By the mid-’90s, pianist Jacky Terrasson was being hailed as one of the bright young lions on the traditional jazz scene. His self-titled 1995 debut for Blue Note Records drew high praise from all corners of the jazz world. His feathery keyboard touch is coupled with a lot of power and passion, and a complete understanding of the blues and improvisation, and Terrasson is also a gifted arranger, putting his own personal stamp on well-known tunes. He’s been one of the jazz world’s most talked about piano player/composers since he captured everyone’s attention when he won the Thelonious Monk Competition in 1993.
Born in Berlin to a French mother and an American father, Terrasson’s distinctive piano style reflects his old and new influences. In his youth, he spent years studying and listening to recordings by Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk. He began playing piano at age five, and his parents were always playing classical music on the stereo. At age 11, he began listening intently to the Billie Holiday and Miles Davis records that belonged to his mother, and at that point, he was hooked on playing jazz piano.
He studied jazz at the Berklee College of Music in Boston with many other new traditionalists as classmates, including people like Danilo Perez. After graduation, he spent a year jamming at clubs in Chicago and New York before hooking up with ensembles led by his mentors, including Arthur Taylor and Betty Carter. At a recording session, Terrasson met Carter. The vocalist told him she needed a pianist to begin a tour the next day, and he accepted, spending nearly a year on the road with her.
Among many other sessions, Terrasson performed on Jimmy Scott’s release, “Heaven”, for Warner Bros. He also did arranging for that record. Terrasson continues to perform around the world as leader of his own trio, and has made several European and Japanese tours. He’s one of the most sought-after sidemen in jazz, constantly in demand for touring jazz bands and recording dates. On his 1996 sophomore effort, Reach, he’s ably backed by the same musicians who accompanied him on his debut: bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Leon Parker. Rendezvous followed in 1997, and a year later Terrasson returned with Alive. What It Is emphasized Terrasson’s compositional skills as well as technique. A Paris, an homage to Terrasson’s home town, followed two years later. In 2002, Terrasson delivered “Smile”, a companion piece of sorts to A Paris. He then moved away from ensemble work with his solo piano album “Mirror”. In 2010, Terrasson released the lively trio album “Push”. ~ Richard Skelly
Deniss Pashkevich is Latvian flute & saxophone player, producer, ad-libber and educator who is active performing in jazz festivals and clubs mainly in Baltic States and Scandinavia. He has founded the 1st jazz records & publishing company in Latvia -“DenissJazz.com” in 2004. It has released several jazz projects feat.Latvian and foreign jazz musicians.
Deniss has made a lot of experimental music projects (“Riga Groove 4tet”, “Rhythm Community”, “Dis is da Boltix”, “Time After Time” etc.) especially during the last year. His concern is mixing the progressive music styles with accoustic jazz. There are a lot of contemporary music played like drum’n’bass, hip-hop, ethno etc. featuring the best Latvian DJ’s.
Deniss has good connection with several foreign jazz musicians (Ryo Kawasaki, Ted Curson, Nick “The Brownman” Ali, Ray Blue, Brian Melvin, Karlheinz Miklin, Hedvig Hanson a.o.) and he has taken part in different festivals in Europe and USA.
Approximate duration: 2 hours
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