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About Geoffrey
Geoffrey Keezer is a GRAMMY®-winning pianist, composer, arranger and producer based in New York City. A native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he began playing piano and composing at an early age. After briefly attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Keezer moved to New York in 1989, becoming the last pianist with the legendary Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Keezer has toured and recorded with Ray Brown, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Diana Krall, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Barbara Hendricks, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, David Sanborn, Chris Botti, Sting, Joe Locke and Christian McBride; produced and arranged three GRAMMY®-nominated recordings with vocalist Denise Donatelli, and released a series of albums drawing influences from Hawaiian, Okinawan and Afro-Peruvian folk traditions. His 2009 album Áurea (ArtistShare) was nominated for a Best Latin Jazz Album GRAMMY® award. Geoffrey’s 2013 solo piano release, Heart of the Piano (Motema Records), seeks to redefine solo jazz piano as a personal and interactive showcase of melody, energy and groove, while his 2018 album On My Way to You (MarKeez Records) is a stunning set of music featuring his working trio with the addition of guest vocalist Gillian Margot. Keezer’s latest album Playdate (MarKeez Records) earned a 2023 GRAMMY® in the Best Instrumental Composition category for his song “Refuge”.
Geoffrey’s compositions have been commissioned by the Mainly Mozart Festival, Art of Elán ensemble, Saint Joseph Ballet, Zeltsman Marimba Festival, Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra and Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. His music can be heard in the films What Happens in Vegas, The Wedding Year, and Inhale, and in numerous TV shows including The Young and the Restless, Parks and Recreation, Casual, House of Lies, Call Me Kat, American Crime Story, Clarice, and The Originals.
Time Magazine wrote, “Geoffrey has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole”, and pop icon Sting said “In the universe of piano players that I have been exposed to over the years, Geoffrey has proved himself to be not only a superb technician and improviser, but also above and beyond this, a composer and conceptualist who can maintain the overall line and the DNA of the song in everything he plays. A musician’s musician.”
Geoffrey Keezer is a faculty member of The Juilliard School and is a Yamaha artist.
Appreciation
/”If you like improvised jazz piano check out a wonderful version of “Come Talk to Me” by Geoffrey Keezer” – PETER GABRIEL, via Facebook/Twitter
“In the universe of piano players that I have been exposed to over the years, Geoffrey has proved himself to be not only a superb technician and improviser, but also above and beyond this, a composer and conceptualist who can maintain the overall line and the DNA of the song in everything he plays. A musician’s musician.”
“You look like you can’t do nothin’…we should work together!”
“Beautiful playing! I love your improvised pianisms together with your wonderful compositions. Very inspiring!”
“Geoffrey possesses a refreshingly open-eared sensibility in the modern manner, and he has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole.”
“Keezer has evolved a singular style of intellectually abstract lyricism woven over exotically complex rhythms and harmonies.”
“The wow factor, in full force at the start of the show, had morphed into an I-can’t-friggin-believe-what-I’m hearing phenomenon by the end of the night, as a normally subdued Seattle jazz audience found itself hooting and hollering as if the Seahawks had won the Superbowl.”
“Regardless of context or style, Geoffrey Keezer is equally comfortable in all-acoustic settings and those requiring more contemporary use of electronics. Consistently inventive and virtuosic, Keezer is, above all, unfailingly musical.”
“Mr. Keezer is the kind of straight-ahead piano player you wish for: multifaceted,
responsive, constantly sifting through colors and shapes, bursting with a personal
and sincere enthusiasm.”
“On My Way to You, The Geoffrey Keezer Trio featuring Gillian Margot (MarKeez
Records), affirms Geoffrey’s status as one of the most innovative, creative pianists
working in the jazz modern mainstream today.”
“The first thing that has to be said about Keezer is that his piano technique is
almost unrivaled. Art Tatum and the great classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz
come to mind as competitors.”
