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Frederick Moyer

During over thirty years as a full-time concert pianist, Frederick Moyer has established a vital musical career that has taken him to forty-three countries and to such far-flung venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle, Carnegie Recital Hall, Tanglewood, and the Kennedy Center. He has appeared as piano soloist with most of the major orchestras of the United States as well as many orchestras of Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia.

Moyer's far-reaching interests have allowed him to contribute to classical music in unique ways. An avid computer programmer, he often incorporates technology into his concerts. As a member of the Fred Moyer Jazz Trio, he performs note-for-note transcriptions of such jazz pianists as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Erroll Garner, bringing this great American music onto classical music stages. In July, 2009, Dr. Paul Green and he unveiled an unfinished piano sonata by Robert Schumann, a find that was widely reported in the national news media.

In 1992, Moyer started JRI Recordings, which has since produced CDs by numerous world-class musicians. His many recordings on this and other labels comprise works by over thirty composers and reflect an affinity for a wide variety of styles. His CD of Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto was the first commercial recording of a large-scale Romantic work using an orchestra created from sampled sounds. His Mussorgsky/Mendelssohn CD was the first using the the Bosendorfer 290 SE Recording Piano. Other recordings include David Ott's Second Piano Concerto with the London Symphony which was written for Moyer. Many other composers have written for Moyer including Pulitzer Prize winners George Walker and Ned Rorem, and Donal Fox whose Etudes of 2002-2006 were written under a grant from the Guggenheim Foundation

Awards

“...the transcription of Bill Evans' 1961 Village Vanguard version of "My Foolish Heart" illustrates the chops and artistry... Moyer proves a careful study of piano styles. His play on Evans has the same light, ethereal touch of the originator, like `a wisp of mist.” —ALLABOUTJAZZ.COM "Moyer's light and clean sound is perfectly suited for the Oscar Peterson's breezy swing on the clever and tricky “Something's Coming” and the shifting rhythms of “Bossa Beguine.” Evans' “My Foolish Heart” has a Debussy-ish spaciousness, and Hancock's “First Trip” has an airy joy to it. It's fascinating to figure out how much of the actual sound belongs to the present performer, and how much is from the person of tribute. Quite unique in concept, with a bravo performance.”—JAZZWEEKLY.COM “Frederick Moyer excels at mimicking Jamal's smile-inducing syncopated rhythms and orchestral flourishes as well as, say, Jarrett's explorative approach at interpreting standards.”—DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE


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2
Album Review

Frederick Moyer: When Summer Comes

Read "When Summer Comes" reviewed by Chris Mosey


A homage in all but name by American concert pianist Frederick Moyer to one of his heroes, Oscar Peterson. All the songs, save two, formed a regular part of the late, great Canadian's repertoire. The closing number, Moyer's own composition, “Gospel" bears a striking resemblance to Peterson's “Hymn To Freedom." Interestingly, Moyer claims to have written it before he ever heard the Peterson number, basing it on a phrase in Felix Mendelssohn's “Capriccio Brillante." ...

2
Album Review

Frederick Moyer: When Summer Comes

Read "When Summer Comes" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


A hardened cynic might think it could be a “grass is greener" rationale for a world-class concert pianist to take on a slew of GAS and jazz standards and record them in a solo format. “Ego-brushing," might also be tossed about. However, in the case of When Summer Comes a fine solo effort by Frederick Moyer, both descriptions are wildly off-base.Moyer, well-known throughout the concert performance world, is indeed a keyboard virtuoso. His classical repertoire specialties are the ...

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Performance / Tour

Classical Meets Jazz: The Fred Moyer Trio At The California Jazz Conservatory on January 29th at 4:30 p.m.

Classical Meets Jazz: The Fred Moyer Trio At The California Jazz Conservatory on January 29th at 4:30 p.m.

Source: Catherine Kaplan

Pianist Frederick Moyer, who has played in over 40 countries; at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Sydney Opera House; and with the jny: Cleveland, jny: Boston, and jny: Philadelphia Orchestras, brings a decidedly unique program to the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California, on January 29th at 4:30 p.m. Blending his classical training with his passion for jazz, Mr. Moyer, with Jeff Denson (bass) and Dillon Vado (drums), will offer selections that he himself transcribed from recordings of the ...

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