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John Beasley

Double GRAMMY® Award winning and Emmy nominee, John Beasley is a versatile pianist, composer, arranger who began his career in his 20s backing jazz icons Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. Since then, Beasley has performed with a wide range of artists, including Dianne Reeves, Ivan Lins, John Patitucci, Chaka Khan, Christian McBride, Carly Simon, to name a few. He was music director for international tours with Steely Dan, AR Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) and Queen Latifah and co-MD for Chucho Valdes La Creation tour.

As a recording artist Beasley has over a dozen albums and has earned 11 GRAMMY nominations. His latest album is a reimagination of Charlie Parker music “Bird Lives” with SWR Big Band and strings, which brought another GRAMMY win with three 2022 GRAMMY nominations. Beasley’s solo project, MONK’estra, is a trilogy of albums which earned six consecutive GRAMMY nominations and a win. He also earned his first Latin Grammy nomination for a fado-jazz album “Close to Me” with Portuguese singer Maria Mendes and the Metropole Orkest.

Since UNESCO declared April 30 as International Jazz Day in 2011, John Beasley was appointed Music Director for the annual global gala concerts, which are hosted by the Herbie Hancock Jazz Institute and have been presented in Paris, Istanbul, Osaka, St Petersburg, Havana, Washington, DC and New York/Los Angeles. The 2016 Jazz at the White House hosted by President Obama earned Beasley an Emmy nomination for Best Musical Direction (ABC TV).

Beasley’s work as a composer-arranger extends beyond jazz, with many credits in film working with 15-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman in films including Elemental (Pixar 2023), 1917, James Bond’s Spectre and Skyfall, Finding Dory, He Named Me Malala, Shawshank Redemption, and orchestrating & conducting his big band MONK’estra in Let them all Talk. He started composing for TV at the age of 24 working on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Cheers, and Fame and as MD for TV specials/series, including Sports Illustrated 50 Years of Beautiful and musical competitions Duets with John Legend, and Sing Your Face Off. Beasley was Lead Arranger for ten years on the American Idol show with his first year as Associate MD ushering Carrie Underwood’s victory.

In 2022, Beasley juggled several tours including Chucho Valdes, Dianne Reeves, Maria Mendes, El Trio, MONK’estra and conducting various European orchestras (HR Big Band, Bohuslan Big Band, SWR Big Band, Latvia Radio Big Band, Bielefeld Philharmonie) on projects featuring the music of Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Charlie Parker, Weather Report and original music. He will be producing, recording and performing on five upcoming albums.

Beasley is committed to nurturing the next generation by continuing to carry out master classes with global students.

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Album Review

John Beasley, Jose Gola & Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez: El Trio Live in Italy

Read "El Trio Live in Italy" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


El Trio Live in Italy features the impressive line-up of Grammy Award-winner John Beasley on keyboards and synthesizers, José Gola on electric bass, and Horacio “El Negro" Hernandez on drums. Described as a “dream threesome" of renowned musicians, this album is a product of their summer tour of Italy in 2022. The album's essence is a journey of three friends allowing the music to guide them. All three artists have a rich history, having toured with the maestro of Afro-Cuban ...

8
Album Review

Dwight Trible: Ancient Future

Read "Ancient Future" reviewed by Chris May


This adventurous album takes spiritual jazz's premier vocalist out of his comfort zone and into the deep blue yonder. It is a work of extremes, beginning with a storm of avant-rock, funk and electronics and ending by spinning off into abstract space accompanied by a virtual headful of Stanley Owsley's finest. In short, Ancient Future will shave your ass. The album is the follow-up to Trible's outstanding Mothership (Gearbox, 2019), but aside from being on the same ...

