Jeremy Siskind

Jeremy Siskind (born October 14, 1986)[3] is an American pianist, composer, and educator known for his innovative blending of jazz and classical music.[4]

Jeremy Siskind
Born (1986-10-14) October 14, 1986
United States
Genresjazz, classical
Occupation(s)Pianist, educator
Years active2010–present
LabelsOutside In Music,[1] Brooklyn Jazz Underground[2]
Associated actsAngelin Chang, Nancy Harms, Jo Lawry, Fred Hersch, Sophia Rosoff, Lea DeLaria, Julia Bullock
Websitewww.jeremysiskind.com

Early life

Siskind was raised in Irvine, California and began playing piano at age four.[5] He was trained in the Yamaha Music Education System,[6] and quickly distinguished himself in their Junior Original Concert program, where he was twice selected to be the United States representative to Japan. Siskind studied jazz piano with Linda Martinez and Tamir Hendelman.[7]

Siskind earned degrees in Jazz Performance and Music Theory at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied with Tony Caramia, Bill Dobbins, and Harold Danko. In 2006, Siskind was noticed by jazz legend Marian McPartland, who invited him to record an episode of Piano Jazz on NPR.[8]

Siskind began participating in piano competitions while at Eastman, and was a three-time finalist for the Kathleen T. and Philip B. Phillips, M.D. Jazz Piano Competition. He was also a finalist for the American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz in 2007 and 2011, but ultimately lost to Dan Tepfer[9] and Aaron Diehl,[10] respectively. Siskind won second prize at the Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Competition in Switzerland in 2011, and won first prize in the Nottingham International Solo Piano Competition in 2013.[11]

Upon graduating Eastman in 2008, Siskind moved to New York City to pursue a degree in English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. While at Columbia, Siskind began studies with Fred Hersch[12] and Sophia Rosoff.[13]

While in New York, Siskind recorded his debut record, Simple Songs (for When the World Seems Strange), featuring bassist Chris Lightcap, drummer Ted Poor, and vocalist Jo Lawry.[14]

Career and style

A hallmark of Siskind's career is the combination of classical and jazz.[15] In his debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall in 2012, he performed Debussy’s Etudes in the first half of the program and jazz compositions in the second half.[16][17] His project with Andrew Rathbun, released as Impressions of Debussy in 2020, features the jazz duo improvising on Debussy's piano preludes.[18]

Siskind's Perpetual Motion Etudes was also released in 2020, as both a self-published book and CD from the Outside In Music label, combining through-composed material with jazz improvisation."[19] Siskind's scheduled premieres of these works, featuring two-piano duos with Grammy-winning pianist Angelin Chang, were cancelled as a repercussion of the coronavirus pandemic.[20][21] As a result, he instead took to Instagram Live, performing ballads from his home.[22][23]

Siskind also combines classical and jazz influences with the Housewarming Project,[24][25] his chamber jazz group featuring vocalist Nancy Harms and Lucas Pino playing saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet. The Housewarming Project recorded two albums and performed well over 100 house concerts in over 25 states.[26] Their repertoire features Siskind's lyric writing, which draws information from poetry and prose he read while studying at Columbia.

Siskind was named a Yamaha Artist in 2014.[27]

Collaborative work

Siskind has been a frequent collaborator with soprano Julia Bullock, writing multiple sets of arrangements, including a cycle of the music of Josephine Baker.[28]

He has also served as music director for comedians Lea DeLaria[29][30] and Sandra Bernhard.[31]

Teaching

Siskind is a well-regarded pedagogue and active educator.[32][33] As a collegiate professor, he has taught at Eastman (while still a student in 2006), Western Michigan University (2012-2017),[34] and Fullerton College in California (2017–present day).[35] Siskind served as the founding Artistic Director of the American Jazz Pianist Competition from 2014 to 2016.

As an author and composer, Siskind has published extensively with Hal Leonard,[36] including instructional books Jazz Band Pianist and First Lessons in Piano Improv. He is also a frequent presenter at piano conferences such as the Music Teachers National Association[37] and the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy,[38] where he serves as the Chair of the Creative Track. Siskind actively teaches creativity, improvisation, and jazz with Yamaha Music Education and Jazz Education Abroad,[39] who organizes masterclasses in places like China, Thailand, Cyprus, and Lebanon.

Siskind is the teacher of prodigy Justin-Lee Schultz[40][41] since 2016. The two began lessons when they were both living in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Discography

As a leader
  • Simple Songs (for When the World Seems Strange) (Brooklyn Jazz Underground, 2010) with Chris Lightcap, Ted Poor, and Jo Lawry
  • Finger-Songwriter (Brooklyn Jazz Underground, 2012) with Lucas Pino and Nancy Harms
  • Housewarming (Brooklyn Jazz Underground, 2015) with Lucas Pino, Nancy Harms, plus Kurt Elling, Peter Eldridge, Kendra Shank
  • Perpetual Motion Etudes (Outside in Music, 2020)

As a co-leader
  • Free Fall (2014) with the Western Jazz Quartet
  • Impressions of Debussy (Centaur Records, 2020) with Andrew Rathbun and Lori Sims

As a sideman
  • Bridges (2015) with Doug Scarborough
  • Ellington at Night (Gazzelle Records, 2016) with Nancy Harms
  • Atwood Suites (2018) with Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble

