Stetch features Ukrainian-inspired pieces in solo concert (09/23/01)

Stetch features Ukrainian-inspired pieces in solo concert

KATONAH, N.Y. - Jazz pianist John Stetch appeared recently in a solo concert at the Caramoor International Festival 2001, in a program of works by Thelonious Monk, Gershwin, Charlie Parker and Ukrainian-inspired selections of his own composition.

In a review of the concert, which appeared in the August 7 issue of The Journal News serving Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, it was noted that Mr. Stetch won the audience over "with his prolific technical proficiency and angular modern style that blends jazz, classical and Ukrainian folk melodies."

In introducing his pieces, Mr. Stetch mentioned his heritage and explained his Ukrainian pieces, titled "Zabava," "Carpathian Blues" and "Famine (Improvisation)." With reference to the latter, the newspaper noted, "His playing evoked the horrors of Stalin's forced starvation of Ukrainian peasants in 1933 by conjuring sounds that resembled dark clouds and menacing troops, with sunny chord bursts representing the triumph of the human spirit."

The first-place winner of the 1998 Prix de Jazz du Maurier at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Mr. Stetch began his performing career in Montreal while attending McGill University. During that time he recorded frequently for CBC's Jazzbeat and since then has recorded six CDs as a leader, two of which have been nominated for Juno Awards. His composition skills earned him second place in the Thelonious Monk International Competition.

Currently residing in Valley Cottage, N.Y., he has been touring internationally with his group which recently completed tours of Canada, Brazil and Israel. In addition to club dates in New York with his trio, Mr. Stetch's other recent bookings include solo concerts at the I.S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, which were broadcast this fall on Branford Marsalis' NPR program, "Jazz Set," and dates with the TannaReid Quintet. Mr. Stetch continues to work with Rufus Reid as a member of Reid's new quartet. After his solo concert at Caramoor, he also performed with James "Blood" Ulmer, Rashied Ali and Reggie Workman, filling in the piano chair for John Hicks, as part of the New Age Quartet.

In addition to his performance credentials, Mr. Stetch is also a clinician and has been teaching workshops at universities and high schools in the United States and Canada.

He is on the roster of Steinway Artists and has just been awarded a yearlong grant from the Canada Council for composing. His latest CD, "Heavens of a Hundred Days," was released on Justin Time Records.

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