6
Album Review

Maria Mendes: Saudade, Colours of Love

Read "Saudade, Colours of Love" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Every language has words that defy translation. Take “saudade" in Portuguese or Galician. Or “fado." Go to a standard dictionary, and “saudade" appears as “nostalgia" or “longing." In reality, a native speaker will tell you “saudade" means a kind of indefinable melancholy for people, places or things that may only exist in the imagination, and “fantasy" will not even come close. “Fado" is an art form, defined as a mournful or fatalistic Portuguese folk song. Perhaps “flamenco" is familiar, but ...

9
SoCal Jazz

The Music of Thelonious Monk: John Beasley's MONK'estra Live

Read "The Music of Thelonious Monk: John Beasley's MONK'estra Live" reviewed by Jim Worsley


If you are familiar with John Beasley's MONK'estra, then you may understand my excitement level at the prospects of seeing and hearing his music in a live show. The brilliance of Thelonious Monk's compositions propelled by the power and sass of big band swagger. This recent performance took place at The Barclay Performing Arts Center on the campus of UC Irvine. The city of Irvine is located on the south end of Orange County, about forty miles south of Los ...

10
Album Review

John Beasley, Magnus Lindgren, SWR Big Band: Bird Lives

Read "Bird Lives" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Round about 2017 there was a meeting of the minds. Composers and musicians John Beasley and Magnus Lindgren evolved as kindred spirits, and chose to work together on a project engulfing their shared appreciation of Charlie Parker. This tribute to the man who came to be known simply as Bird, had trouble taking flight. Obstacles, none bigger than Covid, came along and stood in the way. Dedicated to its completion, the pair, along with the SWR Big Band, has now ...

13
Album Review

MONK'estra: MONK'estra Plays John Beasley

Read "MONK'estra Plays John Beasley" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The MONK'estra is actually a number of groups of various shapes and sizes, from duo to big band, assembled under the guiding hand of composer, arranger & pianist John Beasley to—wait for it!—"play John Beasley," an artist whose admiration for Thelonious Sphere Monk is clear throughout this buoyant and resourceful album, as it was on Volumes 1 and 2 of the series, in which the MONK'estra “played Monk." Beasley wrote eight of the album's fourteen genial numbers ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Tributes to Monk, Part 2

Read "Tributes to Monk, Part 2" reviewed by Russell Perry


Around the 100th anniversary of Thelonious Monk's birth in 2017, there were so many excellent collections of his music released that the previous hour of programming couldn't contain them all. More Monk tributes from John Beasley and MONK'estra, the Microscopic Septet and Wadada Leo Smith in this hour of Jazz at 100 Today! Playlist Host Intro 0:00 Wadada Leo Smith solo “Crepuscule With Nellie" from Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk (Tum Records) 3:01 Microscopic Septet “Friday The ...

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Recording

'El Trio - Live In Italy' with John Beasley, José Armando Gola, Horacio El Negro Hernández available on January 19, 2024 on Challenge Records

'El Trio - Live In Italy' with John Beasley, José Armando Gola, Horacio El Negro Hernández available on January 19, 2024 on Challenge Records

Source: Vivo Musique Internationale

El Trio Live in Italy featuring John Beasley on piano, José Armando Gola on double bass and Horacio El Negro Hernández on drums. “El Trio touring in Italy in the summer of 2022 is about ‘eat, music, love’.” Three friends on stage letting the music play them. “To our godfather Chucho Valdés who has inspired each of us, given us a helping hand along the way, and put us up on stage alongside him. We are eternally grateful.” Street Date: ...

3

Radio

SiriusXM's New, Original jazz radio show on Jazz Arranging "Flipped" with Host John Beasley

SiriusXM's New, Original jazz radio show on Jazz Arranging "Flipped" with Host John Beasley

Source: All About Jazz

To mark Jazz Appreciation Month, this April 2019, SiriusXM is launching a 4-part series on ‘arranging’. “Flipped” will explore what happens musically when jazz musicians rearrange or ‘flip’ songs from the Great American Songbook and make it their own. On SiriusXM Ch.67 “Flipped” Fridays, April 5, 12, 19, 26 @ 5-7:00pm ET / 2-4:00pm PT Rebroadcasts: Saturdays, April 6, 13, 20, 27 @ 6-8:00pm ET / 3-5:00 pm PT About John Beasley In the course of three decades, ...

