Songs from theatre and life

15 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Jazzy Blues, POP: Piano



Details:
John Engerman / Songwriter

A native of Seattle, Washington, John began learning piano at age five. For eight years he studied classical music, with an emphasis on Bach. Influences around the house included his fatherâs Dixieland band, Erroll Garner, Dave Brubeck, and the British comedy/music troupe Beyond the Fringe. Then, following the â60âs British invasion and the explosion of Northwest rockân roll bands, he turned his musical talents toward pop music and songwriting (like, who didnât?). While playing in bands and writing songs through high school and college, he studied the techniques of the famous songwriters â Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Harold Arlen etc. â along with those of the Beatles, the Kinks, and Donovan. In 1975 he fell in with the actors and directors of Seattleâs Empty Space Theatre, and began writing songs and incidental music for all sorts of plays, including collaborating with other Space cadets on several original scripts. It was there that he learned to love writing songs to express the feelings and portray the interactions of specific characters in specific narrative situations, with the added challenge of keeping the music tuneful and memorable. He also loves working with unexpected time signatures and ethnic influences, putting particular emphasis on the rhythmic aspect of lyrics. Having now written songs for dozens of musical comedies, dramas, and cabaret revues, he spends his time exploring both esoteric, layered theatrical notions (e.g. the story of the Tulipomania of 1635 in Holland, as told in a Spanish tavern) and the art of the simple, stand-alone pop tune. Letâs face it: some things are just better sung than expressed any other way.