Nexus:
Noah Krzan (bass)
Ryan Andrews (drums/percussion)
; Knifics, Hall, & Beckstrom:
Tom Knific (bass)
Keith Hall (drums)
Chris Beckstrom (sax)
Influences
Brad Mehldau, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Stefon Harris, Fred Hersch, Dan Wall, Gene Knific, Tom Knific, Renata Knific, Rob van Bavel, Radiohead, Danilo Perez, Avishai Cohen, Bill Evans, Ethan Iverson, Joshua Redman, Nick Drake, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Neil Evans, Robert Walter, Hiromi, Esbjorn Svensson, Billy Hart
most importantly, all the great musicians who I've had the good fortune of working with, friends and family included
Pianist/Keyboardist from Kalamazoo, MI. Now based in Cleveland, OH. Just back from a semester in Amsterdam studying with Ron van Bavel at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
John Knific has played piano his whole life. His Kalamazoo area teachers include Lori Sims, Rich Ridenour and Jeff Mitchell. John’s interest in jazz developed during middle school, when he formed Nexus, a creative trio that continues to perform, and includes Noah Krzan and Ryan Andrews. The group’s influences range from Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau and EST, to Radiohead and The Beatles. Nexus performed at every possible venue in Southwest Michigan, and has released three CD’s. They are the only area group to win a pre- collegiate Down Beat Student Music Award. Having been admitted to the medical school at Case Western Reserve University through the Pre-Professional Scholars Program while still in high school, John is currently a senior at CWRU pursuing dual degrees in music performance and biology. He also studies jazz piano at The Oberlin Conservatory with Dan Wall. He has performed in master classes for John Clayton Fred Hersch and currently studies arranging with Paul Ferguson. John just returned from a semester studying abroad at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam working with Rob van Bavel and others. John was also featured during this time at The Swiss Jazz Foundation in Zurich, and at The Schlern International festival in Italy.