Other
  • at_Home/at_Play (2018) video series with Lucas Pino and Nancy Harms

Publications
  • 2020: Perpetual Motion Etudes (self-published)
  • 2020: Such Harmonious Madness (self-published)
  • 2019: Theme from New York New York — for six hands (Hal Leonard)
  • 2018: Big Apple Jazz (Hal Leonard)
  • 2017: Pop Duets (Hal Leonard)
  • 2015: First Lessons in Piano Improv (Hal Leonard)
  • 2015: Jazz Hits (Hal Leonard)
  • 2015: Myths and Monsters (Hal Leonard)
  • 2014: Jazz Band Pianist (Hal Leonard)
  • 2014: Double Agent (Hal Leonard)
  • 2013: Conga Lion (Hal Leonard)
  • 2013: The Magic of Standards (Hal Leonard)
  • 2012: Jazz Etude Inspirations (Hal Leonard)
  • 2012: Big Band Shout (Hal Leonard)

References
  1. Outside in Music release page
  2. Brooklyn Jazz Underground release page
  3. Julia Bullock program with birth year listed
  4. Burke, Debbie "Defying Genres with 88 Keys - The Artful Music of Jeremy Siskind"
  5. "Growing up in Irvine, California, Siskind started playing piano when he was 4 or 5 years old." University of Rochester
  6. "Jeremy Siskind, Full scholarship to Eastman School of Music" Yamaha Music School Graduates
  7. "...through Yamaha's Junior Original Concert program; twice, Siskind was even flown to Tokyo, Japan to represent the United States in front of Japanese audiences. Both his playing and composing quickly thrived upon beginning to study jazz with pianists Linda Martinez and Tamir Hendelman" All About Jazz
  8. Piano Jazz NPR Archive
  9. Siskind, Jeremy "...a phenomenal and unforgettable experience for Siskind, although the fabulous pianist Dan Tepfer was eventually named the winner."Miscellany From Siskind blog
  10. Pulliam, Becca "Diehl beat out four other finalists for the 2011 Cole Porter Fellowship, awarded by the American Pianists Association" NPR A Blog Supreme
  11. Burke, Debbie "In 2012, Jeremy won the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition; in 2011, he claimed second place at the Montreux Solo Piano competition."
  12. Napell, Isaac "Siskind says that his first lesson with Hersch in 2007 was a life-changing experience" The Post and Courier
  13. "Having recently completed a Master's in English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, Siskind currently resides in New York where he studies piano with Fred Hersch and Sophia Rosoff." Apex Art program
  14. da Gama, Raul "I originally recorded this piece on Simple Songs ... as a duet with Jo Lawry, and I must credit her with helping me come up with the form (as well as polishing some lyrics!)" JazzDaGama feature, p. 3
  15. da Gama, Raul "...out of the bedrock of what appears to be the classical tradition, played in a style that floats in and out of the Romantic and Impressionist movements styled in the inventions of Jazz improvisation"JazzDaGama feature, p. 3
  16. Recommended Concerts: "Siskind Performing Jazz and Classical Music at Carnegie Hall" DooBeeDooBeeDoo
  17. Siskind, Jeremy 2012 Carnegie Hall program notes Miscellany From Siskind blog
  18. Toland, Michael Impressions of Debussy review The Big Takeover
  19. 'Perpetual Motion Etudes' Press Release
  20. PianoForte Chicago cancellation notice
  21. Carnegie Hall cancellation notice
  22. Siskind Instagram post: "I was supposed to play at Carnegie tonight. Instead, I'm going to do a livestream playing ballads in my pajamas." at Instagram
  23. "Stream Performances And Talks As Musicians And Organizations Look For Alternatives To Live Gigs" DownBeat
  24. Official Siskind website: Housewarming Project page
  25. International Review of Music: 2015 Housewarming Project review
  26. ...the leader of “The Housewarming Project ... presenting well over 100 in-home concerts in 25 states. KCMTA
  27. Official Yamaha Artist page
  28. Tommasini, Anthony "...in a gesture to her African-American heritage, Ms. Bullock sang “Hommage à Josephine Baker” — six songs, here arranged by Jeremy Siskind" New York Times
  29. Scott, Marcus "with musical director/arranger Jeremy Siskind at the helm leading his band of melodic marauders, love was in the air." EDGE Media Network
  30. Wade Steketee, Martha "Lazy warm wandering melodic riffs explode gently within the jazz explorations, including clean keyboard arpeggios and percussive chord play by musical director Siskind at the piano" Theater Pizzazz
  31. Wohlfarth, Matt "Her show, during which she also sings, will feature critically acclaimed pianist Jeremy Siskind, who tickles the ivories as well as Bernhard tickles our funny bone. According to Bernhard, “you won't miss the band because Siskind is so good." Trib Live
  32. Steinhardt, Benjamin "Jeremy Siskind is a bit of a rock star at these conventions and he didn't disappoint." MTNA blog
  33. 'Ears, Fingers, Brain, and Heart: Jeremy Siskind Piano Teacher Magazine
  34. 2012 Siskind Faculty Recital program (PDF)
  35. Fullerton College faculty page
  36. Hal Leonard product search results for Siskind (search parameters: Jeremy Siskind)
  37. 2019 MTNA conference handout
  38. National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy 2019 (video) at Facebook
  39. Jazz Education Abroad: Jeremy Siskind
  40. Event listing with Justin-Lee Schultz biography
  41. Justin-Lee Schultz post with Siskind at Instagram
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