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John Serry received the Grand Prize in the JAZZIZ magazine Keyboards on Fire pianist/composer competition (Dave Brubeck and Bob James, judges; grand piano from Steinway, 1995) and a Grammy Nomination for his debut recording, "Exhibition" (Chrysalis, 1979). Serry's second recording, "Jazziz" (Chrysalis, 1980), earned 4 stars in Downbeat, feature review of the month in Keyboard magazine and was the inspiration for the naming of JAZZIZ magazine by publisher Michael Fagien.
John Serry's CD, "Enchantress" (Telarc, 1996), was widely acclaimed:
"He has a strong sense of melody, his touch is confident, his ideas are sensible and his playing is beautifully controlled "
--Downbeat
"What a pleasure to find that he is back, still turning out charts that turn heads by turning corners."
--Keyboard.
Serry has performed at Birdland, the Blue Note, the Montreux Festival, the 606 Club (London), Covent Garden, Steinway Hall and numerous festivals, clubs and venues in the U.S and abroad. Players which have appeared in his groups and recordings include John Riley, Peter Erskine, Carlos Vega, Anthony Jackson, Jimmy Johnson, Bob Sheppard, Gerry Niewood, Ted Nash, Mike Sembello, and Barry Finnerty, among others. John has played, arranged and/or conducted for Radio City Music Hall (Orchestra Director for Graciella Danielle), Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, Patti Austin, Doc Severinsen, Marian McPartland, the BBC Big Band, Paul Dunmall, Kyle Eastwood, the Canadian Brass, and Broadway shows - Les Miserables, Beauty & the Beast, Cats, Saturday Night Fever, Jekyll & Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Guys & Dolls.
He toured, and recorded "Glider" (Chrysalis, 1978), with the group Auracle and Miles Davis producer, Teo Macero. He has composed and arranged for ABC, NBC, CNN, PBS, films and commercials. He has received commissions and performances - e.g., at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center,and The Aspen Music Festival - for his original concert works, including concertos, solos and chamber music, many of which feature percussion (on which he also doubles).
He has taught and coached ensembles at Juilliard, Peabody, Musicians Institute (L.A.), NYU, City College (NYC), Queens College, Brooklyn College, SUNY Binghamton, Univ. of Wisconsin, Univ. of S. Carolina (Director of Jazz), Wichita State Univ. (2 residencies), Univ. of Wales - Cardiff, and the Royal Academy of Music (London). He has an MM and BM with Distinction, from the Eastman School of Music (Profs. Bill Dobbins, Chuck Mangione, John Beck, Ray Wright), where he participated in master classes and performances with Joe Farrell, Keith Jarrett and Bill Watrous. While at Eastman, he won Best Pianist and Best Composer/Arranger for a Small Group, as well as Best Combo (as a member of Auracle), at the 1975 Notre Dame Jazz Festival - Jack DeJohnette, Sonny Rollins, Cecil Bridgewater, Chuck Rainey and Dan Morgenstern judges. Throughout high school, he studied with percussionist, Gordon Gottlieb, at the Juilliard School by special permission of legendary New York Philharmonic timpanist, Saul Goodman. During this time, he was timpanist and percussionist, and sometimes keyboardist, for the Long Island Youth Orchestra, with whom he later toured Europe (summer, 1973) as guest alumni soloist playing the Creston Marimba Concerto. He was a New York State Regents, Eastman School of Music and Long Island Youth Orchestra scholarship recipient.
In January 2005, John Serry performed his compositions on solo / duo piano at Covent Garden Opera House, on BBC "Jazz Legends Live", with host & fellow pianist Julian Joseph. Other performances include jazz clubs and concerts in Prague and around the Czech Republic - tours & workshops 2007-08 and '01-'03; Spain (Barcelona, Valencia and Castelleon), 2007; The 606 Club (London) 2004 - 2006; Saturday Night Fever - tour (UK & Ireland) 2006 / West End (London) 2004-5; Italians of London Jazz Festival (London) April 2005; Birds Eye jazz club, (Basel, Switzerland) Tuesdays / Wednesdays, March '04; Associate Conductor, Fame (Basel, Dec '03) and Grease (Austria/Germany, '03); Music Director / pianist "Swing" (Gateway Playhouse, Fall '02). In February '04, John was interviewed by Julian Joseph on the BBC Radio 3 program "Jazz Legends" in a one hour segment devoted to his recorded work. A frequent traveller and art enthusiast, John is a native New Yorker and dual citizen of Italy. His CD, The Shift comes out in summer, 2009 with his London quartet, Dave O'Higgins - sax, Mark Mondesir - dms, Mike Mondesir - elec. bs / Sam Burgess - bs. He has just recorded a solo piano album at Steinway and he has a book (work of fiction) in progress. John has lived in Europe since 2004 - London, Spain, Prague, Italy... Management: GPM (UK), graham@gpmanagement.net
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