Dan Tepfer
“A versatile performer with a gracious technique, pianist Dan Tepfer regularly holds his own with sax veteran Lee Konitz.” Time Out, New York
Described as a “remarkable musician” by the Washington Post and praised for his “brilliant career” by the New York Times, Dan Tepfer is a New York-based jazz pianist and composer.
Dan is touring this December in the UK with his new Trio, featuring the stellar line-up of Ted Poor – drums (Kurt Rosenwinkel, Maria Schneider) and Thomas Morgan – bass (Paul Motian, Steve Coleman). His latest album is also released in Europe on Sunnyside / Naïve alongside the tour.
“Pianist Dan Tepfer added an impressionist’s veneer with a classicist’s touch, soloed strongly and wisely dropped out when Konitz was in full cry.”
- The Financial Times – Pizza Express Jazz Club, London, May 2010
Born in 1982 in Paris, to an American family, Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, before settling down in the United States. Today he divides his time between sideman work with some of the great jazz musicians of our time – Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, Ralph Towner to name a few – and a busy touring schedule with his own solo, duo and trio projects. One of his compositions was recently premiered at Carnegie Hall.
After recently touring his The Goldberg Project – a celebration of the J.S. Bach ‘Goldberg Variations‘ mixed with jazz improvisation based around the aria and variations of the work – Dan also composed a Concerto for Piano and Winds, premiered at Prague Castle in May for the American Spring Festival.
“Certainly among those clearly willing to play with familiar formulas and take new approaches, even as he incorporates strokes from the masters” – JazzReview.com
His work has been recognized with a number of recent awards, including the first prize and audience prize at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition, the first prize at the 2006 East Coast Jazz Festival Competition, and the first prize at the 2007 competition of the American Pianists Association — leading him to be named the 2007-2009 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz.
His recent release, Oxygen, follows his acclaimed debut Before the Storm, which was voted one of the top ten CDs of 2005 by Cadence Magazine. Both albums feature his longstanding trio with bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Richie Barshay (whom Tepfer shares with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea). The group has been noted for its exceptional chemistry on stage, which reflects its more than four years of international touring. Dan is also touring worldwide with jazz legend Lee Konitz, based around the acclaimed recording, Duos with Lee.
“It is like a heady mix of swinging, dancing notes. The sonority and softness of Tepfer’s dynamics, as his fingers meet the keys and ideas take shape, and the dry resonance of Konitz’s alto. Sounds emerge like waves on an emerald ocean, wet and dry, happy and elementally sad. The experience is cathartic, the music so complete that it is like putting a full stop after it is done, with “Elande No. 10 (Free for Paree).”
Equally wonderful is the tender portrait,” Merka Tikva,” and a spectacular interpretation of an old folk song, “Trees.” Finally, “No Lee,” which developed while the altoist was on a break, with a soaring melody that Tepfer develops in swathes of harmonic ululation. It is the shape of things to come from Tepfer, who is allegedly recording Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” – ALL ABOUT JAZZ
Audio :: Dan Tepfer Trio
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Audio :: Bach Goldberg Variations and Improvisations (live in Paris)
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Audio :: Solo Jazz Piano
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Size: Jazz Trio – 3 musicians
Available UK Dates: 6th December – 12th December 2010
E: telegram@stoneylane.net T: +44(0)121 288 8575
Full stage and technical plan, artist rider, high-res photographs on request