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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.
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New John Serry Album, "The Shift," Released
![New John Serry Album, "The Shift," Released](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/The_Shift_cover.jpg)
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John Serry
The new album, The Shift (SPCo Records) from pianist/composer John Serry is now released and will be available at CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Music Store and other online outlets, as well as directly from the artist. John Serry received a Grammy Nomination in 1979 for his arrangement of his composition, Sabotage," on his debut LP, Exhibition and he was the Grand Prize winner of the 1995 Jazziz magazine Keyboards on Fire competition (Dave Brubeck and Bob James judges.) ...
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"What a pleasure to find that he is back, still turning out charts that turn heads by turning corners." —Keyboard.
"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.
"Serry's fleet fingered runs on songs like the jaunty catchy "Dyt It" are both technically impressive and subtle. His ballads are equally disarming… "Heartfelt" is warm and resonant... Listen and prepare to be enchanted."—JazzTimes
Primary Instrument
Piano
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
John Serry 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 (L.A.), 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.
Clinic/Workshop Information
Photos
Music
Disquisition
From: DisquisitionBy John Serry
Pockets
From: The ShiftBy John Serry