Glenn Zaleski

Last updated
Glenn Zaleski
Born1987 or 1988 [1]
Boylston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards
Labels Sunnyside
Website glennzaleski.com

Glenn Zaleski is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger.

Contents

Early life

Zaleski was born and raised in Boylston, Massachusetts. [2] His parents were Bob and Barbara Zaleski. [1] He has an older brother, Mark, who plays the saxophone. [2] Glenn took piano lessons from the age of seven. [2] He played in an elementary school jazz band. [2] While at high school, he had gigs in the Worcester, Massachusetts area. [1] In 2004 he attended the Brubeck Institute's Summer Jazz Colony. [1] He graduated from Tahanto Regional High School in 2005. [3] [4]

Zaleski received a two-year fellowship to study at the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific (2005–07), then completed his degree at The New School. [5] In 2006 he played with Dave Brubeck at the Monterey Jazz Festival. [5]

Later life and career

Zaleski appeared on two trio albums with bassist Rick Rosato and drummer Colin Stranahan. [5]

Zaleski's My Ideal, released by Sunnyside Records, contained both standards and Zaleski originals. [6] Nate Chinen, reviewing My Ideal for The New York Times , wrote that some of the playing was "a little too close to the aesthetic territory of Brad Mehldau. [...] But if there is any unfinished business on this accomplished first outing, it involves a stronger claim to originality." [7]

He played piano and keyboards on violinist Tomoko Omura's Roots. [8] As of 2015, Zaleski is based in New York City. [9]

Playing style

Zaleski acknowledges Bill Evans as an influence on his playing style. [6] Chinen noted Zaleski's "subtleties of touch [...] along with his fluent but unhurried sense of phrase". [7]

Discography

An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

As leader/co-leader

Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes
2010*Duet SuiteDuo, with Mark Zaleski (sax)
2011*Anticipation Capri Trio, co-led with Rick Rosato (bass), Colin Stranahan (drums)
2013*Limitless Capri Trio, co-led with Rick Rosato (bass), Colin Stranahan (drums)
2014My Ideal Sunnyside Most tracks trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Craig Weinrib (drums); one track quartet, with Ravi Coltrane (tenor sax) added
2017Fellowship Sunnyside Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Craig Weinrib (drums)
2020*The Question Sunnyside Most tracks quintet, with Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), Lucas Pino (tenor sax), Desmond White (bass), Allan Mednard (drums); one track sextet, with Yotam Silberstein (guitar) added; one track nonet, with Nick Finzer (trombone), Andrew Gutauskas (baritone sax), Alex LoRe (alto sax), Andrew Renfroe (guitar) added [10]
2023Star Dreams Sunnyside Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Willie Jones III (drums) [11] [12]

As sideman

Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel
2015*Isaac DarcheTeam & VariationsChallenge
2015*Tomoko OmuraRootsInner Circle
2015*Lucas PinoNo Net NonetOrigin
2016*Scott Tixier Cosmic Adventure Sunnyside Records
2017*Lucas PinoThe Answer Is NoOutside In Music
2021*Gabriel VicénsThe Way We Are Created Inner Circle Music

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Simas, Art (May 25, 2005) "The Kid's Got the Goods". Telegram & Gazette. p. 133.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bhatia, Rafiq "Glenn Zaleski: 'A Sound'" Archived 2018-02-17 at the Wayback Machine . The Jazz Gallery.
  3. ↑ Duckett, Richard (November 24, 2008) "Brothers in Concert". Telegram & Gazette. p. E1.
  4. ↑ Keenan, Kevin (June 6, 2005) "Tahanto Graduates Urged to Take Risks While They Can". Telegram & Gazette. p. B1.
  5. 1 2 3 Dryden, Ken (April 2015) "No Net Nonet Lucas Pino (Origin) My Ideal Glenn Zaleski (Sunnyside)". The New York City Jazz Record. p. 17.
  6. 1 2 Garelick, Jon (May 2015) "Glenn Zaleski – My Ideal". Down Beat. p. 59.
  7. 1 2 Chinen, Nate (March 16, 2015) "New Albums From Sirens, Zaleski and Miller" Archived 2017-12-19 at the Wayback Machine . The New York Times.
  8. ↑ Tangari, Joe (April 2015) "Tomoko Omura – Roots". Down Beat. p. 62.
  9. ↑ Booth, Philip (May 6, 2015) "Glenn Zaleski – My Ideal". JazzTimes.
  10. ↑ "The Question CD". glennzaleski.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  11. ↑ Contreras, Ayana (October 2024). "Glenn Zaleski: Star Dreams". DownBeat . Vol. 91, no. 10. p. 55.
  12. ↑ "'Star Dreams' Liner Notes". glennzaleski.com. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
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