Jesse Green
Encyclopedia
Jesse Green is an American professional jazz
pianist, composer, arranger, producer
, and teacher. He is the son of ex-big band singer Kathy Preston and acclaimed Jazz trombonist Urbie Green
. Jesse was married in June 2003 to Kristine and has three children. At 35, Jesse Green, pianist
, composer
, arranger
, recording artist, producer
, and teacher
, has an extensive background in music
.
, IN, from judges Dr. Billy Taylor, Danilo Perez and Jim Turner. As a result, he was named the first Jazz Fellow of the American Pianist Association. Together, these three winnings have brought Jesse many opportunities to perform all over the world.
In May 2001, Jesse was contracted to record his third CD for Chiaroscuro Records (the distinguished jazz record label who originally signed him in 1992). The new CD Sylvian Treasure features six of Jesse’s compositions, four of which were written and performed by three of the finest jazz saxophonists around today, Phil Woods, Dave Liebman and Chris Potter. Also performing on the recording are Pat Dorian on trumpet, Bruce Cox on drums, and Frank Hauch on bass. Produced by Jesse and funded by the American Pianist Association, the CD was a tribute to his mentors.
During his junior year in high school, he became a member of the East Stroudsburg University Jazz Ensemble. He was piano accompanist for District Chorus as well as the high school chorus, and, for five consecutive years, he was pianist for the Celebration of the Arts Festival
COTA Cats (a big band founded by Grammy Award winner Phil Woods). Famous guest artists with the Cota Cats included David Liebman, Manny Album, Al Cohn, Hal Crook, Urbie Green, and Phil Woods. The band, directed by Pat Dorian, appears each year at the COTA Festival in Delaware Water Gap, PA.
As a student at East Stroudsburg University, Jesse played trombone in the Concert Band and Brass Ensemble, and piano in the Jazz Ensemble. Notable artists that Jesse has performed with in this Jazz Ensemble include Clark Terry, Lew Tabackin, Freddie Hubbard, Al Grey, Urbie Green, Phil Woods, David Liebman, Benny Carter, and Jimmy Heath. As a trombonist, Jesse was selected two years in a row for the Inter-Collegiate Concert Band.
Among the awards Jesse has received are a full scholarship Berkless College of Music, scholarship to Clark Terry’s Jazz Camp, The Celebration of the Arts Commission, East Stroudsburg University Music Department, and a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music
.
At age 17, Jesse won the National Downbeat Student Award for “best extended composition and arrangement” with his original Half & Half. He has since written many other arrangements for big band as well as small groups. Blues for Dad, written for his father, legendary jazz trombonist Urbie Green
, was performed by the COTA Cats at the 1989 COTA Jazz Festival.
In 1992, Jesse recorded his debut CD Lift Off for Chiaroscuro Records with Paul Rostock on bass, Bobby Durham on drums, and featured guest Joe Cohn on guitar.
. Held in conjunction with the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
, this competition is in its 22nd year and has founded many great jazz pianists we know today including Harry Connick, Jr.
, Marcus Roberts
and Brad Mehldau
. Judges this year were Ramsey Lewis, Delfayo Marsalis and Deanna Witkowsky. In 2002, Jesse was honored with being selected 4th in the entire world in the largest jazz piano competition – the Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition held in Paris, France.
In May 1995, Jesse appeared with the Urbie Green Quintet on the Royal Caribbean “Majesty of the Seas”. This was a special honor for Jesse in that the jazz cruise was dedicated to his idol, Oscar Peterson, who performed with his trio as well. On this cruise, Chiaroscuro did a live recording of the Urbie Green Quintet, and the CD Sea Jam Blues was released in 1997
In June 1995, Jesse’s second CD Sea Journey was released, also by Chiaroscuro Records. This was a live recording on the S.S. Norway and included Jackie Williams on drums, Michael Moore on bass, and distinguished guest Gary Burton on vibes. The “Floating Jazz Festival” as it is called, was dedicated that year to singer Joe Williams.