”If you like improvised jazz piano check out a wonderful version of “Come Talk to Me” by Geoffrey Keezer” – PETER GABRIEL, via Facebook/Twitter
“In the universe of piano players that I have been exposed to over the years, Geoffrey has proved himself to be not only a superb technician and improviser, but also above and beyond this, a composer and conceptualist who can maintain the overall line and the DNA of the song in everything he plays. A musician’s musician.”
“You look like you can’t do nothin’…we should work together!”
“Beautiful playing! I love your improvised pianisms together with your wonderful compositions. Very inspiring!”
“Geoffrey possesses a refreshingly open-eared sensibility in the modern manner, and he has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole.”
“Keezer has evolved a singular style of intellectually abstract lyricism woven over exotically complex rhythms and harmonies.”
“The wow factor, in full force at the start of the show, had morphed into an I-can’t-friggin-believe-what-I’m hearing phenomenon by the end of the night, as a normally subdued Seattle jazz audience found itself hooting and hollering as if the Seahawks had won the Superbowl.”
“Regardless of context or style, Geoffrey Keezer is equally comfortable in all-acoustic settings and those requiring more contemporary use of electronics. Consistently inventive and virtuosic, Keezer is, above all, unfailingly musical.”
“Mr. Keezer is the kind of straight-ahead piano player you wish for: multifaceted,
responsive, constantly sifting through colors and shapes, bursting with a personal
and sincere enthusiasm.”“On My Way to You, The Geoffrey Keezer Trio featuring Gillian Margot (MarKeez
Records), affirms Geoffrey’s status as one of the most innovative, creative pianists
working in the jazz modern mainstream today.”“The first thing that has to be said about Keezer is that his piano technique is
almost unrivaled. Art Tatum and the great classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz
come to mind as competitors.”
”If you like improvised jazz piano check out a wonderful version of “Come Talk to Me” by Geoffrey Keezer” – PETER GABRIEL, via Facebook/Twitter
“In the universe of piano players that I have been exposed to over the years, Geoffrey has proved himself to be not only a superb technician and improviser, but also above and beyond this, a composer and conceptualist who can maintain the overall line and the DNA of the song in everything he plays. A musician’s musician.”
“You look like you can’t do nothin’…we should work together!”
“Beautiful playing! I love your improvised pianisms together with your wonderful compositions. Very inspiring!”
“Geoffrey possesses a refreshingly open-eared sensibility in the modern manner, and he has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole.”
“Keezer has evolved a singular style of intellectually abstract lyricism woven over exotically complex rhythms and harmonies.”
“The wow factor, in full force at the start of the show, had morphed into an I-can’t-friggin-believe-what-I’m hearing phenomenon by the end of the night, as a normally subdued Seattle jazz audience found itself hooting and hollering as if the Seahawks had won the Superbowl.”
“Regardless of context or style, Geoffrey Keezer is equally comfortable in all-acoustic settings and those requiring more contemporary use of electronics. Consistently inventive and virtuosic, Keezer is, above all, unfailingly musical.”
“Mr. Keezer is the kind of straight-ahead piano player you wish for: multifaceted,
responsive, constantly sifting through colors and shapes, bursting with a personal
and sincere enthusiasm.”“On My Way to You, The Geoffrey Keezer Trio featuring Gillian Margot (MarKeez
Records), affirms Geoffrey’s status as one of the most innovative, creative pianists
working in the jazz modern mainstream today.”“The first thing that has to be said about Keezer is that his piano technique is
almost unrivaled. Art Tatum and the great classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz
come to mind as competitors.”
