Kerry Politzer
Encyclopedia
Kerry Politzer is a jazz pianist and composer with classical and Brazilian influences.
She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music
, where she studied with Charlie Banacos. She also attended the North Carolina School of the Arts
, Tanglewood, Interlochen, Yellow Barn and the Banff Jazz Workshop. Her composition “Rhodes Rage” won Third Prize, Jazz Category in the 2005 International Songwriting Contest, while "Begin The Baiao" won Third Prize, Jazz Category in the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Song Competition and an Honorable Mention in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
.
Politzer's debut CD, "Yearning", which received four stars from Allmusic, was released on the CAP Records label in 2001. The title track, "Yearning," is also featured on "Sax And The City: Musical Contributions From New York's Best Women Jazz Instrumentalists" (Apria Records, 2004). She released two more CDs, “Watercolor” (2002) and “Labyrinth” (2005), on her own Polisonic label; “Labyrinth” was a finalist for Best Jazz Album in the 2007 Independent Music Awards. She then took a musical detour, writing songs with lyrics, and released a fourth CD, "You Took Me In," in October 2007. This CD features Politzer on vocals and piano, as well as Tom Guarna on guitar, George Colligan (better known as a pianist) on drums, Zach Brock on violin, and Lonnie Plaxico and Chris Higgins on bass. Politzer performed some of this new material at the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 62nd New Writers Showcase. In April 2010, Piloo Records released Politzer's fifth CD, "Blue in Blue," which is an instrumental jazz project featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin.
Politzer also appears on three tracks of George Colligan's CD “Runaway” (Sunnyside, 2008), all tracks of Laura Dreyer's upcoming Piloo Records release Free-Flying Bird, and one track of an upcoming EP by Markeisha Ensley. She has performed at the Jazz Improv Live Festival, Wave Hill, The Cutting Room, The Blue Note, Birdland, Rockwood Music Hall, and the Kitano, among other venues in New York City.
Politzer is married to jazz drummer, pianist, and educator George Colligan
. They relocated to Portland, Oregon, in 2011.
She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
, where she studied with Charlie Banacos. She also attended the North Carolina School of the Arts
North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
, Tanglewood, Interlochen, Yellow Barn and the Banff Jazz Workshop. Her composition “Rhodes Rage” won Third Prize, Jazz Category in the 2005 International Songwriting Contest, while "Begin The Baiao" won Third Prize, Jazz Category in the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Song Competition and an Honorable Mention in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
.
Politzer's debut CD, "Yearning", which received four stars from Allmusic, was released on the CAP Records label in 2001. The title track, "Yearning," is also featured on "Sax And The City: Musical Contributions From New York's Best Women Jazz Instrumentalists" (Apria Records, 2004). She released two more CDs, “Watercolor” (2002) and “Labyrinth” (2005), on her own Polisonic label; “Labyrinth” was a finalist for Best Jazz Album in the 2007 Independent Music Awards. She then took a musical detour, writing songs with lyrics, and released a fourth CD, "You Took Me In," in October 2007. This CD features Politzer on vocals and piano, as well as Tom Guarna on guitar, George Colligan (better known as a pianist) on drums, Zach Brock on violin, and Lonnie Plaxico and Chris Higgins on bass. Politzer performed some of this new material at the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 62nd New Writers Showcase. In April 2010, Piloo Records released Politzer's fifth CD, "Blue in Blue," which is an instrumental jazz project featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin.
Politzer also appears on three tracks of George Colligan's CD “Runaway” (Sunnyside, 2008), all tracks of Laura Dreyer's upcoming Piloo Records release Free-Flying Bird, and one track of an upcoming EP by Markeisha Ensley. She has performed at the Jazz Improv Live Festival, Wave Hill, The Cutting Room, The Blue Note, Birdland, Rockwood Music Hall, and the Kitano, among other venues in New York City.
Politzer is married to jazz drummer, pianist, and educator George Colligan
George Colligan
George Colligan is a New York-based jazz pianist, organist, drummer, trumpet player, educator, composer and bandleader. He was born in New Jersey, and raised in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended the Peabody Institute, majoring in classical trumpet and music education...
. They relocated to Portland, Oregon, in 2011.