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Event

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova And UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock Announce Fourth Annual International Jazz Day

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova And UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock Announce Fourth Annual International Jazz Day

Source: All About Jazz

PERFORMANCES & OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO TAKE PLACE WORLDWIDE ON APRIL 30, RECOGNIZING JAZZ MUSIC AS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF FREEDOM International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert in Global Host City Paris, France will be a highlight of UNESCO’s 70th Anniversary Celebration Paris and Washington, D.C. – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock are pleased to announce the fourth annual International Jazz Day, which will be celebrated around the world ...

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Event

EastWest JazzScene Concert: Carl Allen, John Beasley, Eric Revis, Ralph Moore and Marquis Hill at Blue Whale

EastWest JazzScene Concert: Carl Allen, John Beasley,  Eric Revis, Ralph Moore and Marquis Hill at Blue Whale

Source: John Beasley

Sunday, February 22, 9:00pm and 10:30pm sets. $20. New York drummer Carl Allen brings his scene to jny: Los Angeles to join pianist John Beasley to lead a quintent for some east-west action. Joining this prospect are east/west coasters bassist Eric Revis, saxophonist Ralph Moore and trumpeter Marquis Hill. Carl Allen’s profound and propulsive percolations provided soulful and syncopated playing with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Jennifer Holliday, J.J. Johnson, Rickie Lee Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Branford Marsalis, Kenny ...

Event

3 Generations Of Freddie Hubbard Alumni at Blue Whale on October 11-12

3 Generations Of Freddie Hubbard Alumni at Blue Whale on  October 11-12

Source: John Beasley

A spontaneous Hub reunion of Freddie Hubbard’s band members. From the 70s, Henry Franklin on bass. Carrying the rhythm section in the 80s and 90s, Carl Allen on drums with John Beasley on keyboards, and standing out front on sax was Bob Sheppard. Joining the band in the 90s was Ralph Moore on sax. On the reunion stage, Ambrose Akinmusire join this alumni band. 2 nights, 4 sets in the spirit of Freddie! “I was changing the style of the ...

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Performance / Tour

John Beasley, Darryl Jones, and Ndugu Chancler Form Funk Power Triumvirate 3 Brave Souls Scheduled for June 12th Release on BFM Jazz

John Beasley, Darryl Jones, and Ndugu Chancler Form Funk Power Triumvirate 3 Brave Souls Scheduled for June 12th Release on BFM Jazz

Source: Two for the Show Media

Three generations of Miles Davis alumni having fun playing progressive roots music—keyboardist John Beasley, bassist Darryl Jones and master drummer Ndugu Chancler—join forces in a formidable new funk trio called 3 Brave Souls. Harnessing Beasley and Ndugu's hometown earthy undertones of New Orleans and Jones' Chicago street-funk 3 Brave Souls are knee-deep in the groove on their self-titled debut for BFM Jazz. From the revved-up, rootsy Meters romp “Wanna Get Away" and the downhome “Nothing Left to Say," both featuring ...

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Performance / Tour

John Beasley Sept-Oct Gig Calendar

John Beasley Sept-Oct Gig Calendar

Source: John Beasley

WHAT'S ON with JOHN BEASLEY—September-October 2011 SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC! September 12 (Monday) Washington, DC Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz 25th Anniversary Gala Concert @ Kennedy Center John Beasley—Music Director All-Star Gala Concert will honor Aretha Franklin with the Founder's Award. Performers include: Herbie Hancock, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Moran, Danilo Perez, Marcus Roberts, Jacky Terrasson, Ron Carter, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Carl Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, TS Monk, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter, Ambrose ...

