Home » Jazz Musicians » Jim Pearce

Jim Pearce

Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim Pearce has released 7 Jazz CD’s, the latest being "You Are an Edgy Visionary Seer". Jim's last CD I'm in the Twilight of a Mediocre Career hit #1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. Jim was featured in an interview on NPR'S Morning Edition with Susan Stamberg and Jim’s compositions have been used in TV shows including "Saturday Night Live" (NBC), "90210" (The CW) "Parenthood"(NBC), “Lipstick Jungle”(NBC), "Greek" (ABC), "10 Things I Hate About You" (ABC), " Mi Corazon Insiste" (Telemundo), and others. He’s also been the recipient of numerous awards including Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting (Great American Song Contest) and Grand Prize in Jazz Category (John Lennon Songwriting Contest). Jim has written 100's of tunes. Jim is available for Concerts, Festivals, and Clubs around the world. Awards 2006 INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS—Finalist for Jazz Album of the Year (Washington Square Park) and Finalist for Jazz Song of the Year (Dreaming in Van Gogh Colors) Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting in 7th Annual Great American Song Contest (Prairie Dog Ballet) Grand Prize in Jazz Category 2003 JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST First Place instrumental-category in 6th Annual Great American Song Contest and 3rd place "Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting" instrumental- category Finalist in Jazz Category in 2004 U.S.A. SONGWRITING COMPETITION Outstanding Achievment in Songwriting in 2002 GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST (2nd Place-instrumental category) Honor Award In 2003 Great American Song Contest Finalist In 2003 Unisong International Song Contest (4 Songs)

Jim Pearce: You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer

Read "You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
March 23, 2013

Jazz is serious music: so serious that sometimes it becomes a labor of such intensity that the composers and performers fail to have fun making the music. Vocalist/pianist/composer Jim Pearce specifically makes it a point to have fun, before getting serious (as serious as he ever gets). Gratefully in the mold of Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg and Mose Allison, Pearce specializes in bright melodies and clever lyrics, a modern throwback to Tin Pan Alley reclaiming clever lyrics from the great ...

Album Review

Jim Pearce: You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer

Read "You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
January 17, 2013

Pianist/singer Jim Pearce's records inevitably draw comparisons to those of fellow ivory tickling wordsmith Mose Allison. The fact that both are genre-bending virtuosi with dry as champagne humor, who play the same instrument is where all similarities end. The whimsically titled You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer is quintessential Pearce, replete with his characteristic mixture of levity and thoughtfulness. While Allison's trademark is his blues-drenched and folksy raconteurstyle, Pearce's is more urbane, and his lyrics refreshingly absurdist ...

274

Album Review

Jim Pearce: Never Open with A Ballad

Read "Never Open with A Ballad" reviewed by John Barron

by John Barron
June 1, 2007

It's hard for a jazz musician to garner recognition in an era of music industry indifference toward unknown artists--and the genre as a whole. Musicians like Jim Pearce forge ahead anyway, producing uncompromised, original music. Never Open with a Ballad is a well-conceived showcase for the multi-talented Atlanta-based pianist, vocalist and composer.

Pearce delves into the piano with outstanding technique and a firm modern jazz conception. The beauty of Never Open with a Ballad, however, lies in Pearce's composing. Covering ...

186

Album Review

Jim Pearce: Prairie Dog Ballet

Read "Prairie Dog Ballet" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone

by Michael P. Gladstone
December 13, 2006

This effort by pianist/composer and bandleader Jim Pearce gives maximum exposure to his songwriting ability. In my reaction to his self-released album Thirty Year Waltz (2003), also comprised of all originals, I expressed regret that Pearce didn't include any standards or jazz standards, which would have offered listeners familiar melodies.

This time around, however, Pearce contributes another eleven originals that do indeed stand by themselves. The pacing of the album and the music is just short of perfect. ...

