Jeremy Siskind

{{short description|American pianist, composer, and educator (born 1986)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Jeremy Siskind

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|10|14}}

| occupation = Pianist, educator

| years_active = 2010–present

| label = Outside In Music,[https://www.outsideinmusic.com/artistsandreleases/2020/3/11/jeremy-siskind-piano Outside in Music release page] Brooklyn Jazz Underground[http://www.bjurecords.com/jeremy-siskind Brooklyn Jazz Underground release page]

| associated_acts = Angelin Chang, Nancy Harms, Jo Lawry, Fred Hersch, Sophia Rosoff, Lea DeLaria, Julia Bullock

| website = {{URL|www.jeremysiskind.com/}}

}}

Jeremy Siskind (born October 14, 1986)[https://performingarts.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/UFPA_JuliaBullock_program.pdf Julia Bullock program with birth year listed] is an American pianist, composer, and educator known for his innovative blending of jazz and classical music.Burke, Debbie [https://debbieburkeauthor.com/2017/05/22/defying-genres-with-88-keys-the-artful-music-of-jeremy-siskind/ "Defying Genres with 88 Keys - The Artful Music of Jeremy Siskind"]

Early life

Siskind was raised in Irvine, California and began playing piano at age four.[https://www.rochester.edu/currents/V34/V34N21/story10.html "Growing up in Irvine, California, Siskind started playing piano when he was 4 or 5 years old."] University of Rochester Jeremy was trained in the Yamaha Music Education System,[https://www.yamaha.com/ymes/musicschools/about.asp "Jeremy Siskind, Full scholarship to Eastman School of Music"] Yamaha Music School Graduates and quickly distinguished himself in their Junior Original Concert program, where he was twice selected to be the United States representative to Japan. Siskind studied jazz piano with Linda Martinez and Tamir Hendelman.[https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/jeremysiskind "...through Yamaha's Junior Original Concert program; twice, Siskind was even flown to Tokyo, Japan to represent the United States in front of Japanese audiences. Both his playing and composing quickly thrived upon beginning to study jazz with pianists Linda Martinez and Tamir Hendelman"] All About Jazz

Siskind earned degrees in Jazz Performance and Music Theory at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied with Tony Caramia, Bill Dobbins, and Harold Danko. In 2006, Siskind was noticed by jazz legend Marian McPartland, who invited him to record an episode of Piano Jazz on NPR.[https://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/previousguests/fall2006/siskind.html Piano Jazz NPR Archive]

Siskind began participating in piano competitions while at Eastman, and was a three-time finalist for the Kathleen T. and Philip B. Phillips, M.D. Jazz Piano Competition. He was also a finalist for the American Piano Awards Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz in 2007 and 2011, but ultimately lost to Dan TepferSiskind, Jeremy [https://mfasiskind.wordpress.com/about/ "...a phenomenal and unforgettable experience for Siskind, although the fabulous pianist Dan Tepfer was eventually named the winner."]Miscellany From Siskind blog and Aaron Diehl,Pulliam, Becca [https://www.npr.org/sections/ablogsupreme/2011/04/19/135543416/a-jazz-piano-showdown-in-indianapolis-worth-100-000 "Diehl beat out four other finalists for the 2011 Cole Porter Fellowship, awarded by the American Pianists Association"] NPR A Blog Supreme respectively. Siskind won second prize at the Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Competition in Switzerland in 2011, and won first prize in the Nottingham International Solo Piano Competition in 2013.Burke, Debbie [https://debbieburkeauthor.com/2017/05/22/defying-genres-with-88-keys-the-artful-music-of-jeremy-siskind/ "In 2012, Jeremy won the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition; in 2011, he claimed second place at the Montreux Solo Piano competition."]

