Andy LaVerne (born December 4, 1947) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator.
Education and musical career Born in New York City, LaVerne studied at Juilliard School of Music, Berklee College, and the New England Conservatory, and took private lessons from jazz pianist Bill Evans. LaVerne has worked with Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Lionel Hampton, Michael Brecker and Elvin Jones.
He has performed as a leader in more than 50 projects,Jazz.com interview including Intuition, as a duo with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi (SteepleChase), and Epiphany (ClaveBop).
Instruction As a jazz educator, LaVerne has released a series of instructional videos, Guide to Modern Jazz Piano, Vols. 1 &, 2, and Jazz Piano Standards (Homespun Tapes), featuring the Yamaha Disklavier, as well as the video, In Concert (Homespun Tapes), with guitarist John Abercrombie.
He is the author of Handbook of Chord Substitutions, Tons of Runs (Ekay), Bill Evans Compositions 19 Solo Piano Arrangements, and is the pianist on The Chick Corea Play-Along Collection (Hal Leonard). The Music of Andy LaVerne (SteepleChase Publications) has been published. Countdown to Giant Steps (Aebersold Jazz) is a two-CD play-along companion book, of which LaVerne served as player/producer/writer, and Tunes You Thought You Knew (Aebersold Jazz) is a LaVerne play-along CD/book set. Secret of the Andes is collection of LaVerne originals published by Aebersold Jazz.
He is a frequent contributor (since 1986) to Keyboard magazine, and Piano Today magazine. His articles have also appeared in Down Beat, Jazz Improv, Piano Quarterly, Jazz and Keyboard Workshop, and JazzOne.
He is the recipient of five Jazz Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and winner of the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for his tune "Shania". He has appeared at concerts, festivals, and clubs throughout the world, and has given clinics and master classes at universities, colleges, and conservatories worldwide. He has also toured and recorded with singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka.William Ruhlmann, review of Neil Sedaka, Tales of Love and Other Passions (1997), All Music.Neil Sedaka biography. He is Professor of Jazz Piano at The Hartt School (University of Hartford), and on the faculty of the Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops.
Discography
As leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotesMythology1976Spirit of '76With Jerry Bergonzi (sax), Bill Washer (guitar), Mike Richmond (bass), Jeff Brillinger (drums)1977Another WorldSteepleChaseTrio, with Mike Richmond (bass), Billy Hart (drums)1978For UsSteepleChaseDuo, with Mike Richmond (bass)1981Captain VideoAtlasTrio, with Bob Magnusson (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)1984Liquid SilverDMPWith Sebu Sirinian and Jennifer Cowles (violin), Amy Dulsky (viola), Patricia Smith (cello), John Abercrombie (guitar), Eddie Gomez (bass), Peter Erskine (drums)1981–86Andy LaVerne Plays the Music of Chick CoreaJazzlineWith Marc Johnson and Mark Egan (bass; separately), Danny Gottlieb (drums)1987True ColorsSome tracks trio, with Marc Johnson (bass), Danny Gottlieb (drums); some tracks quartet, with Jerry Bergonzi (sax) added1988Jazz Piano LineageDMPSolo piano1989Frozen MusicSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rick Margitza (tenor sax), Marc Johnson (bass), Danny Gottlieb (drums)1989FountainheadSteepleChaseDuo, with Dave Samuels (vibraphone)1989Magic FingersDMPWith Chuck Loeb (guitar, keyboards), Clifford Carter (synthesizer), Will Lee (bass), Dave Weckl (drums), Lygya Barreto and Steve Thornton (percussion), Carmen Cuesta (vocals)1989Natural