Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 10, 1938 in Chicago, IL

 

Denny Zeitlin is a renowned American jazz pianist and composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on April 10, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, Zeitlin grew up in a family of music lovers. His father was a physician who played the violin, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Zeitlin showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of two. Zeitlin's family moved to Los Angeles when he was six years old, and he continued to pursue his passion for music. He studied classical piano with Aube Tzerko, a renowned teacher who had also taught Van Cliburn. Zeitlin was a prodigious student and won several awards and competitions during his teenage years. In addition to his classical training, Zeitlin was also drawn to jazz music. He was particularly influenced by the music of pianist Bill Evans, who was known for his innovative approach to jazz piano. Zeitlin began playing jazz in his late teens and quickly gained a reputation as a talented improviser. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, Zeitlin went on to attend Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. Despite his busy schedule as a medical student, Zeitlin continued to play music and even formed a jazz trio with his classmates. After completing his medical training, Zeitlin moved to San Francisco and began practicing psychiatry. He continued to play music on the side and eventually decided to pursue a career as a full-time musician. In the early 1960s, he formed a jazz trio with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Jerry Granelli. The trio gained a following in the San Francisco jazz scene and released several albums. In addition to his work as a jazz musician, Zeitlin also began composing classical music. His first major work was a piano concerto, which he premiered with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1969. The concerto was well-received and helped establish Zeitlin as a serious composer. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Zeitlin continued to compose and perform both jazz and classical music. He released several albums as a solo artist and collaborated with other musicians, including guitarist John Abercrombie and saxophonist David Liebman. He also composed music for film and television, including the score for the 1978 horror film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." In the 1990s, Zeitlin began to focus more on his work as a psychiatrist and took a break from music. However, he returned to performing and composing in the early 2000s and has continued to be an active musician ever since. In recent years, he has released several albums, including "Stairway to the Stars" (2019), which features his interpretations of classic jazz standards. Zeitlin's music is known for its innovative blend of jazz and classical influences. He has been praised for his virtuosic piano playing and his ability to create complex, multi-layered compositions. His work has been compared to that of other jazz-classical fusion pioneers, such as Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. Some of Zeitlin's most notable compositions include his piano concerto, as well as his chamber music works, such as "Carnival" for flute, clarinet, and piano, and "Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano." He has also composed several works for solo piano, including "Quiet Now," which has become a jazz standard. In addition to his work as a musician and composer, Zeitlin is also a respected educator.

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