Upon graduating Eastman in 2008, Siskind moved to New York City to pursue a degree in English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. While at Columbia, Siskind began studies with Fred HerschNapell, Isaac [https://www.postandcourier.com/spoleto/pianist-fred-hersch-on-the-honesty-jazz-demands/article_7f3f4cd2-578b-11e8-b08d-43d5ff9b609e.html"Siskind says that his first lesson with Hersch in 2007 was a life-changing experience"] The Post and Courier and Sophia Rosoff.[http://apexart.org/events/hersch_piano.php "Having recently completed a Master's in English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, Siskind currently resides in New York where he studies piano with Fred Hersch and Sophia Rosoff."] Apex Art program

While in New York, Siskind recorded his debut record, Simple Songs (for When the World Seems Strange), featuring bassist Chris Lightcap, drummer Ted Poor, and vocalist Jo Lawry.da Gama, Raul [https://jazzdagama.com/booksmiscellany/jeremy-siskind-piano-in-motion/3/ "I originally recorded this piece on Simple Songs ... as a duet with Jo Lawry, and I must credit her with helping me come up with the form (as well as polishing some lyrics!)"] JazzDaGama feature, p. 3

Career and style

A hallmark of Siskind's career is the combination of classical and jazz.da Gama, Raul [https://jazzdagama.com/booksmiscellany/jeremy-siskind-piano-in-motion/3/ "...out of the bedrock of what appears to be the classical tradition, played in a style that floats in and out of the Romantic and Impressionist movements styled in the inventions of Jazz improvisation"]JazzDaGama feature, p. 3 In his debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall in 2012, he performed Debussy’s Etudes in the first half of the program and jazz compositions in the second half.[https://doobeedoobeedoo.info/2012/05/23/recommended-concert-pianistcomposer-jeremy-siskind-performing-jazz-and-classical-music-at-carnegie-hall/ Recommended Concerts: "Siskind Performing Jazz and Classical Music at Carnegie Hall"] DooBeeDooBeeDooSiskind, Jeremy [https://mfasiskind.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/program-notes-weill-recital-hall-may-30-2012/ 2012 Carnegie Hall program notes] Miscellany From Siskind blog His project with Andrew Rathbun, released as Impressions of Debussy in 2020, features the jazz duo improvising on Debussy's piano preludes.Toland, Michael [http://bigtakeover.com/recordings/LoriSimsAndrewRathbunJeremySiskindImpressionsofDebussyCentaur Impressions of Debussy review] The Big Takeover

Siskind's Perpetual Motion Etudes was also released in 2020, as both a self-published book and CD from the Outside In Music label, combining through-composed material with jazz improvisation.[https://www.petermcdowell.com/jeremy-siskind-etudes/ 'Perpetual Motion Etudes' Press Release] Siskind's scheduled premieres of these works, featuring two-piano duos with Grammy-winning pianist Angelin Chang, were cancelled as a repercussion of the COVID-19 pandemic.[https://pianofortechicago.com/event/perpetual-motion-etudes-cd-book-release-with-jeremy-siskind-and-angelin-chang/ PianoForte Chicago cancellation notice][https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2020/03/25/Cancelled-An-Evening-of-Music-for-Two-Pianos-Four-Hands-0800PM Carnegie Hall cancellation notice] As a result, he instead took to Instagram Live, performing ballads from his home.[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KXDtIA3ej/?igshid=t1wrt7q1h2ow Siskind Instagram post: "I was supposed to play at Carnegie tonight. Instead, I'm going to do a livestream playing ballads in my pajamas."] at Instagram[https://downbeat.com/news/detail/stream-performances-alternative-to-gigs "Stream Performances And Talks As Musicians And Organizations Look For Alternatives To Live Gigs"] DownBeat

Siskind also combines classical and jazz influences with the Housewarming Project,[https://jeremysiskind.com/housewarming-project/ Official Siskind website: Housewarming Project page][https://irom.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/live-music-jeremy-siskind-and-the-housewarming-project-at-the-old-siskiyou-barn/ International Review of Music: 2015 Housewarming Project review] his chamber jazz group featuring vocalist Nancy Harms and Lucas Pino playing saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet. The Housewarming Project recorded two albums and performed well over 100 house concerts in over 25 states.[http://kansascitymusicteachers.org/this-just-in/2019/08/fall-kick-off-and-jeremy-siskind-workshop/ ...the leader of “The Housewarming Project ... presenting well over 100 in-home concerts in 25 states.] KCMTA Their repertoire features Siskind's lyric writing, which draws information from poetry and prose he read while studying at Columbia.

