Denny Zeitlin

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Denny Zeitlin
Denny Zeitlin Jazz Piano Performance Photo.jpg
Zeitlin in 2000
Background information
Birth nameDennis Jay Zeitlin
Born (1938-04-10) April 10, 1938 (age 86)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, clinical professor of psychiatry
Instrument(s)Piano, synthesizer
Years active1952–present
Labels Columbia/CBS, Sunnyside Records
Website dennyzeitlin.com

Denny Zeitlin (born April 10, 1938) [1] is an American jazz pianist, composer, and clinical professor of psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco. Since 1963, he has recorded more than 100 compositions and was a first-place winner in the DownBeat International Jazz Critics' Poll in 1965 and 1974. He composed the soundtrack for the 1978 science-fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers . [2]

Contents

Early life

Zeitlin was born in Chicago, Illinois, [1] and grew up in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. [3] He began improvising on the piano at the age of two. [4] His father was a radiologist who played piano by ear. His mother was a speech pathologist and his first piano teacher. His parents allowed him to improvise on the piano for several years as a toddler, which he stated was crucial to his development and desire to begin formal study in classical music at the age of six. [5] [4] He started studying jazz in the eighth grade, and cited George Shearing, Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, Lennie Tristano, Bud Powell, and Oscar Peterson as his primary early influences, and saw them perform in Chicago clubs as a teenager, able to pass for older due to being very tall. [5] In high school, he played professionally in and around Chicago, [6] and by college at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, was playing with Ira Sullivan, Johnny Griffin, Wes Montgomery, Joe Farrell, Wilbur Ware, and Bob Cranshaw, among others. Mentors included Billy Taylor and George Russell. Pianist Bill Evans, an early supporter, frequently recorded Zeitlin's composition "Quiet Now" and made it the title track of a 1970 album. [2] [3] [7]

Later life and career

Signed by Columbia Records's John Hammond, [8] Zeitlin began his recording career in 1963 while studying medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, debuting as the featured pianist on the Jeremy Steig album Flute Fever , which also featured Ben Riley and Ben Tucker. [9] Zeitlin's recording debut as a leader was the album Cathexis, with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Freddie Waits. [4] [10] Zeitlin then moved to San Francisco in 1964 to intern at the University of California, San Francisco, followed by a residency. [3] His next album was Carnival, with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Jerry Granelli. [4] That trio had a regular gig at The Trident in Sausalito, California, and recorded Zeitlin's next album, Shining Hour, there. [4]

Jazz critic Leonard Feather called Zeitlin "the most versatile young pianist to come to prominence in the early 1960s". [11] Reflecting on Zeitlin's Columbia period, jazz historian Ted Gioia wrote that the pianist "had assimilated the breakthroughs of the previous decade, from the impressionism of Bill Evans to the free-fall explorations of Ornette Coleman, and blended them into a personal style that anticipated the next fifteen years of keyboard advances. He stood out from the crowd for the unbridled creativity of his work, the richness of his harmonic palette, and the sheer beauty of his piano tone". [12]

Between 1968 and 1978, Zeitlin integrated electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and sound-altering devices with acoustic instruments, working in multiple musical genres. The results were first heard in 1969 when Zeitlin composed and performed music for the "Jazzy Spies" sequences on the first season of Sesame Street , featuring vocal overdubs by Grace Slick. In 1973, he released Expansion, a trio album with George Marsh and Mel Graves, which DownBeat magazine awarded its highest rating. [13] [14] The period culminated with Zeitlin's writing the score for the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers , which turned out to be his only film score, despite numerous subsequent offers, because of the extreme workload of many 20-plus-hour days. [15] While New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael thought the music occasionally overpowered the action, she called the score "generally dazzling" and a large contributor to both the humor and terror of the film. [16]

Beginning in 1978, Zeitlin focused primarily on acoustic music, continuing to play concerts internationally [17] and recording some 22 albums. His projects included the solo album Soundings, the duo album Time Remembers One Time Once with Charlie Haden, and Denny Zeitlin Trio in Concert with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson. Zeitlin continued to draw strong reviews. Critic Doug Ramsey wrote that "Trio in Concert", released in 2009, "catches Dr. Zeitlin, at age 70, in his musical prime and his trio afire". [8] He recorded his 2020 album, Live at Mezzrow, at age 82, [14]