Jesse has also appeared at Sculler’s Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA, along with John Lockwood on bass and Alan Dawson on drums, and at the prestigious Jazz at the Y series in New York’s 92nd Street Y. In August 1996, Jesse headlined at Zinno’s in New York with his father, Urbie, as a special guest. He has performed at the Main Street Jazz Festival in Columbia, SC, and can be seen on a video of the festival which airs periodically on PBS. He has also appeared at the 1999 Indy Jazz fest.
In July 2000, Jesse performed at the United States Day in the United Kingdom’s Millennium Dome
as a member of a U.S. delegation presented by the White House Millennium Council.
Most recently Jesse’s trio (Bruce Cox on drums and Frank Hauck on bass) has performed with Phil Woods at various concert venues in the tri-state area including Centenary College, The Hillside Inn, East Stroudsburg University Fine Arts Center, and the COTA Festival.
Further accomplishments include two semi-finalist placements in the First Biennial Jazz Piano Competition in Indianapolis, IN, and the Annual International Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, FL.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist, composer, arranger, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and teacher. He is the son of ex-big band singer Kathy Preston and acclaimed Jazz trombonist Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
. Jesse was married in June 2003 to Kristine and has three children. At 35, Jesse Green, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, recording artist, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, has an extensive background in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
.
Accomplishments
In 1998 Jesse took 1st place at the American Pianist Association’s Fourth Biennial Jazz Piano Competition in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, IN, from judges Dr. Billy Taylor, Danilo Perez and Jim Turner. As a result, he was named the first Jazz Fellow of the American Pianist Association. Together, these three winnings have brought Jesse many opportunities to perform all over the world.
In May 2001, Jesse was contracted to record his third CD for Chiaroscuro Records (the distinguished jazz record label who originally signed him in 1992). The new CD Sylvian Treasure features six of Jesse’s compositions, four of which were written and performed by three of the finest jazz saxophonists around today, Phil Woods, Dave Liebman and Chris Potter. Also performing on the recording are Pat Dorian on trumpet, Bruce Cox on drums, and Frank Hauch on bass. Produced by Jesse and funded by the American Pianist Association, the CD was a tribute to his mentors.
Early work
Jesse began studying classical piano at age seven, and, at age nine joined his elementary school’s concert band as a trombonist. When he was ten, he was a finalist in a nation-wide talent competition; winning for his spit-fire piano rendition of Count Basie’s Jumping at the Woodside. His numerous accomplishments in high school include District Concert Band, Regional Concert Band, All-State Jazz Ensemble, Fred Waring’s U.S. Chorus, National Honors Jazz Band, District Chorus Instrument Ensemble, and the John Philip Sousa Memorial Concert Band…all on trombone.During his junior year in high school, he became a member of the East Stroudsburg University Jazz Ensemble. He was piano accompanist for District Chorus as well as the high school chorus, and, for five consecutive years, he was pianist for the Celebration of the Arts Festival
Celebration of the Arts Festival
The Celebration of the Arts festival, or COTA for short, is an annual event in September located in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. COTA is presented in cooperation with the Borough of Delaware Water Gap, Castle Hill Development, Inc., and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.-The...
COTA Cats (a big band founded by Grammy Award winner Phil Woods). Famous guest artists with the Cota Cats included David Liebman, Manny Album, Al Cohn, Hal Crook, Urbie Green, and Phil Woods. The band, directed by Pat Dorian, appears each year at the COTA Festival in Delaware Water Gap, PA.
As a student at East Stroudsburg University, Jesse played trombone in the Concert Band and Brass Ensemble, and piano in the Jazz Ensemble. Notable artists that Jesse has performed with in this Jazz Ensemble include Clark Terry, Lew Tabackin, Freddie Hubbard, Al Grey, Urbie Green, Phil Woods, David Liebman, Benny Carter, and Jimmy Heath. As a trombonist, Jesse was selected two years in a row for the Inter-Collegiate Concert Band.
Among the awards Jesse has received are a full scholarship Berkless College of Music, scholarship to Clark Terry’s Jazz Camp, The Celebration of the Arts Commission, East Stroudsburg University Music Department, and a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
.
