Jesse Elder is a New York City based pianist....

Jesse Elder is a New York City based pianist, composer and band leader. He studied at Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin Conservatory and New School University. He is a three time winner of the national "ASCAP Young Jazz Composer's Competition". He has performed throughout the United States at venues such as the Blue Note, Town Hall (NYC), the Jazz Standard, Small's, Fat Cat, BargeMusic, Top of the Rock, Webster Hall, Granada (Dallas), Cervantes Ballroom (Denver), Avalon (Hollywood), and many others. He's worked with Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Gary Thomas, Chris Cheek, Nasheet Waits, Ben Street, Tyshawn Sorey, Logan Richardson, Jeremy Viner, Chris Tordini and lots of other talented musicians. Jesse is signed to the Belgium record label "Off" with whom he released his debut CD in September, 2009. It is currently being played by various radio stations around the world and has been favorably reviewed by AllAboutJazz, eJazzNews, Club de Jazz and www.AllMusic.com. Jesse is currently working on a new CD which will feature a collection of original songs for voice and piano. Jesse accompanies vocal legend Tony Middleton on a weekly basis at various venues in and around NYC.

"There is always room for a new songsmith in jazz. Pianist/composer Jesse Elder is a prodigious new voice in modern jazz, and his debut recording displays not only his nonpareil composing talents, but those of a very skilled arranger and performer. The Winding Shell finds him working with kindred spirit drummer Tyshawn Sorey, the much heralded voice of the new Brooklyn sound. These two artists don't confine their music to the jazz vocabulary; they just might be the descendants of Duke Ellington, Muhal Richard Abrams and Anthony Braxton —three composers mentioned because the music, while experimental and formidable, is quite tuneful and lyrical... The name Jesse Elder is certainly one to remember as the history of jazz continues to be written." Mark Corroto, AllAboutJazz

"Mr. Elder leads skillfully, with minimalist Monk like probing to flashes of brilliance with lightning runs. Always pushing – guiding the composition, blending and inspiring The Winding Shell is brilliant." Paul J. Youngman, JazzReview.com

"Sure enough, Elder is on track to impart a significant presence within global jazz circles due to this irrefutably, persuasive debut release." Glenn Astarita, eJazzNews

"Pianist Jesse Elder has no time for linear melodies, or logical, arithmetical rhythms. Still, on The Winding Shell, he shows himself to be a rather clever master of song form. In prismatic style, he lights up his tunes with refracted luminous and melodic excursions. He plays these around the musicians who augment his obtuse schematics, and receives an almost revered response—not for his leadership, but rather for the solemn musical ground that some of them cover. There is also a certain violence to these vignettes, though this is not menacing—just a little like reacting to scatological situations that practitioners of this music often find themselves in. Although The Winding Shell has that '70s kind of counter-culture ring to it, song titles and all, there is something truly accessible here. A very astute musician, in many ways Elder has transported himself to an imagined landscape... The four-part, four-hand improvisation played by Elder and fellow pianist Aya Nishina is a superb invention, the sheer power of the players' virtuosity recalling an event of old... Elder is an intriguing and mesmerizing pianist." Raul d'Gama Rose, AllAboutJazz

Band Musicians:
Logan Richardson;
Jeremy Viner;
Jesse Elder;
Chris Tordini;
Tyshawn Sorey.
Outstanding musicians who have performed in the ensemble include: Tatum Greenblatt, Aidan Carroll, Tommy Crane, Ambrose Akinmusire, Colin Killalea, Matt Brewer, Adam Jackson, Jonathan Powell, Kyle Wilson, Kyle Athade, Ben Campbell, Ben Street, Nasheet Waits, Jonathan Finlyason, Chris Cheek, Gary Thomas, Rob Adkins, Dave Robaire, Alec Menge, Sam Knight.
 
Shows:
20 fev 2010 22:30 Duane Park - Melody Sweets New York, New York
27 fev 2010 22:30 Duane Park - Melody Sweets New York, New York
21 mar 2010 20:00 Triad New York, New York
28 mar 2010 20:00 Triad New York, New York
9 abr 2010 19:30 Karen Joy Theatre of Upland Hills Oxford, Michigan
29 abr 2010 20:00 BargeMusic - New Band Debut!! Brooklyn, New York