John Erickson's latest CD, "A Feeling of Christmas", is his third solo release and a collection of Christmas carols and hymns. Part solo piano, part jazz trio, the album features local favorites Patrick Williams on bass and Tim Mulvenna on drums. "A Feeling of Christmas" is also given a slight Celtic flavor on two tracks with Chicago bodhran player Mike Austin. Familiar songs like “Carol of the Bells,†“Gabriel’s Message†and “Silent Night†all carry the distinctive signature of Erickson who creates a whole new universe with his lush re- harmonization, extended melodies and subtle yet captivating force. He turns traditional Christmas songs into originals and lifts them beyond the holiday season, as music to enjoy whenever one feels like it.
"Some pianists forget: the technique is less important than its use. Silence has musical value, as does echo - blend it properly, and its impact can top the busiest of runs. John Erickson knows." ---John Barrett, Jr. JAZZ IMPROV Magazine.
Recognized for his lyrical, understated style, Chicago-based jazz pianist John Erickson has an equal love for the rich harmony and feel of jazz as for the concise, well-crafted pop song. Inspired by the music of artists such as Pat Metheny, Mark Isham, Paul Simon, Neil Finn and Steely Dan, Erickson believes that ultimately melody is king.
"I want to give the listener a melody to hum, something to hold onto, " says Erickson, "perhaps even offer a balance between things warm and familiar and things new and surprising."
New and surprising indeed was his 2000 debut "Contemplation", an album of solo piano tracks and duets with bassist Steve Rodby, acclaimed bassist with the PAT METHENY GROUP and many other projects.
Steve Rodby: "I work on a lot of recordings that take weeks, even months to finish. So it gives me a special pleasure to hear what John and I played that night in the studio -- and I listen to it often -- knowing that it was just that moment in time, a moment of both getting to know each other, but also having many of the same winds at our backs, pushing us forward in the same direction. John is an artist, and it was a privilege to make this music with him."
The San Diego Reader wrote of Contemplation --"A sort of piano feng shui in which glassy, amorphous tone poems probe shadowy themes with astute harmony, counterpoint and balance" and Jim Aiken of Keyboard Magazine said, --"Comparisons to Keith Jarrett's more mellow moments would not be out of place. This one is going straight into my short stack of late-night relaxation CDs.â€
His second album, "And So On", is a mix of originals and covers of Miles Davis, Thad Jones and Steely Dan. It received airplay on over 300 NPR, college and satellite radio stations in the U.S. and Canada. Yellowjackets keyboardist Russell Ferrante praised, "John gets a beautiful sound from the instrument and the compositions fit hand in glove with his lyrical playing style." Tony Gasparre, editor of Jazz Week National NPR Radio Chart declared, "One of my favorite CDs."
Raised in California's Santa Ynez Valley, John's professional music career began in San Diego while finishing a degree in jazz performance. He relocated to Chicago in 1997. He currently tours nationally with acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne, who blends various musical styles and influences into a sound of his own. In Chicago, John can be heard with a variety of musicians including sublime jazz vocalist Stephanie Browning and versatile guitarist Steve Ramsdell. He has been the pianist for the LakeView Presbyterian Church since 1998 and will continue combining his work as a sideman with his own projects as a composer/arranger and recording artist.
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(this page is created and maintained by Gina/Mizar5 and John Erickson)
