Contemporary Jazz including funk, samba, & some straight-ahead instrumentals featuring acoustic piano & alto sax.

10 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Contemporary Jazz, JAZZ: Mainstream Jazz



Details:
John Nyerges lives in Rochester, NY and has been leading his own group, writing music and performing as a jazz pianist featuring original music since attending college at the Eastman School of Music. His groups have performed at the Alexander Jazz Festival, Canandaigua Arts Festival, Conesus Jazz Festival, Oswego HarborFest, "Live at Hochstein" on WXXI 91.5 FM, and The Rochester Lilac Fest and in nearly every venue in Upstate New York.

In 1990 he was the pianist/arranger for Syracuse Urban League. He has been a top-call player for other musical styles such as R & B artists âThe Coastersâ, The âShirellesâ, and âFrancine Reedâ. He toured with Rochesterâs jazz-funk group âCabo Frioâ, working at national hot spots such as âBlues Alleyâ in Georgetown, and the âCaravan of Dreamsâ in Ft. Worth, TX. John also was a guest artist at the Jazzwinds Jazz Fest on Lake Erie for several years, performing with sax great Joe Lovano as well as Dennis Dobson and Michael Pedicin, Jr.

In 1991 he released his debut CD -"Point of View" on NBR (Nyerges Brothersâ Records-formed with his brother Paul, a photographer-see his website link). It
became the â#1 Requested Album" on WGMC for several weeks & made the "Top 40 Contemporary Jazz albums of 1992" list for Rochester. It is also heard locally on The "North Coast" 105.9 It has been played on numerous other radio stations around Upstate New York (Syracuse Univ., Buffalo) as well as other parts of the country. It was critically acclaimed by Chuck Berg of JazzTimes (sic).

Chuck Berg of JazzTimes (sic) described the CD as having "...a variety of arresting posesâ and â...a welcome change of pace..."

Jack Garner of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle said it was an "...impressive debutâ and that John is â...an intelligent, lyrical pianist..."

The John Nyerges Quartet performed on the main stage at the Jazz Fest in Syracuse, NY. in 1992-1993.

Ray Boyce of the Syracuse Post-Standard stated that "John Nyerges...is a protean pianist...â and that he had â...terrific technique and marvelous conceptions..."

Jeff Simon, of the Buffalo Evening News called John a " ... superb pianist ..."

His group has also performed at the High Falls, Aqueduct Park, & on the ânational stageâ at the 1995 & 1996 Time Warner Fest(s) in Rochester.

In 1988 John began working with Jeff Tyzik in the "High Class Brass" concerts with the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras. He has also worked with the Syracuse, Utica, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Stamford & Hartford CT., and
Wilmington, DE orchestras. Guests performed with have included Doc Severinson, Allen Vizzutti, Don Potter, Linda Hopkins, Chris Vadala, Gerry Niewood, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Daniels, Ray Ricker, Tony DiPaulo, Michael Civisca, Five Alive, New York Voices, Monica Mancini and Robin McKelle. He is a guest with the RPO in Vail, Co many summers. He has also worked as Jeff Tyzikâs pianist in his big band , small group, and in his recording studio.


Currently he is heading towards his 15th year as jazz pianist with RPO "Popsâ. He is part of the highly acclaimed rhythm section that included Rich Thompson on drums for 14 years and more recently includes Dave Mancini, and Jeff Campbell on bass. John arranged one of his own compositions, âA Moment in Timeâ, for a RPO concert in 1998. He spent two years with "Doc" Severinson & the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra before starting with the RPO. In 1995 he received a Teaching Assistantship and Fellowship culminating in a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Music at Eastman in 1997. While there he studied arranging with Fred Sturm and piano with Tony Caramia and Mike Cain (of Jack DeJohnetteâs Band) and trumpeter Ralph Alessi. He was a soloist with the New Jazz and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and appeared on the CD âTake The Next Stepâ. He performed with the legendary Joe Henderson, composer/conductor Maria Schneider, and Benny Carter in the Eastman Theater and with Bob Brookmeyer at Town Hall in New York City.

In 1996 John performed with drumming-greats Steve Gadd in the Eastman Theater and with Peter Erskine and bassist Jeff Campbell in Kilbourn Hall (Eastman). He is part of the jazz trio on Phill Freeman's CD, and can be heard as the jazz piano soloist on the Rochester Philharmonic 75th Anniversary Pops CD, the Holiday Pops I & II CDâs, and the Rochester Chamber Societyâs 2001 CD. John was a guest soloist on Nancy Kellyâs 1997 Amherst Records CD and toured with her band for a few years. John is currently on the faculty at Monroe Community College where he heads the Jazz Instrumental program, teaching Jazz Piano, Recording Techniques, MIDI, Jazz Improvisation/Theory and directing the Jazz Ensemble and Small Combo. He teaches Jazz Piano Masterclass and a JPW (jazz performance workshop-small combo) summers for Eastmanâs Summer Jazz Camp faculty since 2000. He has been an active clinician at elementary, high school, and colleges in Upstate New York since 1980.

In 2003, 2004, John performed in the RIJF (Rochester International Jazz Festival) with saxophonist Vince Ercolamento and vocalist Victoria Corrigan, respectively, and in 2007 with NYC saxophonist Dave Glasser and also with Rick Holland/Evan Dobbins Little Big Band (regular member).

Rick Holland & Evan Dobbins âIn Timeâs Shadowâ,
blujazz productions, BJ3348, 2006 reviews:

âfine soloing by John Nyerges on piano -- give this tune a unique identityâ- Thom Jurek, allmusic.com

âremarkable energyâ¦impressive solos by trumpeter Holland and a number of others, most notably pianist John Nyerges.â âJack Bowers, allaboutjazz.com

In April 2007 John performed with with Rick Holland/Evan Dobbins Little Big Band with guest artist jazz hamonica/vibraphonist Hendrik Muerkens.

John recorded with several bands recently and will appear on several new CDâs with saxophonist Dave Glasser, Carl Atkins & Jon Krugerâs âNew Energyâ Big Band, trumpeter Herb Smith, and Johnâs 2nd release as a leader featuring Clay Jenkins (trumpet), Rich Thompson (drums), Jeff Campbell (bass), and Mike Karn (tenor sax) with all new originals by Nyerges entitled âJazz, Pictures, & Poemsâ. This CD contains art photography by (brother) Paul Nyerges and poetry by (daughter) Elissa Nyerges.