Leslie Pintchik is an American jazz pianist and composer. She currently leads a trio with Scott Hardy on bass and Michael Sarin on drums.Elfman, Donald (April 2014). Review: In The Nature Of Things. The New York City Jazz Record, p. 22.
Early life While growing up, Pintchik's father played tenor saxophone as a hobby, but Pintchik was not interested in playing music as a child. It was not until college that Pintchik began playing music. She attended graduate school at Columbia University, where she studied 17th century English literature. As a doctoral candidate, she taught as a teaching assistant.Nemeyer, Eric (April 2014). Interview: Leslie Pintchik. Jazz Inside Magazine, p. 40.Leslie Pintchik: What's on your playlist? JazzEd, 5 (6): 10. November 2010. She decided to leave academia and pursue a new career as a pianist and received private instruction from Bruce Barth and began playing public gigs.Lindsay, Bruce (May 9, 2011). Leslie Pintchik: Two Different Kinds Of Art. All About Jazz. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
Jazz career Pintchik landed a steady job playing for the brunch crowd at Bradley's in Greenwich Village, in New York City, where she first met Red Mitchell. Mitchell liked what he heard and invited her and Scott Hardy to play with him on stage. Among other venues, Pintchik's trio performs regularly at Jazz at Kitano in New York City.Morrisson, Allen (December 5, 2016). Pintchik Trio Mesmerizes at NYC’s Jazz at Kitano. DownBeat. Retrieved March 10, 2017
Personal life Pintchik is married to musician Scott Hardy. She is known for saying onstage, "He's so good, I had no choice but to marry him!"Stober, Karl (January 29, 2011). Between Sets with Leslie Pintchik. JazzReview. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
Discography Prayer for What Remains (2024) Same Day Delivery: Leslie Pintchik Trio Live (2019) You Eat My Food, You Drink My Wine, You Steal My Girl! (2018) True North (2016) In The Nature Of Things (2014) Leslie Pintchik Quartet Live In Concert (2010) We're Here To Listen (2010) Quartets (2007) So Glad to Be Here (2004)
Notes
Publications Pintchik, Leslie (July 28, 2010). Need to Know. Jazz Journalists Association. Retrieved October 19, 2014. Pintchik, Leslie (August, 2014). Liner notes to Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash CD "Duologue". lesliepintchik.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017. Pintchik, Leslie (March, 2014). Author's note to Pintchik's CD "In the Nature of Things". lesliepintchik.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
References Gallant, Michael (August 2008) Leslie Pintchik: Honesty In Jazz. Keyboard, 34 (8): 16. Schaefer, Virginia A. (April 10, 2014). In the Nature of Things. JazzTimes. Retrieved October 19, 2014.