With the advent of electronic music technology improving dramatically in the 2000s, Zeitlin embarked on a major upgrade to his home studio and began to rediscover electro-acoustic music. He was soon joined by drummer George Marsh, and the two released several albums of free improvisation as a duo on Sunnyside Records. [18]

Dual careers

Since 1968, Zeitlin has been on the teaching faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, where he is clinical professor of psychiatry. He has a private practice in San Francisco and Marin County. He had a 30-year mentorship with psychoanalyst Joseph Weiss, founder of Control Mastery Theory. Zeitlin has combined his two disciplines in a lecture and workshop entitled "Unlocking the Creative Impulse: The Psychology of Improvisation". [7] [19]

In comparing his two careers, Zeitlin has said it would be a mistake to think that psychiatry served merely to support his passion for music, when in fact he has a passion for both. "In each setting, communication is utterly paramount. There has to be a depth of empathy that allows you to really inhabit the other person's world. It comes out as a collaborative journey in both settings." [3]

Personal life

Zeitlin lives in Marin County, California, is an avid mountain biker and wine aficionado, the latter interest shared with his trio. He has been married to actress Josephine Shady since 1969. [2] [20]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year recordedTitleLabelYear releasedPersonnel/Notes
1964Cathexis Columbia 1964Trio, with Cecil McBee (bass), Freddie Waits (drums) [21]
1964CarnivalColumbia1964Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums) [21] [22]
1966Shining Hour - Live at The TridentColumbia1966Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); in concert; also known as Shining Hour [23]
1966–1967ZeitgeistColumbia1967Trio; some tracks with Charlie Haden (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); some tracks with Joe Halpin (bass), Oliver Johnson (drums) [24]
1969The Name of This TerrainNow-Again2022Trio, with Mel Graves (bass, electric bass, vocals), George Marsh (drums, percussion, vocals) [25]
1973ExpansionDouble Helix1973Trio, with Mel Graves (bass, electric bass), George Marsh (drums, percussion) [26]
1977Syzygy1750 Arch1977Most tracks trio, with Ratzo B. Harris (bass, electric bass), George Marsh (drums, percussion); one track quartet, with Rich Fudoli (tenor sax, clarinet, flute) added; one track quartet with Tom Buckner (vocals) added [27] [28]
1978Invasion of the Body SnatchersUnited Artists1978Soundtrack album for the 1978 film [27]
1978?Soundings1750 Arch1978Solo piano; some tracks in concert [29]
1981 Time Remembers One Time Once ECM 1983Duo, co-led with Charlie Haden (bass); in concert [30]
1981, 1983Tidal WavePalo Alto1984Quartet, with John Abercrombie (guitar), Charlie Haden (bass), Peter Donald (drums); one track in concert [31]
1986?HomecomingLiving Music1986Solo piano [32]
1988TrioWindham Hill Jazz1988Trio, with Joel DiBartolo (bass, electric bass), Peter Donald (drums) [33] [34]
1988–1989In the MomentWindham Hill Jazz1989Most tracks duo, with David Friesen (bass); in concert; some tracks trio, with Joel DiBartolo (bass), Peter Donald (drums) [35]
1992In ConcertITM Pacific1992Duo, with David Friesen (bass); in concert [33] [36]
1992 Denny Zeitlin at Maybeck Concord 1993Solo piano; in concert
1994Denny Zeitlin/David FriesenConcord1995Duo, co-led with David Friesen (bass); in concert [33]
1997As Long as There's Music Venus 1998Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Al Foster (drums) [37]
1998Live at the Jazz BakeryIntuition1999Duo, co-led with David Friesen (bass); in concert [33]
2001New RiverAcoustic Disc2001Duo, co-led with David Friesen (bass) [38]
2001Stairway to the Stars Sunnyside 2014Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert [33]
2003Slick RockMAXJAZZ2004Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums) [33]
2004Solo VoyageMAXJAZZ2005Solo piano, keyboards [39]
2001, 2004, 2006Trio in Concert Sunnyside 2009Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert [40] [33] [41]
2008PrecipiceSunnyside2010Solo piano; in concert [42]
2009Wishing On the MoonSunnyside2018Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert [33]
2008, 2010Labyrinth/Live Solo PianoSunnyside2011Solo piano; in concert [43] [44]
2011Wherever You AreSunnyside2012Solo piano [45]
2003–2004, 2011–2012Both/AndSunnyside2013Solo piano, keyboards, electronics [46]
2013–2014Riding the MomentSunnyside2015Duo, co-led with George Marsh (drums, percussion) [47]
2014Early WayneSunnyside2016Solo piano; in concert [33]
2016Remembering MilesSunnyside2019Solo piano; in concert [33]
2015–2017ExpeditionSunnyside2017Duo, co-led with George Marsh (drums, percussion) [48]
2018Crazy Rhythm: Exploring George GershwinSunnyside2023Solo piano [49]
2014–2019Telepathy – Duo Electro-Acoustic ImprovisationsSunnyside2021Duo, co-led with George Marsh (drums, percussion) [50]
2019Live at MezzrowSunnyside2020Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert [51]
2012–2023PanopolySunnyside2024All tracks previously unreleased

