Jesse Green

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Jesse Green (born in 1971) is an American professional jazz pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and teacher. He is the son of ex-big band singer Kathy Preston and acclaimed Jazz trombonist Urbie Green. Jesse was married in June 2003 to Kristine and has three children.

[edit] Biography

Jesse Green was born in Pennsylvania. He began studying classical piano at age seven, and at age nine joined his elementary school’s concert band as a trombonist. When he was ten, he was a finalist in a nationwide talent competition; he won for his piano rendition of Count Basie’s "Jumpin' at the Woodside". His numerous accomplishments in high school include District Concert Band, Regional Concert Band, All-State Jazz Ensemble, Fred Waring’s U.S. Chorus, National Honors Jazz Band, District Chorus Instrument Ensemble, and the John Philip Sousa Memorial Concert Band—all on trombone.

During his junior year in high school, he became a member of the East Stroudsburg University Jazz Ensemble. He was piano accompanist for District Chorus as well as the high school chorus, and, for five consecutive years, he was pianist for the Celebration of the Arts “COTA CATS” (a big band founded by Grammy Award winner Phil Woods). Famous guest artists with the “COTA CATS” included David Liebman, Manny Album, Al Cohn, Hal Crook, Urbie Green, and Phil Woods. The band, directed by Pat Dorian, appears each year at the COTA Jazz Festival in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania.

Among the awards Jesse has received are scholarships to Clark Terry’s Jazz Camp, The Celebration of the Arts Commission, East Stroudsburg University Music Department, and a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music. At age 17, Jesse won the National Downbeat Student Award for “best extended composition and arrangement” with his original “Half & Half”. He has since written many other arrangements for big band as well as small groups. “Blues for Dad”, written for his father Urbie Green, was performed by the “COTA CATS” at the 1989 COTA Jazz Festival.

As a student at East Stroudsburg University, Jesse played trombone in the Concert Band and Brass Ensemble, and piano in the Jazz Ensemble. Notable artists who performed with Jesse in the Jazz Ensemble include Clark Terry, Lew Tabackin, Freddie Hubbard, Al Grey, Urbie Green, Phil Woods, David Liebman, Benny Carter, and Jimmy Heath. As a trombonist, Jesse was selected two years in a row for the Inter-Collegiate Concert Band.

In 1992, Jesse recorded his debut CD Lift Off for Chiaroscuro Records with Paul Rostock on bass, Bobby Durham on drums, and featured guest Joe Cohn on guitar. With his own trio, he has appeared at the DeerHead Inn in Delaware Water Gap, the Hillside Inn Jazz Lounge, River Street Jazz Café, and Blues Street Jazz Club...all Pocono area jazz clubs. He has accompanied a wide range of vocalists and played many of the Pocono resorts.

In May 1995, Jesse appeared with the Urbie Green Quintet on the Royal Caribbean ocean liner Majesty of the Seas. This was a special honor for Jesse in that the jazz cruise was dedicated to his idol, Oscar Peterson, who performed with his trio as well. On this cruise, Chiaroscuro created a live recording of the Urbie Green Quintet; the result was the album Sea Jam Blues, released in 1997.

In June 1995, Jesse’s second CD Sea Journey was released, also by Chiaroscuro Records. This was a live recording on the S.S. Norway. Performers include Jackie Williams on drums, Michael Moore on bass, and distinguished guest Gary Burton on vibes. The “Floating Jazz Festival” as it is called, was dedicated that year to singer Joe Williams.

Jesse has also appeared at Sculler’s Jazz Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts, along with John Lockwood on bass and Alan Dawson on drums, and at the prestigious Jazz at the Y series in New York City’s 92nd Street YMCA. In August 1996, Jesse headlined at Zinno’s in New York with his father as a special guest. Jesse has performed at the Main Street Jazz Festival in Columbia, South Carolina, and can be seen on a video of the festival which airs periodically on PBS. He has also appeared at the 1999 Indy Jazz Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1998, Green won top honors at the American Pianist Association’s Fourth Biennial Jazz Piano Competition in Indianapolis from judges Dr. Billy Taylor, Danilo Perez and Jim Turner. As a result, Jesse was named the first Jazz Fellow of the American Pianist Association.

In July 2000, Jesse performed at the United States Day in the United Kingdom’s Millennium Dome as a member of a U.S. delegation presented by the White House Millennium Council.

And in 2002, Jesse came in fourth place at the Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition in Paris, France.

In May 2003, Jesse recorded his third album, Sylvan Treasure, which features six of Jesse’s original compositions, four of which were written and performed by notable jazz saxophonists Phil Woods, Dave Liebman, and Chris Potter. Also performing on the recording are Pat Dorian on trumpet, Bruce Cox on drums, and Frank Hauck on bass.

Further accomplishments include two semi-finalist placements in the First Biennial Jazz Piano Competition in Indianapolis and the Annual International Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida.

In 2006, Jesse won first place in The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville. Held in conjunction with the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, this competition is in its 22nd year. Past jazz piano finalists include Harry Connick, Jr., Marcus Roberts, and Brad Mehldau. Judges were Ramsey Lewis, Delfayo Marsalis and Deanna Witkowski.

Along with many performances and advances in his career, Jesse teaches music (advanced jazz theory, harmony and ear training) composing and arranging, multimedia via computers and software, and sound engineering.