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Event

Concert: Jan 8 - John Beasley Positootly! Jazz Circle @ Blue Whale

Concert: Jan 8 - John Beasley Positootly! Jazz Circle @ Blue Whale

Source: Michael Ricci

John Beasley Positootly! Jazz Circle @ The Blue Whale GRAMMY NOMINATION: BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM Positootly! (Resonance Records) John is truly an amazing pianist, imaginative composer, creative improviser and arranger. And with Positootly he created an album that people will look back as one of the first Jazz classic albums of the 21th century. WHEN: Saturday, January 8, 2011 BAND: Bennie Maupin (sax), Oscar Seaton (drums), Kevin Brandon (bass), John Beasley MUSIC: John Beasley Poistootly! Jazz Circle will feature music ...

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Festival

Angel City Jazz Festival Opens October 2nd at REDCAT with Henry Grimes's Return to the LA Stage plus the Dwight Trible/John Beasley Duo

Angel City Jazz Festival Opens October 2nd at REDCAT  with Henry Grimes's Return to the LA Stage  plus the Dwight Trible/John Beasley Duo

Source: DL Media

Los Angeles' cutting-edge jazz celebration, the Angel City Jazz Festival, now in its third year, is pleased to open its 2010 edition with a very special return to the Los Angeles stage by Henry Grimes, the legendary “lost" bassist. Opening for Henry in this evening of astonishing music will be the Dwight Trible/John Beasley Duo, showcasing Trible's soulful vocals and Beasley's outrageous piano chops. On Saturday October 2nd, The Angel City Jazz Festival opening night event takes place at REDCAT, ...

154

Performance / Tour

John Beasley Jazz Circle Concert: Live Webcast

John Beasley Jazz Circle Concert: Live Webcast

Source: Michael Ricci

On Thursday, Jan 28, 8pm to 10pm you can watch the John Beasley Jazz Circle Concert via the new LIVE web-TV Jazz Concert series at networksconcerts.com. Available for fans and music lovers from all over the world, this is a unique performance and event! Featuring ORIGINAL music spanning John Beasley's solo recording career from his critically acclaimed first release, Cauldron, to his latest release, Positootly, which has been on the Jazz Charts for five consecutive months since its release in ...

John Beasley is one of the best pianists and improvisers on the jazz scene today. Beasley is a master musician, with total command of the jazz language, and his playing is always intense in both emotion and technique. —All About Jazz (Wilbert Sostre)

"The pianist and composer John Beasley has one of the most formidable tasks of anyone associated with today's International Jazz Day, the celebration produced by UNESCO and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. He's music director of the centerpiece concert to be live-streamed from Istanbul ...That means Beasley put together the lineups from a star-studded international cast, with a set list meant to charm the world

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Beasley has led music/jazz/piano clinics and workshops worldwide over the past 25 years across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America, including The Grammy Foundation's camps, Frost School of Music, U of Miami Manhattan School of Music Julliard Rutgers University The Music School (Utah), ASCAP (I Create Music) Politrius Music School (Guatemala), CoDarts, Rotterdam Conservatory Maastricht Conservatory Amsterdam Conservatory... to name a few Private lessons - rates are negotiable Hours - when not on tour

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Ancient Future

Gearbox Records
2023

buy

El Trio Live in Italy

Challenge Records
2023

buy

Live in Italy

Challenge Records
2023

buy

El Trio: Live in Italy

Challenge Records
2023

buy

In2uition

Dash Hoffman Records
2022

buy

Saudade, Colours of...

Challenge Records
2022

buy

3 For Africa

From: El Trio: Live in Italy
By John Beasley

Hermeto's Fado for Maria

From: Saudade, Colours of Love
By John Beasley

Small Hotel

From: In2uition
By John Beasley

So Tired

From: Positootly!
By John Beasley

4AM

From: Letter To Herbie
By John Beasley

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