LivingMusidiscDuo, with John Abercrombie1990Severe ClearSteepleChaseWith Tim Hagans (trumpet), Rick Margitza (tenor sax), Steve LaSpina (bass), Anton Fig (drums)1990Standard EyesSteepleChaseTrio, with Steve LaSpina (bass), Anton Fig (drums)1991Pleasure SeekersTrilokaWith Bob Sheppard (soprano sax, tenor sax, clarinet, flute), John Patitucci (bass), Dave Weckl (drums)1991Nosmo KingSteepleChaseDuo, with John Abercrombie (guitar)1992Bill Evans...Person We KnewSteepleChaseDuo, with Larry Schneider (tenor sax)1992Now It Can Be PlayedSteepleChaseQuartet, with John Abercrombie (guitar), Steve LaSpina (bass), Jeff Hirschfield (drums)1992Buy One Get One FreeSteepleChaseSolo piano1993Double StandardTrilokaWith Billy Drewes (soprano sax, tenor sax), Steve LaSpina (bass), Greg Hutchinson (drums)1993Andy LaVerne at MaybeckConcord JazzSolo piano; in concert1993Plays Bud PowellSteepleChaseSolo piano1993Glass CeilingSteepleChaseTrio, with Steve LaSpina (bass), Anton Fig (drums)1993?Universal MindSteepleChaseDuo, with Richie Beirach (piano)1993First Tango in New YorkMusidiscWith Joe Lovano (soprano sax, tenor sax), Steve LaSpina (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)1993In the Mood for a ClassicSteepleChaseSolo piano1994?Time Well SpentTrio, with George Mraz (bass), Al Foster (drums)1994?Serenade to SilverSteepleChaseQuintet, with Tim Hagans (trumpet), Rick Margitza (tenor sax), Steve LaSpina (bass), Billy Drummond (drums)1995?Tadd's DelightSteepleChaseSolo piano1996?Bud's BeautifulSteepleChaseTrio, with Peter Washington (bass), Billy Hart (drums)1996?Where We WereSteepleChaseDuo, with John Abercrombie; in concert1996?Four MilesWith Randy Brecker (trumpet), George Mraz (bass), Al Foster (drums)1997?Stan Getz in ChappaquaSteepleChaseWith Don Braden (tenor sax), Dave Stryker (guitar), Steve LaSpina (bass), Danny Gottlieb (drums)1998?Between Earth & MarsSteepleChaseTrio, with Dave Samuels (vibraphone), Jay Anderson (bass)1998?Another World, Another TimeSteepleChaseQuartet, with Tim Hagans (trumpet), Mike Richmond (bass), Billy Hart (drums)2000?Time2000PianissimoSteepleChaseWith Rich Perry (tenor sax), Jay Anderson (bass), Matt Wilson (drums)2001?Know MoreSteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Billy Hart (drums)2003TimelineSteepleChaseDuo, with John Abercrombie (guitar)2004?Epiphany2004?Process of Illumination2004All WaysSteepleChaseWith Gary Versace (organ), Billy Drummond (drums)2005Time to DreamSteepleChaseSolo piano2006?Peace of Mind2006Intelligent DesignSteepleChaseTrio, with Gary Versace (organ), Danny Gottlieb (drums)2007?At the Kitano Vol. 1SteepleChaseTrio, with Gary Versace (organ), Anthony Pinciotti (drums); in concert2010Live from New YorkSteepleChaseDuo, with John Abercrombie; in concertI Have a DreamSteepleChaseTrio, with Gary Versace (organ), Anthony Pinciotti (drums); in concertI Want to Hold Your HandSteepleChaseTrio, with Gary Versace (organ), Anthony Pinciotti (drums); in concert2012?Three's Not a CrowdSteepleChaseTrio, Mike Richmond (bass), Billy Hart (drums)2015GenesisSteepleChaseTrio, with Mike Richmond (bass, cello), Jason Tiemann (drums)2016FaithSteepleChaseQuartet, with Alex Sipiagin (trumpet, flugelhorn), Mike Richmond (bass, cello), Jason Tiemann (drums)2018Shangri-LaSteepleChaseQuintet, with Alex Sipiagin (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jerry Bergonzi (tenor sax), Mike Richmond (bass), Jason Tiemann (drums)
As sideman With Ted Curson Jubilant Power (Inner City, 1976)
With Stan Getz Another World (Columbia, 1977) Mort d'un Pourri (Melba, 1977) Children of the World (Columbia, 1979)
References
External links [ Allmusic] Official website "In Conversation with Andy LaVerne" by Eugene Marlow, (Jazz.com)