Joe Gilman
Encyclopedia
Joseph Alan Gilman (born June 27, 1962) is an American
pianist
, composer
and music educator currently residing in Sacramento, California
. Gilman, who teaches at American River College
in Sacramento and the Brubeck Institute
in Stockton, California
, works in a variety of genres, but is primarily known for his work as a jazz
pianist, arranger, composer, and educator.
Gilman has simultaneously developed two careers; as an educator and as a recording artist and performer. In 1992 he
began directing the music theory and jazz studies programs at American River College, but also released the CD Treasure Chest, with notable musicians Joe Henderson, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Robert Hurst.
In 1998 and 2000, Gilman toured twelve countries on the African continent as a part of the Kennedy Center/USIA Jazz Ambassador program. The tour included regular performances with jazz guitarist Steve Homan to foreign dignitaries and resident audiences, performing with local musicians, and offering lectures and clinics to aspiring jazz performers.
In 1997, Gilman founded Capital Jazz Project, a Sacramento based noprofit organization which features thematic jazz presentations.
From 1997 to 2004, Gilman was a regular finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the grand prize winner in 2004.
In 2004, Gilman began a series of recordings for the Sunnyside
and Capri labels featuring reinterpretations of the music of Dave Brubeck
and Stevie Wonder
.
In 2005, Gilman became the music director of the Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California.
In 2006, Gilman became a regular accompanist to jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson
, and has since toured the Blue Note jazz clubs in Japan, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York, Jazz Alley and the Triple Door in Seattle, Yoshi's in Oakland and San Francisco, the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, and jazz festivals such as Estoria (Portugal) Pescara and Umbria (Italy), Jazz Baltica
(Germany), Sedona (Arizona), and Boston.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music educator currently residing in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. Gilman, who teaches at American River College
American River College
American River College is a California community college located in the southern edge of unincorporated Foothill Farms in Sacramento County, California....
in Sacramento and the Brubeck Institute
Brubeck Institute
The Brubeck Institute is a special program at the University of the Pacific's Conservatory of Music. It was founded in 2001 by noted Jazz pianist and Pacific alum Dave Brubeck.-External links:*http://www.pacific.edu/brubeck/...
in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, works in a variety of genres, but is primarily known for his work as a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist, arranger, composer, and educator.
Background
Gilman began studying piano at the age of seven and later earned Bachelor degrees in piano performance and jazz studies at Indiana University, a Master's degree in jazz and the contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music, and a Doctorate in education from the University of Sarasota. He studied with Yuriy Oliynyk, Jerry Murphy, Frank Wasko, David Baker, James Tocco, Karen Shaw, Bill Dobbins, and Rayburn Wright.Gilman has simultaneously developed two careers; as an educator and as a recording artist and performer. In 1992 he
began directing the music theory and jazz studies programs at American River College, but also released the CD Treasure Chest, with notable musicians Joe Henderson, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Robert Hurst.
In 1998 and 2000, Gilman toured twelve countries on the African continent as a part of the Kennedy Center/USIA Jazz Ambassador program. The tour included regular performances with jazz guitarist Steve Homan to foreign dignitaries and resident audiences, performing with local musicians, and offering lectures and clinics to aspiring jazz performers.
In 1997, Gilman founded Capital Jazz Project, a Sacramento based noprofit organization which features thematic jazz presentations.
From 1997 to 2004, Gilman was a regular finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the grand prize winner in 2004.
In 2004, Gilman began a series of recordings for the Sunnyside
Sunnyside Records
Sunnyside Records is an American jazz record label.Sunnyside was founded in 1982 by Francois Zalacain and Christine Berthet. Its early releases consisted primarily of piano solo material and ensembles without drums, but in later years has broadened its selection of material.-Artists who have...
and Capri labels featuring reinterpretations of the music of Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
In 2005, Gilman became the music director of the Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California.
In 2006, Gilman became a regular accompanist to jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson
Bobby Hutcherson
Bobby Hutcherson is a jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern...
, and has since toured the Blue Note jazz clubs in Japan, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York, Jazz Alley and the Triple Door in Seattle, Yoshi's in Oakland and San Francisco, the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, and jazz festivals such as Estoria (Portugal) Pescara and Umbria (Italy), Jazz Baltica
Jazz Baltica
Jazz Baltica is an intimate jazz festival held each summer in Schloss Salzau close to Kiel, Germany, and the coast of the Baltic Sea. It differs from most other festivals in its intimacy and the access that visitors have to the musicians...
(Germany), Sedona (Arizona), and Boston.
Musical influences
Although originally influenced by ragtime music, Gilman found jazz piano icon Dave Brubeck in his formative teen years. Later he immersed himself in the recordings of Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. Because of his classical studies, Gilman has also incorporated the concepts of Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev into his unique style.Discography
- 1987 Joe Gilman (Artful Balance)
- 1988 Artfully Beatles (Compilation; Artful Balance)
- 1990 Here, There, and Everywhere (Artful Balance)
- 1992 Treasure Chest (Timeless)
- 2000 Duality w/ Steve Homan (Nefertiti)
- 2004 Time Again; Brubeck Revisited Vol. 1 (Sunnyside)
- 2004 Claude Bolling Suites 1 and 2 for flute and jazz piano trio (Cantilena)
- 2005 Time Again; Brubeck Revisited Vol. 2 (Sunnyside)
- 2006 View So Tender; Wonder Revisited Vol. 1 (Capri)
- 2007 View So Tender; Wonder Revisited Vol. 2 (Capri)
- 2009 Wise One/ Bobby Hutcherson (Kind of Blue)
- 2010 Americanvas (Capri)
Awards and nominations
- 1997 Great American Jazz Piano Competition; 1st runner-up
- 1998 Great American Jazz Piano Competition; 2nd Place
- 2000 Great American Jazz Piano Competition; 3rd Place
- 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition; 2nd Place
- 2004 Great American Jazz Piano Competition; Grand Prize Winner
- 2005 Brubeck Scholar Award (University of the Pacific)