John Escreet (born 18 August 1984) is an English pianist, composer and improviser. He has lived in the United States since 2006 and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Biography Escreet moved to New York in 2006. In 2008 he graduated from the Master’s Program at Manhattan School of Music, where he studied piano with Kenny Barron and Jason Moran.
In September 2008 he released his debut album Consequences featuring David Binney (alto saxophone), Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Matt Brewer (double bass) and Tyshawn Sorey (drums). Escreet has since released several highly-acclaimed albums of original music (see leader discography below) featuring a diverse array of musicians including Chris Potter, Wayne Krantz, Marcus Gilmore, Nasheet Waits, Jim Black, Evan Parker, Nicholas Payton, Greg Osby, Eric Harland, Justin Brown, Eric Revis and Damion Reid.
From 2011-2021 John worked regularly as a sideman with the Grammy Award-winning drummer Antonio Sanchez in his band "Migration", recording 3 albums - New Life (2012), The Meridian Suite (2015), Lines In The Sand (2019) - as well as touring the world several times over. During this time he also worked regularly as a sideman with Tyshawn Sorey, David Binney, Amir ElSaffar, Alex Sipiagin as well as many others.
In 2020 John relocated to Los Angeles. He formed a new piano trio there during the COVID-19 lockdowns with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Damion Reid. They recorded the album Seismic Shift which was released in 2022. It was instantly well-received, with Downbeat Magazine proclaiming “The agility and interplay between the three, on what is Escreet’s first-ever trio recording, makes the entirety of Seismic Shift a joyful, “hell, yeah” listen.” The Wall Street Journal declared that “Together, the three have achieved a remarkable rapport, moving as a unit through pieces with sudden tempo changes and dynamics that range from all out sonic assault to pristine delicacy.” All Music described it as "a gorgeously arresting album, and there's never a moment where you can easily predict where Escreet's trio is going to go next."
In 2023 John collaborated with the celebrated British electronic artist Floating Points, performing his landmark work Promises to a capacity crowd at The Hollywood Bowl.
Grants and Commissions
Escreet is widely celebrated as a highly original composer, and has received numerous composition grants and commissions over the years.
In 2021, he was a recipient of the highly-coveted South Arts Jazz Road Creative Residencies Grant worth $40,000. Previous awards include the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant in 2009, as well as the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in 2011. In 2013, Escreet was commissioned by the Jazz Gallery to write a new work as part of their Residency/Commissions for 2012-2013, for which he wrote an extended work for string quartet and piano trio. 2014 saw John being awarded the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation USArtists International grant, enabling his Trio from the United States to collaborate on a European tour with the esteemed British free-jazz saxophonist Evan Parker.
Teaching and Education
During his time in New York John was on faculty at The New School. He currently teaches at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and California State University, Northridge in Los Angeles.
Discography As leader YearArtistTitleLabel2008 John Escreet Consequences Posi-Tone2010John EscreetDon't Fight the InevitableMythology 2011John EscreetThe Age We Live InMythology 2011John EscreetException to the RuleCriss Cross2013John EscreetSabotage and CelebrationWhirlwind2014John EscreetSound, Space and StructuresSunnyside2016John EscreetThe UnknownSunnyside2018John EscreetLearn To LiveBlue Room Music2022John EscreetSeismic ShiftWhirlwind2024John Escreetthe epicenter of your dreamsBlue Room Music
As sideman YearArtistTitleLabel2009 David Binney & Alan Ferber In the Paint Posi-Tone2010David BinneyAliso Criss Cross2011KnowerThink Thoughts Self-released2011Tyshawn SoreyObliquePi2012Jamie BaumIn This LifeSunnyside2012Antonio SanchezNew LifeCAM Jazz2013Amir ElSaffarAlchemyPi 2014David BinneyAnacapaCriss Cross2015Alex SipiaginBalance 38–58Criss Cross2015Antonio SanchezThe Meridian SuiteCAM Jazz2017Alex SipiaginMoments CapturedCriss Cross2017Alex SipiaginRelativitySkyDeck Music2018Antonio SanchezLines In The SandCAM Jazz2019Alex Sipiagin NoFo SkiesBlue Room Music2021Amir ElSaffarThe Other ShoreOut Note Records2022John Escreet/Pera Krstajic/Anthony FungCrestaSelf-released 2022Dan RosenboomPolarity Orenda Records2023Logan KaneFloor PlansGhost Note Records
References
External links Official site