premiere by Geoffrey Keezer, U.S. premiere by Joel Ross, and New York premiere by John Zorn Featuring special guest clarinetist Richard Stoltzman “high-wire jazz marimbist…an amazing, energetic performer” –The Los Angeles Times “Mika brings a joyful enthusiasm to the marimba that is captivating.” –Chick Corea “She’s a brilliantly borderless artist…one-of-a-kind musician.” –All About Jazz Hailed as a “Japanese marimba ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on Geoffrey Keezer

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
December 1, 2018

This week, let's look at some videos featuring pianist Geoffrey Keezer, who's coming to St. Louis to perform on Thursday, December 13 at the HQ of pianist Peter Martin's Open Studio, which is in the Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive St. in Grand Center. Originally from Eau Claire, WI, Keezer, 48, was something of a teenage phenom, joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers when he was just 18 years old. Since then, he's gone on to work with many ...
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Expressive Vocalist Christine Hitt Releases "Magical Kite," Produced By Geoffrey Keezer

Source: Mouthpiece Music
July 21, 2018

For vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Christine Hitt, music is a family affair. Her father was a band director and her mother was a piano teacher and professional vocalist. Hitt married a trumpet player, and two of her three sons appear on Hitt’s newest CD, Magical Kite. Hitt’s warm voice can express a rich tapestry of tones, and she sings ballads and swing tunes with equal facility. The selection of songs on Magical Kite, from standards to gospel to bebop, reflects Hitt’s ...
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Grammy Nominated Vocalist Denise Donatelli Releases New Recording "Soul Shadows" on Savant Records. Musical Direction by Geoffrey Keezer

Source: Two for the Show Media
August 18, 2012

Los Angeles-based vocalist Denise Donatelli won a Grammy nomination with her second Savant CD, When Lights Are Low (Savant SCD 2109). An East Coast native and a recipient of classical piano training, she turned to singing jazz, wound up relocating to the West Coast and has pursued her performance and recording career ever since.  Possessing a voice of exceptional nuance, agility and unerring pitch, Denise is able to imbue whatever she chooses to sing with her special warmth, wit and ...
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Vibraphonist Joe Locke Debuts on Motema with New CD from The Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group, Signing

Source: GoMedia PR
March 16, 2012

CD Will Be Released April 10 in the US and Europe In a career moving from one milestone to the next with accelerating regularity, the past decade has represented particularly extraordinary artistic growth for vibraphonist Joe Locke as a composer and leader. Beginning in 2001 with the Storms/Nocturnes Trio collaboration with Geoffrey Keezer and Tim Garland, and moving forward with projects under his own leadership—ranging from the Four Walls of Freedom group and Milt Jackson Tribute Band to the more ...
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"VIA" - the new recording by the Storms/Nocturnes Trio: Tim Garland, Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke

Source: Nadja von Massow
February 5, 2011

With VIA the third album by the Storms/Nocturnes Trio, celebrated British saxophonist Tim Garland, world leading vibraphone virtuoso Joe Locke and recent Grammy nominee, pianist Geoffrey Keezer, create a unique three way dialogue of captivating, immersive music. This enduring international alliance of three jazz giants is celebrating its tenth anniversary with this album, released on Seattle-based Origin Records on April 19th 2011. After two successful recordings—Storms/Nocturnes (2001) and Rising Tide (2003, both Sirocco Music)—and a gap of seven years busy ...
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Be a Part of Storms/Nocturnes' New Album, Featuring Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke & Tim Garland

Source: Nadja von Massow
October 1, 2010

Eight years after their last, critically acclaimed recording and tricky scheduling to coordinate three busy international calendars, Tim Garland, Geoffrey Keezer and Joe Locke are about to record their third album in November under the name of the Storms/Nocturnes Trio. After substantial own investment and generous help from friends in the industry to guarantee artistic control and integrity, the project is almost on its way. For the final push, we would like to ask for your support, become part of ...
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Geoffrey Keezer Nominated for a Grammy

Source: Michael Ricci
December 17, 2009

Geoffrey Keezer may have just received his first Grammy nomination (Best Latin Jazz Album for his record Aurea), but he is by no means a newbie to the music scene. Since the tender age of 18, when Keezer began playing with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, he has made a name for himself in the jazz world. When asked to comment on his record urea and its recent Grammy nomination, Keezer had the following to say, “It's my first [Grammy nomination], ...
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Pianist Geoffrey Keezer Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
July 21, 2008

Pianist/composer Geoffrey Keezer has been playing piano since age three and has been on the road since 1989 when he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers after a year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Over the years, he's recorded steadily and played with numerous jazz luminaries including Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Benny Green, and Mulgrew Miller.

But of late, things have changed for Keezer. In a few different ways.

He ...
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Geoffrey Keezer with Ron Blake- February 22, 2008 - Harlem in the Himalayas Jazz Series- Rubin Museum NYC

Source: Two for the Show Media
January 31, 2008

Pianist & Composer, Geoffrey Keezer will be performing in duo format with saxophonist Ron Blake as part of the Harlem in the Himalayas series at the Rubin Museum in New York City on February 22nd, 2008 -Showtime 7:00 PM Geoffrey Keezer - Piano Ron Blake - Saxophone Harlem in the Himalayas Series Rubin Museum 150 West 17th Street NYC February 22, 2008 - Showtime - 7:00 PM Admission $18 in ...
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