339

Extended Analysis

Jim Pearce: Washington Square Park

by Paul Olson
March 3, 2005

Jim Pearce Washington Square Park Self Published 2005

Atlanta-based pianist Jim Pearce is such a busy working musician (he averages over four hundred gigs per year ) that one wonders how he even found the time to record his new CD Washington Square Park --his first since 2003's Thirty Year Waltz. All curiosity about his schedule aside, Pearce has produced another winner. This is outstanding mainstream jazz.Pearce's piano style meshes perfectly with ...

188

Album Review

Jim Pearce: Thirty Year Waltz

Read "Thirty Year Waltz" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone

by Michael P. Gladstone
February 1, 2004

Pianist Jim Pearce has been an Atlanta resident since the early 1970s and is an accomplished songwriter. The title tune, “Thirty Year Waltz," was deemed the Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting in the 2002 Great American Songwriting Contest.

This debut recording displays eleven of Pearce's compositions. The tunes all share an attractive mainstream jazz melody with the head delivered by either unison horns or Eric Smith's flute/Pearce's piano. Pearce plays organ on “Sustaining Influence" and “Tumbling" to add texture ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Pearce

Source: Michael Ricci
September 10, 2013

All About Jazz is celebrating Jim Pearce's birthday today!

Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim Pearce has released 7 Jazz CD’s, the latest being “You Are an Edgy Visionary Seer". Jim\'s last CD I\'m in the Twilight of a Mediocre Career hit #1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. Jim was featured in an interview on NPR\'S Morning Edition with Susan Stamberg and Jim’s compositions have been used in TV shows including “Saturday Night Live" (NBC), “90210" (The CW) “Parenthood"(NBC), “Lipstick Jungle”(NBC)... ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Pearce

Source: Michael Ricci
September 10, 2012

All About Jazz is celebrating Jim Pearce's birthday today!

Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim Pearce has released 6 Jazz CD’s. The latest being I\'m in the Twilight of a Mediocre Career which hit #1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. Jim was featured in an interview on NPR\'S Morning Edition with Susan Stamberg and Jim’s compositions have been used in TV shows including “Saturday Night Live" (NBC), “90210" (The CW) “Parenthood"(NBC), “Lipstick Jungle”(NBC), “Greek" (ABC)... Read more.

Place our Musician of ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Pearce

Source:
September 10, 2011

All About Jazz is celebrating Jim Pearce's birthday today!

Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim Pearce has released 6 Jazz CD’s. The latest being I\'m in the Twilight of a Mediocre Career which hit #1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. Jim was featured in an interview on NPR\'S Morning Edition with Susan Stamberg and Jim’s compositions have been used in TV shows including “Parenthood"(NBC) “Lipstick Jungle”(NBC), “Greek" (ABC), “10 Things I Hate About You" (ABC) and others...Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Pearce

Source:
September 10, 2010

155

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Pearce

Source: Michael Ricci
September 10, 2009

All About Jazz is celebrating Jim Pearce's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Jim Pearce

Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim Pearce has released four all-original Jazz CD’s since 2004. The latest being Never Open With A Ballad. Jim’s previous releases have charted at JazzWeek, CMJ Jazz, Earshot Jazz and Roots Music Report... more

Website | Videos | Articles

Follow Jim Pearce

Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box on ...
read more

139

Website

Two Free Jim Pearce MP3s at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
August 5, 2007

All About Jazz is featuring two consecutive days of Jim Pearce music at our Free MP3 Download page.

You can download both tracks direct by clicking the links below.

Debbie's Blue Bicycle Jim Pearce 5:28 From: Washington Square Park

There's Just Something 'Bout You Jim Pearce 3:50 From: Prairie Dog Ballet

About Jim Pearce

Pianist / Composer/ Singer Jim Pearce has released four all-original Jazz CD's since 2004. ...
read more

117

Recording

Pianist Jim Pearce Releases "Prairie Dog Ballet"

Source: All About Jazz
May 22, 2006

The new Jim Pearce CD is Prairie Dog Ballet--intense, all-original, acoustic jazz featuring world-class musicians. Jim Pearce is an award winning Pianist/Composer/Vocalist. Prairie Dog Ballet is a sure fire follow up to Jim's last CD Washington Square Park which was a finalist in The Independent Music Awards for Jazz Album of the Year. Judges for that contest included Terence Blanchard, Norah Jones, Paquito D'Rivera and other industry leaders. Jim is also a previous winner in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, ...
read more

