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With his highly regarded discography, unique compositions, and acclaimed performances in a variety of configurations, pianist Geoffrey Keezer commands the attention typically reserved for the living legends of jazz. Whether recording with jazzy chanteuses Diana Krall or Dianne Reeves, touring with trumpet king Chris Botti, or collaborating with pop icon Sting, sax legend Wayne Shorter, guitar wizard Jim Hall, star bassist Christian McBride or vibes master Joe Locke, Geoffrey "has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole" (Time Magazine).
A native of Eau Claire, WI, Keezer was playing in jazz clubs as a teenager, holding down the piano chair for Art Blakey at age 18, and touring in the company of Joshua Redman, Benny Golson and Ray Brown in his 20s. More recently he has toured with David Sanborn, Chris Botti, Joe Locke and Christian McBride; worked with vocalist Denise Donatelli on projects garnering three GRAMMY® nominations, and released a series of albums drawing influences from Hawaiian, Okinawan and Afro-Peruvian folk traditions. Perhaps the most exciting turn in Geoffrey's career is his recent focus on solo piano and his first solo release in thirteen years, Heart of the Piano (2013, Motema Records). On a mission to redefine solo jazz piano as a personal and interactive showcase of melody, energy and groove, Keezer brings to Heart of the Piano his most direct and focused artistry to date. Barely into his 40s, Geoffrey Keezer's singular style of intellectually abstract lyricism woven over exotically complex rhythms and harmonies makes him one of the most sought-after artists on the modern jazz scene. Regardless of the nature of his projects, from solo to duo to quartet, from bandleader to big band, from post bop jazz to electronica to global fusion, from composer to arranger, Geoffrey delivers music from the heart of the piano to the ear--and heart--of the listener. | |
"In the universe of piano players that I have been exposed to over the years, Geoffrey has proved himself to be not only a superb technician and improviser, but also above and beyond this, a composer and conceptualist who can maintain the overall line and the DNA of the song in everything he plays. A musician's musician." - Sting "You look like you can't do nothin'…we should work together!" - Miles Davis "Beautiful playing! I love your improvised pianisms together with your wonderful compositions. Very inspiring!" - Chick Corea "Geoffrey possesses a refreshingly open-eared sensibility in the modern manner, and he has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole." - Time Magazine "Keezer has evolved a singular style of intellectually abstract lyricism woven over exotically complex rhythms and harmonies." - Andrea Canter, The Jazz Police "The wow factor, in full force at the start of the show, had morphed into an I-can't-friggin-believe-what-I'm hearing phenomenon by the end of the night, as a normally subdued Seattle jazz audience found itself hooting and hollering as if the Seahawks had won the Superbowl." - Allaboutjazz.com "Regardless of context or style, Geoffrey Keezer is equally comfortable in all-acoustic settings and those requiring more contemporary use of electronics. Consistently inventive and virtuosic, Keezer is, above all, unfailingly musical." - Allaboutjazz.com - John Kelman |
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| Selected Discography | |
AS A LEADER: |
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•Heart of the Piano (2013 - Motéma) |
•Falling Up (2003 - MaxJazz)
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| AS A SIDEMAN: | |
Keola Beamer Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Chris Botti Ray Brown Contemporary Piano Ensemble Denise Donatelli Art Farmer Tim Garland Benny Golson |
Jim Hall Roy Hargrove Barbara Hendricks Jazz Messengers Ingrid Jensen Sofia Koutsovitis Christian McBride Charnett Moffett Jane Monheit Leonard Patton Dianne Reeves Tal Wilkenfeld Compilations:
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