John Escreet - Jazz pianist/composer b. Doncaster, England, 1984.

Since moving to New York in 2006, John Escreet has had a powerful impact, and is emerging as one of the most creative and original pianists on the music scene there. He has recently graduated from the Master’s Program at Manhattan School of Music, where he studied piano with Kenny Barron and Jason Moran. But alongside his 2-year program of study, John kept himself busy outside of school, performing and working with a wide range of musicians…

In Decmber 2006 he recorded a CD which featured tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake. He has led various groups of his own, and in June 2007 he played a weekend at Smalls Jazz Club in New York with a group that featured Ari Hoenig (drums), Orlando LeFleming (double bass), Adam Rogers (guitar) and Ben van Gelder (alto saxophone). John has also worked in saxophonist David Binney's regular group in NYC, and was also part of the world premier performance of the saxophonist’s new Big Band. He also leads his own group – ‘The John Escreet Project’ which features David Binney (alto saxophone), Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Matt Brewer (double bass) and Tyshawn Sorey (drums). There will be an album with this group, scheduled for release in September 2008, coinciding with a UK/Europe tour, so stay tuned!

John is also a member of a group called ‘The Story’ which features some of the most exciting and creative young musicians in NYC – Lars Dietrich (alto saxophone), Samir Zarif (tenor saxophone), Zack Lober (double bass) and Greg Ritchie (drums). Since being in NYC, John has also had the opportunity to perform with many other great musicians, including Wayne Krantz, Will Vinson, Marcus Gilmore, Dan Weiss and many more.

Before moving to New York, John established himself as one of the most in-demand players on the London jazz scene, working in many different settings as both a leader and as a sideman. John's versatility, and his approach to a wide range of musical styles from straight-ahead jazz, to funk, to free improvisation made him one of the most in-demand players to emerge on the London scene in recqent years, but despite this he relocated to New York City. Whilst in the UK, he worked with artists as varied as Julian Siegel, Dennis Rollins, Stan Sulzmann, Denys Baptiste, Gerard Presencer, Dave O'Higgins, Christine Tobin, Anita Wardell, Andy Sheppard, Steve Williamson and Kyle Eastwood to name but a few. He also led his own trios, which included Phil Donkin on bass, and Gene Calderazzo or Tom Skinner on drums.

John has always had a keen interest in music, right from a very early age. He began piano lessons at about the age of four, after begging his parents for lessons. Throughout his childhood, he played many different instruments, including the cornet, French horn and violin, with piano always remaining at the forefront of everything. It was at around the age of 10 however, that he developed an enthusiasm for jazz and began to play and improvise by ear. In 1995 he joined the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association, quickly becoming the main pianist with the senior Doncaster Jazz Orchestra. John also took up the tenor saxophone in 1995, which he also studied to a high level. From 1998 - 2002, John attended the prestigious Chetham's School Of Music, studying classical piano and saxophone, whilst pursuing his rapidly growing interest in jazz. In 2001, he was awarded the John Dankworth soloist award in the BBC Radio 2 Big Band Competition, which led to a feature performance broadcast on BBC Radio 2. In 2002, John was awarded a scholarship to study jazz at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He studied piano with Liam Noble, and also John Taylor. Upon moving to London, John also occupied the piano chair in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for one year. In 2004, John was the winner of the Worshipful Company Of Musicians Bronze Medal award, and was a national finalist in the Pizza Express Jazz Academy competition. In 2006, John was awarded a scholarship to study jazz piano at Manhattan School of Music, and made the move to New York City, studying for one year with Kenny Barron, followed by one year with Jason Moran.

“...immensely assured [piano playing]... His technique is impeccable, glistening cascades of notes...” - The Times

“Escreet can turn the standards repertoire inside out, but his balance of conventional lyricism and a looser improvisational freedom testifies to the intelligent creative force he is becoming.” – John Fordham, The Guardian

“… John Escreet is a talented fellow indeed… Even with Chet’s strong tenor playing—both lyrical and modern, melodic and virtuosic—it was Escreet who made the most lasting impression on me. The quartet had the good sense to leave the young pianist alone to play unaccompanied on nearly every song. The result was that his singular densely-packed harmonic and rhythmic playing was heard unadulterated. With the rhythmic intensity of Jason Moran and the harmonic rule-breaking of Cecil Taylor, this young pianist was a thrill to hear in our own city.” – The Montreal Gazette

“...Escreet exudes an astonishing sense of authority, passion and vision when sat at the piano. It was to a packed Pizza-on-the-Park that John Escreet, with his quartet, played two smouldering forty-five minute sets to an audience who were spell bound by his single-minded approach to both so-called standards as well as a smattering of own material.” - Stephen Plumb, More-than-jazz Promotions

“He followed [Steve] Williamson's elusive lines, and even sprang the saxophonist a few free-piano surprises like a creative pro with much more experience under his belt.” - Jazz UK

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