Perpetual Motion Etudes

Jeremy Siskind | Pianist & Composer

A new book and CD of virtuosic classical-meets- piano pieces written for the 21st century pianist.

California-based composer-pianist Jeremy Siskind has written a major new suite for piano: Perpetual Motion Etudes for Solo Piano, combining jazz harmony and complex textures. Highly virtuosic and athletic, the suite seamlessly combines classical and jazz aesthetics, boldly conjuring the spirits of great composers like Kapustin, Gershwin, Gismonti, Hersch, Hancock, Corea, and Mehldau. Playful, romantic, thoughtful, and personal, these Perpetual Motion Etudes present an ambitious journey through modern piano music.

Photo by Barb Hauser New

The project consists of two parts:

An album, recorded at the Salon in , will be released on the Outside In Music label on March 30th, 2020. Recorded on a Yamaha CFX, a nine-foot concert grand, and funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign.

An accompanying book of sheet music, self published by Siskind and edited by concert pianist Spencer Myer, is now available for sale in both hard copy and PDF versions at jeremysiskind.com. Each piece is presented in a through-composed version designed for classical pianists plus additional instructions for each piece intended for improvisors.

Photo by Barb Hauser New

Tracklist

01 Sometimes I Wander (3:58) An energetic, toccata-like opening with tricky polyrhythms and a vamp improvisation. 02 Van Gogh’s Dream (5:41) The swirls of van Gogh, and the feeling of a rainy day in a European town with cobblestone streets. Written in 18/16; listen for the rhythmic interjections of inner parts. 03 Brooklyn Sunset (5:13) Sunset as seen from the Brooklyn Bridge, with hues of pinks, purples, and oranges reflecting off chrome buildings. Improvisation is in 7/4. Harmony reflects influence of Brad Mehldau. 04 Homesick (4:42) Two pairs of melodies – one pair in contrary motion, the other in parallel motion, representing the conflict between following in tradition/expectation and seeking a new path. 05 Piccadilly Circus (4:42) Despite the title, not at all British – actually, a pseudo-Brazilian feel. This has the most extroverted, jazz personality of any etude. 06 Temple Bells (6:05)

Photo by Barb Hauser New Based on an experience in Japan, in the Toyama prefecture, where Pianist-composer Jeremy Siskind is “a genuine bells are placed all around a Buddhist temple. This has a pentatonic visionary” (Indianapolis Star) who “seems to defy all ostinato floating throughout. boundaries” (JazzInk) with music “rich in texture and 07 Floating (5:38) nuance” (Downbeat). Since making his professional Musically peaceful, but pianistically athletic, this etude requires the debut juxtaposing Debussy’s Etudes with jazz pianist to repeated reach their left hand way over their right. The standards at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall in 2012, middle section simulates the anxiety of looking down and realizing Siskind has established himself as one of the nation’s the peril you’re in, as you float through the in the air. most innovative and virtuosic modern pianists. 08 Blues (3:33) A top finisher in several national and international jazz The most difficult etude, this has rotating triads in 15/8 with a piano competitions, Siskind’s multifaceted career pseudo-boogie-woogie left-hand during the solos. often finds him combining musical styles and breaking 09 Enchanted Forest (5:13) aesthetic norms. As the leader of “The Housewarming Project,” Siskind has created “a shining example of A simple melody is repeated three times with increasingly chromatic ” (Downbeat) whose albums often land on pianistic settings, as if bewitched. This features a free-form critics’ “best of the year” lists. On an upcoming, improvisation. Messiaen was an inspiration.

Impressions of Debussy, Siskind explores Debussy’s Jeremy Siskind |piano & all compositions Preludes through improvisation with saxophonist Aaron Ross |engineer Andrew Rathbun. A professor at Fullerton College, Joe Patrych | mastering engineer Siskind publishes instructional books with Hal Zach Lapidus | production, editing help Leonard and spreads peace through music in places like Lebanon, Tunisia, Nepal, and with the Jen Boyd | artwork non-profit organization, Jazz Education Abroad. Recorded at the Yamaha Artist salon, New York, NY

Website | www.jeremysiskind.com Publicist|Peter McDowell

Youtube | www.youtube.com/JeremySiskind Contact| (773) 484-8811 / [email protected]

E-mail | [email protected] Website | www.petermcdowell.com