At age 17, Jesse won the National Downbeat Student Award for “best extended composition and arrangement” with his original Half & Half. He has since written many other arrangements for big band as well as small groups. Blues for Dad, written for his father, legendary jazz trombonist Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, was performed by the COTA Cats at the 1989 COTA Jazz Festival.
In 1992, Jesse recorded his debut CD Lift Off for Chiaroscuro Records with Paul Rostock on bass, Bobby Durham on drums, and featured guest Joe Cohn on guitar.
Recent work
In 2006, Jesse won 1st place in The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Held in conjunction with the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is a weekend of Jazz that is the "second-largest jazz festival in the nation" according to Superpages and that, according to the Jacksonville Times-Union, has been dubbed by "experts" as "one of the 20 best in the nation." The event in Jacksonville, Florida, USA is...
, this competition is in its 22nd year and has founded many great jazz pianists we know today including Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr.
Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
, Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts is an American jazz pianist who has achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Roberts has also distinguished his solos by accompanying himself with walking basslines...
and Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...
. Judges this year were Ramsey Lewis, Delfayo Marsalis and Deanna Witkowsky. In 2002, Jesse was honored with being selected 4th in the entire world in the largest jazz piano competition – the Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition held in Paris, France.
Public appearances
With his own trio, he has appeared at the famous DeerHead Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA, the Hillside Inn Jazz Lounge, River Street Jazz Café, and Blues Street Jazz Club...all Pocono area jazz clubs. He has accompanied a wide range of vocalists and played many of the Pocono resorts.In May 1995, Jesse appeared with the Urbie Green Quintet on the Royal Caribbean “Majesty of the Seas”. This was a special honor for Jesse in that the jazz cruise was dedicated to his idol, Oscar Peterson, who performed with his trio as well. On this cruise, Chiaroscuro did a live recording of the Urbie Green Quintet, and the CD Sea Jam Blues was released in 1997
In June 1995, Jesse’s second CD Sea Journey was released, also by Chiaroscuro Records. This was a live recording on the S.S. Norway and included Jackie Williams on drums, Michael Moore on bass, and distinguished guest Gary Burton on vibes. The “Floating Jazz Festival” as it is called, was dedicated that year to singer Joe Williams.
Jesse has also appeared at Sculler’s Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA, along with John Lockwood on bass and Alan Dawson on drums, and at the prestigious Jazz at the Y series in New York’s 92nd Street Y. In August 1996, Jesse headlined at Zinno’s in New York with his father, Urbie, as a special guest. He has performed at the Main Street Jazz Festival in Columbia, SC, and can be seen on a video of the festival which airs periodically on PBS. He has also appeared at the 1999 Indy Jazz fest.
In July 2000, Jesse performed at the United States Day in the United Kingdom’s Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
as a member of a U.S. delegation presented by the White House Millennium Council.
Most recently Jesse’s trio (Bruce Cox on drums and Frank Hauck on bass) has performed with Phil Woods at various concert venues in the tri-state area including Centenary College, The Hillside Inn, East Stroudsburg University Fine Arts Center, and the COTA Festival.
Further accomplishments include two semi-finalist placements in the First Biennial Jazz Piano Competition in Indianapolis, IN, and the Annual International Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, FL.
Personal life
Along with many performances and advances in his career, Jesse enjoys his wife and three girls at home in Delaware Water Gap. He remains extremely involved in teaching music (advanced jazz theory, harmony and ear training) composing and arranging, multi-media via computers and software, and sound engineering.Discography
- Lift Off (April 6, 1995) - as Jesse Green Trio
- Sea Journey (September 19, 1995)
- Sylvan Treasure (July 9, 2002)
External links and references
- Official website
- All About Jazz review of Sylvan Treasure
- Article about Jesse in the Pocono RecordPocono RecordThe Pocono Record is a daily newspaper published in print and online in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania USA.-History:The Pocono Record was founded as the Stroudsburg Daily Times April 2, 1894....
newspaper - Results of the 2006 Great American Jazz Piano Competition