Selected Discography
/- On My Way to You (2018 – MarKeez Records)
- Heart of the Piano (2013 – Motéma)
- Signing (2012 – Motéma)
Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group - Via (2011 – Origin)
Storms/Nocturnes - Mill Creek Road (2011 – SBE)
Geoffrey Keezer & Peter Sprague Band - Áurea (2009 – ArtistShare)
- The Near Forever (2009)
Montre Echo - Yasukatsu Oshima w/Geoffrey Keezer [Import](2007 – Victor)
- Live In Seattle (2006 – Origin)
Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group - Wildcrafted: Live at the Dakota (2005 -MaxJazz)
- Sublime: Honoring the Music of Hank Jones (2003 – Telarc)
Geoffrey Keezer w/Kenny Barron, Chick Corea,
Benny Green & Mulgrew Miller
- Falling Up (2003 – MaxJazz)
- Rising Tide (2003 – Sirocco Jazz)
Storms/Nocturnes - Storms/Nocturnes (2002 – Sirocco Jazz)
Storms/Nocturnes - Zero One (2000 – Dreyfus)
- Turn Up the Quiet (1997 – Sony)
- For Phineas [Live] – (1996 – Sackville)
Harold Mabern & Geoffrey Keezer - Trio (1995 – Sackville)
Geoff Keezer/Steve Nelson/Neil Swainson - Other Spheres [Import] (1993 – DIW)
- World Music (1992 – DIW)
- Here & Now (1991 – Somethin’ Else)
- Curveball (1990 – Sunnyside)
- Waiting in the Wings (1989 – Sunnyside)
Selected Discography
/Keola Beamer
- Mohala Hou (2003 – ‘Ohe Records)
- Keola Beamer & Raiatea (2010 – ‘Ohe Records)
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
- One For All (1990 – A&M)
- Chippin’ In (1990 – Timeless)
Chris Botti
- Impressions (2012 – Columbia)
Ray Brown
- Some of My Best Friends Are…Guitarists (2002 – Telarc)
- Walk On (2000 – Telarc)
- Some of My Best Friends Are…The Trumpet Players (2000
– Telarc) - Live At Starbucks (1999 – Telarc)
- Christmas Songs With the Ray Brown Trio (1999 – Telarc)
- Summertime (1998 – Telarc)
- Some of My Best Friends Are…The Piano Players (1995 –
Telarc)
Contemporary Piano Ensemble
- Key Players (1993 – Sony BMG)
- Four Pianos for Phineas (1989 – Evidence)
Denise Donatelli
- Soul Shadows (2012 – Savant)
- When Lights Are Low (2010 – Savant)
- What Lies Within (2008 – Savant Records)
- Find a Heart (2015 – Savant)
Art Farmer
- Silk Road (1996 – Arabesque)
- The Meaning of Art (1995 – Arabesque)
- The Company I Keep (1994 – Arabesque)
- Live at Sweet Basil (1992 – Evidence)
- Soul Eyes (1991 – Enja)
Tim Garland
- Made by Walking (2000 – Concord)
Benny Golson
- Many Moods of Benny Golson (2007 – Arkadia)
- One Day, Forever (2001 – Arkadia Jazz)
- Tenor Legacy (1998 – Arkadia Jazz)
Jim Hall
- Free Association (2005 – ArtistShare)
- Down Beat Critic’s Choice (2002 – Telarc)
- Panorama: Live at Village Vanguard (1997 – Telarc)
Roy Hargrove
- Diamond In The Rough (1989 – Novus)
Barbara Hendricks
- Tribute To George Gershwin: It’s Wonderful (2001 – EMI)
Jazz Messengers
- Legacy of Art Blakey: Live At The Iridium (1998 – Telarc)
Ingrid Jensen
- At Sea (2005 – ArtistShare)
Sofia Koutsovitis
- Sube Azul (2009 – World Village)
Christian McBride
- Live at Tonic (2006 – Ropeadope)
- Vertical Vision (2003 – Warner Bros.)
Charnett Moffett
- Planet Home (1994 – Evidence)
Jane Monheit
- Taking a Chance on Love (2004 – Sony)
Leonard Patton
- Expression (2011 – Lenju Music Group)
Dianne Reeves
- When You Know (2008 – Blue Note)
Sting & Shaggy
- 44/876 (2018 – Interscope)
Tal Wilkenfeld
- Transformation (2007 – Abstract Logic)
Compilations:
- Shades of Blue (2009 – Blue Note)
- Color and Light: Jazz Sketches on Sondheim (1995 – Sony)
