John Serry

John Serry (b. 1954) was nominated for a Grammy [Best Instrumental Arrangement] for his composition, Sabotage, on his debut album, "Exhibition" (Chrysalis, 1979). His second album, "Jazziz" (Chrysalis, 1980), received 4 stars in Downbeat, feature review of the month in Keyboard magazine and it inspired the naming of JAZZIZ magazine by its publisher. In 1995, John was awarded the Grand Prize in the JAZZIZ magazine Keyboards on Fire pianist/composer competition (Dave Brubeck and Bob James, judges; grand piano from Steinway.) John Serry's CD, "Enchantress" (Telarc, 1996), was well received: "He has a strong sense of melody, his touch is confident, his ideas are sensible and his playing is beautifully controlled " —Downbeat "What a pleasure to find that he is back, still turning out charts that turn heads by turning corners." —Keyboard. Serry has performed at Birdland, the Blue Note, the Montreux Festival, the 606 Club (London), Covent Garden (featured on BBC “Jazz Legends Live”), Steinway Hall and numerous festivals, clubs and venues in the U.S and abroad. Players which have appeared in his groups and recordings include John Riley, Peter Erskine, Carlos Vega, Anthony Jackson, Jimmy Johnson, Bob Sheppard, Gerry Niewood, Ted Nash, Mike Sembello, and Barry Finnerty, among others. His new album, Disquisition (SPCo Records, 2017) - a trio album with Paolo Ghetti bass and Bruno Farinelli drums - is available at Amazon, iTunes/Apple Music, Google Play, Facebook (www.facebook.com/johnserry1) and other outlets. Free download of the title track at media.allaboutjazz.com/media.php?id=11274. "During his long career, pianist John Serry has covered quite a lot of territory, stylistically and geographically. The classically trained New York native crafted sophisticated fusion releases such as 1979's Exhibition and 1980's Jazziz (and yes, that is where we got the name). Serry took a long hiatus before recording the mostly acoustic quartet album Enchantress in 1996, and then, after another decade, 2006's The Shift. Now living in Europe, the pianist has been working with an acoustic trio for the past nine years, and his latest recording, Disquisition (SPCo), reveals a tight unit that thinks and acts as one. In the company of bassist Paolo Ghetti and drummer Bruno Farinelli, Serry revisits a few older compositions and offers some new tunes. Among the latter is the title track, our selection, a strong statement that begins with crashing, McCoy Tyner-esque chords and Elvin Jones-like splashing and moves into bluesy and introspective sections."—Jazziz magazine, Spring 2018 issue, Jazziz on Disc. John Serry's CD, The Shift (SPCo Records, recorded 2006, released 2013), with his London quartet, Dave O’Higgins – sax, Mark Mondesir – drums, Sam Burgess – bass / Mike Mondesir – elec. bass, is available at Amazon, iTunes/Apple Music, Google Play, Facebook (www.facebook.com/johnserry1) and other outlets. Download of the first track, Pockets, free at https://www.dropbox.com/s/t1ti19w39a8jkwu/1.%20POCKETS%20mp3.mp3. "Serry returns to the studio in top form on The Shift (SPCo)...The leadoff track,“Pockets,” our selection, showcases the ensemble’s esprit de corps, as they wend their way through the lilting composition. Serry’s playing is as colorful and expressive as ever." —JAZZIZ magazine (Summer 2013 issue). John has lived in Europe since 2004 - London, Spain, Prague, Germany, Italy, France.

John wrote and recorded music for commercials and documentaries in New York in the 1990s. He composed, orchestrated and produced music for documentaries, television and corporate films in Los Angeles in the 1980s and played sessions there for television and film in the late 1970s. He has sometimes played with well known artists, e.g., piano with Patty Austin, BBC Big Band, Doc Severinsen, Kyle Eastwood and percussion with Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin. He toured and recorded as pianist/composer with Auracle (1978 LP, Glider, co-produced by Teo Macero.) He has arranged music for artists and sountracks (e.g., The Canadian Brass Gabrielli and Monteverdi CD, Marian McPartland, network tv) and was nominated as an arranger for a Grammy (Sabotage from the 1979 John Serry LP, Exhibition.) He played in several shows on Broadway, the West End (London) and on tour in the U.S and Europe, and has conducted at Radio City Music Hall and was Music Director (at Gateway Playhouse) for Swing, as well as for university productions of Kiss Me Kate and Three Penny Opera.

John has received commissions, performances (Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center) and an award (Percussive Arts Society) for his classical compositions most of which feature percussion, including solos, duos, a percussion ensemble and 2 concertos. The most recent is Groundlines, commissioned by an international consortium of marimba soloists and premiered (Ji Hye Jung) at Percussive Arts Society International Convention 2010. John played percussion on Stravinsky Les Noces at Lincoln Center (Robert Kraft, Musicmasters CD), Bartok Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion (California Chamber Symphony) and, in his teens, was soloist on Creston Marimba Concerto (Europe tour) and Milhaud Percussion Concerto (studying with Juilliard Instructor Gordon Gottlieb.) He was awarded Best Pianist, Best Composer and (as a member of Auracle) Best Group at the 1975 Notre Dame Jazz Festival (Sonny Rollins, Jack DeJohnette et al, judges.)

He has taught piano, composition, jazz improvisation, and other subjects as Professor, clinician, workshop/master class instructor, and ensemble coach at numerous university music schools and conservatories, including Juilliard, Peabody, Musicians Institute, Royal Academy (London), University of South Carolina (Director of Jazz), Brooklyn College, Queens College, CCNY (Manhattan), Wichita State University, James Madison University, University of Wisconsin, and Music Academy 2000 (Bologna, Italy.) He has BM (with Distinction) and MM degrees from the Eastman School of Music (Profs. Bill Dobbins, Chuck Mangione, John Beck, Rayburn Wright; workshops/concerts with Joe Farrell, Keith Jarrett, Bill Watrous.) John is a native New Yorker, an art enthusiast and frequent traveler.

Awards

Grand Prize, JAZZIZ magazine Keyboards on Fire pianist/composer competition (Dave Brubeck, Bob James judges; grand piano from Steinway, 1995.) Grammy Nomination (Best Instrumental Arrangement for his composition, Sabotage) "Exhibition" LP (Chrysalis, 1979.) 4 stars in Downbeat,"Jazziz" LP(Chrysalis, 1980, also feature review of the month in Keyboard magazine and was the inspiration for the naming of JAZZIZ magazine by publisher Michael Fagien.) Best Pianist, Best Composer/Arranger for a Small Group and Best Combo (in Auracle), 1975 Notre Dame Jazz Festival - Jack DeJohnette, Sonny Rollins, et al, judges. Third Prize (tied with Michael Udow), 1985 Percussive Arts Society composition contest, Concerto for Percussion Brass and Percussion. New York State Regents, Eastman School of Music and Long Island Youth Orchestra scholarship recipient.