Yan Falmagne

Yan Falmage was born in New York City and has been captivated by music from an early age. He began studying classical piano at age 7. While continuing his studies in his early teens, his curiosity toward other styles of music was peaked, and after moving southern California, he began auditioning for blues and rock bands, playing at such L.A. clubs as the Whiskey A Go-Go and the House of Blues. Still restless, Yan began to pursue jazz as his primary means of expression, seeking out and studying with the likes of Art Davis(John Coltrane Quintet) and Kei Akagi(Miles Davis). In 1998, he was awarded a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, and moved to Boston to begin his bachelor studies. In his first year back on his native coast, Yan studied piano and ensemble work with Joanne Brackeen, Jason Moran, Ed Tomassi, Dave Frank and Jeff Galindo. However, his curiousity would soon lead him in yet another direction. Fascinated by gospel music introduced to him by his peers, and inspired by the classic recordings of organ greats Fats Waller, Jimmy Smith, Larry Young, Big John Patton and Don Patterson, he began to pursue studies on the B-3 organ. Under the tutelage of organists Jeff Palmer and Bruce Katz, Yan began working in the Boston area, playing locally with many rising young musicians. He has played with Jerry Weldon, Tobias Relenberg-Schmidt, Christian Scott, Lee Fish, Oleg Osenkov, John Thomas, Carlos Pallan, and many others. Since completing his degree, Yan has recorded several albums, toured Switzerland and Germany, and continues to be active in the New York scene as both a pianist and organist, proving that this powerful, versatile instrument still deserves a place in modern music.