Siskind was named a Yamaha Artist in 2014.[http://www.yamaha.com/artists/artistdetailb.html?CNTID=6450826&CTID=5070220 Official Yamaha Artist page]

Collaborative work

Siskind has been a frequent collaborator with soprano Julia Bullock, writing multiple sets of arrangements, including a cycle of the music of Josephine Baker.Tommasini, Anthony [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/arts/music/julia-bullock-at-merkin-concert-hall.html "...in a gesture to her African-American heritage, Ms. Bullock sang “Hommage à Josephine Baker” — six songs, here arranged by Jeremy Siskind"] New York Times

Siskind collaborated with pianist Lori Sims and saxophonist Andrew Rathbun on "Impressions of Debussy." He has also served as music director for comedians Lea DeLariaScott, Marcus [https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/entertainment/music//171472/lea_delaria:_not_necessarily_love_songs "with musical director/arranger Jeremy Siskind at the helm leading his band of melodic marauders, love was in the air."] EDGE Media NetworkWade Steketee, Martha [http://www.theaterpizzazz.com/delaria-sings-bowie-at-birdland/ "Lazy warm wandering melodic riffs explode gently within the jazz explorations, including clean keyboard arpeggios and percussive chord play by musical director Siskind at the piano"] Theater Pizzazz and Sandra Bernhard.Wohlfarth, Matt [https://archive.triblive.com/aande/more-a-and-e/sandra-bernhard-brings-sass-class-and-laughs-to-byham/ "Her show, during which she also sings, will feature critically acclaimed pianist Jeremy Siskind, who tickles the ivories as well as Bernhard tickles our funny bone. According to Bernhard, “you won't miss the band because Siskind is so good."] Trib Live

Teaching

Siskind is a well-regarded pedagogue and active educator.Steinhardt, Benjamin [https://benjaminsteinhardt.com/mtna-spokane-a-diary/ "Jeremy Siskind is a bit of a rock star at these conventions and he didn't disappoint."] MTNA blog[https://en.calameo.com/read/004782862f60b2655155e 'Ears, Fingers, Brain, and Heart: Jeremy Siskind] Piano Teacher Magazine As a collegiate professor, he has taught at Eastman (while still a student in 2006), Western Michigan University (2012-2017),[https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u110/2013/3-29%20Jeremy%20Siskind.pdf 2012 Siskind Faculty Recital program (PDF)] and Fullerton College in California (2017–present day).[http://music.fullcoll.edu/conn_faculty_detail.php?staffid=721 Fullerton College faculty page] Siskind served as the founding Artistic Director of the American Jazz Pianist Competition from 2014 to 2016.

As an author and composer, Siskind has published extensively with Hal Leonard,[https://www.halleonard.com/search/search.action?keywords=Jeremy%20Siskind&subsiteid=1&dt=item#products Hal Leonard product search results for Siskind] (search parameters: Jeremy Siskind) including instructional books Jazz Band Pianist and First Lessons in Piano Improv. He is also a frequent presenter at piano conferences such as the Music Teachers National Association[https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Engage/Conferences/Handouts/2019/Monday.aspx 2019 MTNA conference handout] and the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy,[https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=319297219003169 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy 2019 (video)] at Facebook where he serves as the Chair of the Creative Track. Siskind actively teaches creativity, improvisation, and jazz with Yamaha Music Education and Jazz Education Abroad,[https://www.jazzeducationabroad.org/piano-by-jeremy-siskind/ Jazz Education Abroad: Jeremy Siskind] who organizes masterclasses in places like China, Thailand, Cyprus, and Lebanon.

Siskind is the teacher of prodigy Justin-Lee Schultz[https://do615.com/events/2019/8/28/mr-talkbox-with-special-guests-the-j-l-s-experience Event listing with Justin-Lee Schultz biography][https://www.instagram.com/p/BmhWw5ClP2G/ Justin-Lee Schultz post with Siskind] at Instagram since 2016. The two began lessons when they were both living in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Jeremy's brother is Dr. Scott Siskind, who blogs under the name Scott Alexander.

Discography

=As a leader=

Simple Songs (for When the World Seems Strange) (Brooklyn Jazz Underground, 2010) with Chris Lightcap, Ted Poor, and Jo Lawry
Finger-Songwriter (Brooklyn Jazz Underground, 2012) with Lucas Pino and Nancy Harms
Housewarming (Brooklyn Jazz Underground, 2015) with Lucas Pino, Nancy Harms, plus Kurt Elling, Peter Eldridge, Kendra Shank
Perpetual Motion Etudes (Outside in Music, 2020)