Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Gardner.
Jeff, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in New York and have played the piano since the age of 5 and professionally since age 12. I studied jazz piano with Jaki Byard, Charles Banacos, Don Friedman, and John Lewis, classical piano with Ruth Schontal and Ivan Tcherepnin, and harmony with Nadia Boulanger. I have performed with such musicians as Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Eddie Harris, Steve Lacy, Freddie Hubbard, Bob Sheppard, Paulo Moura, Dori Caymmi, Nelson Veras, Toninho Horta, and the Piano Quartet with Martial Solal, Jaki Byard, and Paul Bley. My 20 CDs as a leader include “Spirit Call” (solo), “Continuum,” with Eddie Gomez and Billy Hart, “Alchemy” with Gary Peacock, “Second Home” with Rick Margitza, “Sky Dance” (recorded in Rio de Janeiro) with Gilberto Gil, and “Noches Habaneras,” recorded in Havana, Cuba, with Anga, Maraca, Julio Barreto, Diego Valdez, and Felipe Cabrera. “The Music of Chance” features Rick Margitza and Ingrid Jensen. My other Brazilian recordings include “Abraços” with Carlos Balla and Alberto Continentino and “Home is a River” with vocalist Jane Duboc. The CD’s “Breath” and “Lovelight” feature my New York trio – Drew Gress and Anthony Pinciotti. I am co-leader on “Look Inside” with French producer Pierre Comblat and an all-star cast of musicians from around the world. His latest release is a compilation – “Stories.” I have just recorded a duo album with the stellar Dallas area vocalist and composer Rosana Eckert.
I have played major jazz festivals and clubs around the world, including the Nice Jazz Festival, Paris Jazz Festival, San Rafael Festival, Groningen Jazz Days, Blue Note Clubs in Japan: Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka, New Morning in Paris, etc.
I am also active in jazz education and have given workshops in many different countries. I am the author of JAZZ PIANO: CREATIVE CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES, EASY JAZZ PRELUDES, SENTIMENTO BRASILEIRO, JEFF GARDNER’S BLUES BOOK, and SHAPES (all published by Editions H. Lemoine), 24 JAZZ PRELUDES (Terramar Music), and co-author with Niels Lan Doky of JAZZ TRANSCRIPTION (Advance Music). In the last several years, I have self-published 14 new method books – POPULAR MUSIC HARMONY VOL. 1 – CYCLES, POPULAR MUSIC HARMONY VOL. 2 – CADENCES AND HARMONIC SEQUENCES, HARMONIC CONCEPTS FOR BASS (WALKING BASS LINES), JAZZ LINES: MELODIC STUDIES ON STANDARD PROGRESSIONS, MODAL BLUES ETUDES, PENTATONICS: THEORY AND PRACTICE, BLUES AND BOOGIE PIANO, JAZZ PIANO ETUDES, and BLUES WORKSHOP, as well as several new collections of piano music – CHILDREN’S SONGS, RADAMESIANAS, JAZZ PIANO ETUDES, PENTAKOSMOS, and SONGS OF INNOCENCE.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was blessed with very supportive parents who paid for a top classical piano teacher, Ruth Schontal, and of course, there was a lot of music around the house – a madrigal group and a big record collection. A big hurdle was a surgery on my right thumb at age 20, which held me back for a long time as I rebuilt my strength and agility.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I think I am best known for a couple of different areas. First – my ability to join Brazilian rhythms with jazz harmonies. As a composer, I deal in some forms of Brazilian music which are lesser known in the US and Europe, such as baiao, maracatu, partido alto, and chorinho; this gives my compositions something special, which sets me apart from a lot of mainstream jazz artists. I have also had a lot of recognition for my books about Jazz and other forms of popular music. My first book, ~Jazz Piano: Creative Concepts and Techniques, was published by Editions Henry Lemoine in Paris in 1997. It has 500 pages and a CD and is a complete method on composing and improvising jazz and blues. The book has prefaces by Martial Solal and Paul Bley and endorsements by Dave Liebman, among many other prominent jazz artists and educators. It has opened a lot of doors for me in Europe and the USA, where I do annual workshop and concert tours. In the Dallas area, I taught clinics at University of North Texas and University of Texas Arlington. Teaching has been very important, and rewards are many, including some star students such as Jacky Terrasson, winner of the Thelonious Monk Piano Competition and Blue Note and Universal Music recording artist. Since 2015 I have self-published 14 new books on Jazz and Blues on Amazon.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I like the space – coming from New York and having lived in Paris for a long time, Dallas has more “breathing room.” The music scene is vibrant – and I have had the chance to collaborate with some of the area’s top players through my musical partnership with the amazing vocalist and composer Rosana Eckert.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jeffgardnermusicschool.com
- Instagram: #jeffgardnerjazz
- Facebook: #jeffgardnerjazz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jeffgardnermusicschool
- Other: www.jeffgardner.com.br