141

Performance / Tour

Jim Pearce in concert April 10 in Atlanta

Source: All About Jazz
April 6, 2005

"Pearce's seventh release as a leader, You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer is an engaging and well-rounded portrait of this uniquely talented songwriter, vocalist and pianist at his mature and creative peak." All About Jazz/ Hrayr Attarian

"There exists a unique and storied subset of jazz artists who pen the most clever music and lyrics this side of Tin Pan Alley and way that side of modern-day Nashville. Besides Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg, who are in a class by themselves, are Mose Allison and Jim Pearce, who are also part of that rarefied class." All About Jazz/ C. Michael Bailey

"Jim Pearce, a long time favorite is great! I absolutely love it, his piano work is top class." Peter Kuller, Radio Adelaide - Australia

"Never Open with a Ballad is a delightful collection of modern jazz performed by an outstanding collective of sympathetic musicians who are truly deserving of wider recognition. Pearce proves himself a highly adept leader who approaches every aspect of his music with vision and integrity." All About Jazz/ John Barron

"This is Spectacular, great CD — I already listened to it twice. what a great collection of tracks, musical skills and the surprise of Jim's vocals, quite an opener!! Again with the greatest pleasure will take this CD into extended airplay." Joost Van Steen, Jazz & Blues Tour Radio - The Netherlands

“ Jim Pearce is in possession of a special type of “triple threat.” I don’t know if he can dance or act. That’s not the kind I mean. What Pearce certainly can do is sing, play piano and write great music. He does plenty of each on his latest CD, Never Open with a Ballad. He and his band play in relaxed, straight -ahead jazz style. The songs (each tune on the CD is a Pearce original) are unique. Pearce has a clearly developed compositional style. The arrangements bring out the best from each composition. The musicians bring out the best from each arrangement. Never Open with a Ballad is seriously swingin’ CD that is infinitely worth a listen or two.” Jazz Improv Magazine/ Dave Miele

“Singing pianist is incredibly hip, but please don’t tell him. It might ruin his hangdog charm, which stacks up favorably alongside witty songsters such as Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg and Mose Allison.” ——Jazziz Magazine

“Pearce's group is nearly flawless” All About Jazz / Michael Gladstone

“Jim is an extraordinarily talented musician and those skills are matched by his songwriting abilities. It is easy to see why he has earned many songwriting awards during his illustrious career. His stories and their imaginative lyrics create vivid images that one does not soon forget, or want to. And his piano riffs continue to play in your head long after his music stops.” Roots Music Report/ Brenda Barbee

“Jazz composer/pianist Jim Pearce has assembled an impressive canon of songs showcasing his own creative composition prowess and dazzling technical gifts.The septet shines from the opening title track through the album’s closer, “One More Tomorrow.” He also delivers charming vocals on four tracks.” One Way Magazine

“Pearce has produced another winner. This is outstanding mainstream jazz. Washington Square Park is a powerful reminder that not all great jazz pianist/composers are signed to Verve or Blue Note-or work out of New York” All About Jazz / Paul Olson

“Thirty Year Waltz comforts like a caress.” “Muddy River Vamp peppers us with groove and carefully configured ensemble. This song and a few others will stop casual conversations. The complexity within provokes a deeper listen.” Jazz Improv Magazine / Gregory J. Robb

“Jim Pearce reminds me somewhat of Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg, you see. Fans of both will enjoy this CD along with Mr Pearce's fine piano playing.” The Jazz Rendezvous / Eric Alan

“ From the opening track, “Muddy River Vamp”, this one cooks! Herman Burney (b), Paul Fallat (d), Eric South (sax, fl), Ken Gregory (t) and pianist Jim Pearce play with a fervor that is energizing.” O's Place Jazz Newsletter

Show less

Photos

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Jim Pearce

Jim Pearce

Followers

Get more of a good thing!

Connect

More Access

For Musicians

Advertise