Compilations

As sideman

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References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2771. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Gilbert, Andreew (January–February 2014). "Denny Zeitlin: Of solo Piano, Psychology & Body Snatchers". JazzTimes.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jerry, Karp (December 12, 2004). "Jazz Musical Doctor's Medicine". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Toomajian, Steve (October 19, 1967). "Body & Soul: The Total Experience of Denny Zeitlin". DownBeat . Vol. 34, no. 21. pp. 19–20.
  5. 1 2 "Denny Zeitlin Interview by Monk Rowe - 8/8/2002 - San Francisco, CA". YouTube. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Doctor Jazz". Newsweek. September 27, 1965. p. 94.
  7. 1 2 "Denny Zeitlin bio" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  8. 1 2 Ramsey, Doug (March 11, 2009). "A Psychiatrist's Alter Ego: Noted Jazzman". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  9. ↑ Zeitlin, Denny. "The Columbia Years: 1963-67". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  10. ↑ Dryden, Ken. "Cathexis/Carnival: Denny Zeitlin". AllMusic . Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  11. ↑ Feather, Leonard (1966). The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Sixties . New York: Horizon Press. ISBN   9780306802638.
  12. ↑ Gioia, Ted (November 21, 2007). "Denny Zeitlin: My Shining Hour". Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  13. ↑ DownBeat, January 31, 1974.
  14. 1 2 "Denny Zeitlin - Compact Discs". dennyzeitlin.com.
  15. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Invasion of the Body Snatchers". YouTube video of Zeitlin describing his score.
  16. ↑ Kael, Pauline (1994). For Keeps: 30 Years at the Movies . New York: E.P. Dutton. p.  811. ISBN   9780525938965.
  17. ↑ Wilson, David McKay (April 2007). "The Merger State". Johns Hopkins Magazine. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  18. ↑ Zeitlin, Denny. "DENNY ZEITLIN BIO UPDATE--2024" (PDF). dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Jazz Pianist & Psychiatrist Denny Zeitlin On The Psychology of Improvisation". Keyboard Magazine. October 1984. pp. 25, 30–35.
  20. ↑ Scheinin, Richard (2 December 2013). "Pianist Zeitlin marks first album's 50th anniversary". The Mercury News . Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  21. 1 2 "The Columbia Years: 1963-67". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Carnival". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Live at The Trident (Shining Hour)". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Zeitgeist". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: The Name of This Terrain". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Expansion". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  27. 1 2 "A decade of Electronic/Acoustic/Genre Integration: 1968-1978". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Syzygy". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Soundings". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  30. ↑ Dryden, Ken. "Time Remembers One Time Once: Charlie Haden / Denny Zeitlin". AllMusic . Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Tidal Wave". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Homecoming". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "A Return to a Primary Focus on Acoustic Music: 1978+". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Trio". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  35. ↑ "In the Moment". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  36. ↑ "In Concert". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  37. ↑ "As Long as There's Music". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  38. ↑ "New River". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Solo Voyage". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Denny Zeitlin Trio in Concert Featuring Buster Williams and Matt Wilson". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin Trio in Concert Featuring Buster Williams and Matt Wilson". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Precipice". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Labyrinth/Solo Piano in Concert". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  44. ↑ Wolff, Carlo (December 12, 2011). "Denny Zeitlin: Labyrinth: Live Solo Piano". JazzTimes . Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Wherever You Are". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Both/And". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin & George Marsh: Riding the Moment". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin & George Marsh: Expedition". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  49. ↑ "DENNY ZEITLIN SOLO PIANO: Crazy Rhythm—Exploring George Gershwin". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  50. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin & George Marsh: Telepathy". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: Live at Mezzrow". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Denny Zeitlin: The Columbia Studio Trio Sessions". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
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