Born: October 11, 1957 Primary Instrument: Piano
George Letellier, Piano (USA)
First attended Berklee College of Music (Boston) in 1975. In 1976 wrote first compositions and arrangements and began playing first Jazz concerts, later performing in warm-up (support) Bands for Phil Woods, Gary Burton, and Steve Swallow. Returned to Berklee in 1983 and graduated in 1985 with a Superior Prix in Film Music Composition. Moved to San Francisco, California and from 1986-1990 worked as a freelance pianist in various Jazz and Salsa groups, taught composition, composed music for films and corporate videos, and was music editor on the Academy Award (Oscar) nominated short film Liru (1987, Best Student Film category). In 1988 in Oakland California, formed a film production company where he worked as producer and composer. Moved to Portugal in 1991, accepted post of Professor of Composition in Porto, composed 2 Ballets (1992 Porto; 1993 Lisbon) and worked as pianist, composer and arranger on several Portuguese music projects including Novanguarde, the contemporary chamber music ensemble, and the Raul Marques E Os Amigos Da Salsa ensemble. In 1992, with saxophonist Mrio Santos, formed the George Letellier Quartet which toured Portugal extensively. Moving to Luxembourg in 1995, he began by teaching privately and accepting commissions (BCEE; Paul Wurth Corporation; Tango Television; Big Band Spectrum; Opus 78 Big Band) as a freelance pianist/composer/arranger. In 1997, with Harri Jokiharra, formed the original Consabora Salsa Orchestra. (Later re-named Salsabor). In 2001 was commissioned by the Luxembourgish singer/actress Sascha Ley to arrange and perform Lost In The Stars (music by Kurt Weill) which has performed continually since early 2002 (including a concert at the Luxembourg Embassy in Berlin, Germany in September 2003). Co-composed the Musical Alice Under Ground (Wiltz Festival 2002). From 1997-2003 was the Director of Jazz Studies at the Esch Conservatoire. Wrote 3 booklets on the theory of Jazz (1997-1999). Since 2001 has taught Jazz at LEcole de Musique in Echternach. As a pianist he has performed in hundreds of Jazz concerts and Theater productions in New York, New England, California, Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany and France and has recorded with Cl, the Portuguese Acid Jazz group on the EMI music label. As a composer, in addition to film music and Ballets, he has composed a Cappriccio for Piano and Orchestra, and has written contemporary and traditional classical chamber music, jazz tunes, Big Band arrangements, songs, music for children, and countless other vocal and instrumental compositions and arrangements for many diversified musical ensembles.
Performances in the USA and/or Europe with: Mrio Santos, Shlomit Butbul, Bill Ortiz, Gregg Mazel, David Laborier, Lisa Berg, Chuck Isreals, Benoit Martiny, Aldo Romano, Sascha Ley, Digo Imbert, Diane Mower, Raul Marques, Marc DeMuth, Vania Lecuit, Paul Wiltgen, Ed Soph, Gary Boigon, Maxime Bender, Jan Ferguson, Jimmy Hunter, Claude Pauly, Boris Dinev, Helder Gonalves, Tony Perrone, Karin Melchert, Derrick James, Al Ginter, Christophe Panzanni, Shawn McGloin, Lena Sealy, Pedro Barrieros, Gregg Lamy, Boris Schmidt, Frank Agulhon, Eric Teuwens, Serge Tonnar, Michel Ciccone, Jeannot Sanavia, Jackie Brown, Al Lenners and Ernie Hammes amoungst many many others.
Other: I play straight ahead, modern and free Jazz. Also into Modern Classical, Funk/Soul, Blues, Salsa and Vocal music.
I teach piano, Jazz piano and theory and have tons of students...
Other Other: When I'm not giggin', composing/arranging or teaching I can be found at Cristy's Supper Club Productions.
HI 2 XANA SAMMY & JACKIE
