John Esposito (born 1953) is an American jazzpianist of advanced bebop tendencies. Known as a composer for his own groups and a versatile sideman capable of all styles from stride piano to free improvisation, he is a pianist highly influenced by modernism (Bartók in particular), and capable of playing off of several rhythmic and harmonic levels at once. As manifested in music for his quintet (with Eric Person on sax, Greg Glassman on trumpet, Kenny Davis on bass, and Pete O'Brien on drums) and trio (with Ira Coleman on bass and Pete O'Brien on drums), Esposito's compositions are couched in an expansion of bebop harmony, often using rhythmic schemes of complex and subtle metric modulation. Some of his pieces are transformations of jazz standards rendered unrecognizable by such techniques as running the chord progression backwards, or using a complex system of chord substitutions.
Born in Brooklyn, Esposito was raised in the Hudson Valley in a family that included policemen but also artists and musicians. His grandfather, a violin maker, was a jazz violinist and reed player, and played in the 1920s with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. Esposito attended the State University of New York at Albany. Majoring in musical composition, he drew influences from visiting composers who came through, including John Cage, Robert Ashley, Frederic Rzewski, and Elliott Carter.[1] At the same time, however, he found himself drawn more to improvisation, and, despite a rather late start, took up jazz piano. (As a teenager, he had already played harmonica in a blues band.) In 1980 Esposito moved to New York City, where he worked with saxophonist Arthur Rhames, a neglected, almost forgotten figure who died of AIDS-related illness at 32 (1989), and who some nevertheless feel was the successor to John Coltrane's mantle as the greatest creative performer on that instrument.[2]
Discography (group - title - year issued - label)edit
John Esposito Quintet: The Blue People - 2006 - SunJump
John Esposito Trio: Down Blue Marlin Road - 2006 - SunJump
Eric Person: Reflection, the best of collection - 2007- Distinction Records
Eric Person: More Tales to Tell - 1997 - Soul Note Records
Eric Person and Meta-Four: Live at Big Sur- 2003- Distinction Records
Eric Person and Meta-Four: Extra Pressure - 1999 - Distinction Records
Franklin Kiermyer: Sanctification - 1999 - Mobility Music/Sunship Records
Franklin Kiermyer: Kairos - 1996 - Evidence Music
Franklin Kiermyer, Pharoah Sanders, John Esposito, Drew Gress: Solomon's Daughter - 1994 - Evidence Music
Referencesedit
^John Esposito bio via Mobility Music May 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^For instance, The Dynamic Duo Remember Trane & Bird reviewed by Derek Taylor 2006-10-17 at the Wayback Machine Accessed March 27, 2007
^Bard College music faculty bio 2006-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
Sunjump Records
January 01, 1970
john, esposito, pianist, other, people, named, john, esposito, john, esposito, disambiguation, john, esposito, born, 1953, american, jazz, pianist, advanced, bebop, tendencies, known, composer, groups, versatile, sideman, capable, styles, from, stride, piano, . For other people named John Esposito see John Esposito disambiguation John Esposito born 1953 is an American jazz pianist of advanced bebop tendencies Known as a composer for his own groups and a versatile sideman capable of all styles from stride piano to free improvisation he is a pianist highly influenced by modernism Bartok in particular and capable of playing off of several rhythmic and harmonic levels at once As manifested in music for his quintet with Eric Person on sax Greg Glassman on trumpet Kenny Davis on bass and Pete O Brien on drums and trio with Ira Coleman on bass and Pete O Brien on drums Esposito s compositions are couched in an expansion of bebop harmony often using rhythmic schemes of complex and subtle metric modulation Some of his pieces are transformations of jazz standards rendered unrecognizable by such techniques as running the chord progression backwards or using a complex system of chord substitutions John EspositoBirth nameJohn EspositoBornc 1953OriginBrooklyn New York USAGenresJazzOccupation s PianistInstrument s Piano Born in Brooklyn Esposito was raised in the Hudson Valley in a family that included policemen but also artists and musicians His grandfather a violin maker was a jazz violinist and reed player and played in the 1920s with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra Esposito attended the State University of New York at Albany Majoring in musical composition he drew influences from visiting composers who came through including John Cage Robert Ashley Frederic Rzewski and Elliott Carter 1 At the same time however he found himself drawn more to improvisation and despite a rather late start took up jazz piano As a teenager he had already played harmonica in a blues band In 1980 Esposito moved to New York City where he worked with saxophonist Arthur Rhames a neglected almost forgotten figure who died of AIDS related illness at 32 1989 and who some nevertheless feel was the successor to John Coltrane s mantle as the greatest creative performer on that instrument 2 Esposito played in the Arthur Rhames Quartet for five years and in 1987 launched his own jazz quintet called Second Sight with Dave Douglas Jeff Marx Allen Murphy Jeff Siegel and Fred Berryhill Notables he s performed with are Thurman Barker Nick Brignola Roy Campbell Santi Debriano Carter Jefferson John Lindberg Erica Lindsay Joe Lovano J R Monterose David Fathead Newman and Roswell Rudd He has also recorded with Rashied Ali Dave Douglas Dave Holland Franklin Kiermyer Jeff Marx Eric Person Arthur Rhames Sam Rivers Pharoah Sanders Michael Stuart and John Stubblefield among others In the 1990s he gradually first as adjunct faculty and later as visiting professor joined the faculty of Bard College where he teaches jazz piano literature and harmony One of his theory students was fellow faculty member Kyle Gann In 2006 Esposito formed his own record label SunJump in order to bring out recordings of his own groups and historical recordings in his archive 3 Discography group title year issued label editJohn Esposito Quintet The Blue People 2006 SunJump John Esposito Trio Down Blue Marlin Road 2006 SunJump Eric Person Reflection the best of collection 2007 Distinction Records Eric Person More Tales to Tell 1997 Soul Note Records Eric Person and Meta Four Live at Big Sur 2003 Distinction Records Eric Person and Meta Four Extra Pressure 1999 Distinction Records Franklin Kiermyer Sanctification 1999 Mobility Music Sunship Records Franklin Kiermyer Kairos 1996 Evidence Music Franklin Kiermyer Pharoah Sanders John Esposito Drew Gress Solomon s Daughter 1994 Evidence MusicReferences edit John Esposito bio via Mobility Music Archived May 12 2006 at the Wayback Machine For instance The Dynamic Duo Remember Trane amp Bird reviewed by Derek Taylor Archived 2006 10 17 at the Wayback Machine Accessed March 27 2007 Bard College music faculty bio Archived 2006 09 01 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editSunjump Records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Esposito pianist amp oldid 1223110567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
