Chris Forbes, an accomplished classically trained composer, jazz pianist, and music educator, has composed for symphonies, chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and musical theater. His performances and works have been described as "infectious" with "incredible energy and passion." His instrumental improvisations for the piano were described by Downbeat Magazine as "mature and sensitive beyond his years", and as a combinations of "Cecil Taylor, Keith Jarrett and Arnold Schoenberg."
Similar Artists
Anthony Braxton, Anthony Davis, Matthew Shipp
Influences
Cecil Taylor, Paul Bley, John Coltrane, Charles Ives, Edgar Varese, Sabir Mateen, Daniel Carter, Pierre Boulez, Iannis Xenakis, Keith Jarrett.
Bio
Chris Forbes, an accomplished classically trained composer, jazz pianist, and music educator, has composed for symphonies, chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and musical theater. His performances and works have been described as "infectious" with "incredible energy and passion." His choral work, Song of the Stars, was featured on National Public Radio's Choral America, and is now available on CD. His musical, RoadRage, was premiered at the IN Series, Washington, DC and called a work of "terror and whimsy" by Theater Review. One of Chris's most recent works, The Sea Lion, a one-act dance theater piece, was commissioned by the American Composers Forum and premiered in Chicago. This classically inspired work was heavily influenced by jazz and world music, meshing different forms of expression to explore uncharted musical ground. It featured a percussion ensemble and improvised solos by acclaimed jazz flautist, Nicole Mitchell. In addition to his commissioned compositions, Chris is a rising star in the New York improvised music scene. He has appeared in venues from Jazz on the Park to the FreeStyle series at CBGB's in the Bowery, The Knitting Factory and mostly recently Roulette. He has collaborated with musicians such as Nicole Mitchell, Matt Lavelle, Ras Moshe, Sabir Mateen Joe McPhee Roy Campbell and Daniel Carter. Projects include a duo with tenor sax sensation Taylor, and the piano chair in the Latin/Free Jazz band Morcilla. He recieved his training at the Berklee School in Boston and at Juilliard.
Improvisation Projects
Matt Lavelle/Ras Moshe Big Band - personel includes: Matt Lavelle, Steve Swell, Reut Regev, Ras Moshe, Mark De Santos, Dave Swellson, Chris Forbes, Matt Heyner, Francois Grillot, Andre Martinez, Mike Thompson
Morcilla - Matt Lavelle, Chris Forbes, Francois Grillot, Andre Martinez
Piano Trio w Francois Grillot and Dave Gould
T. Taylor/Chris Forbes Duo
Music Now Ensemble - variable personel including; Lou Grassi, Francois Grillot, Matt Lavelle, Reut Regev, Ken Filliano and Ras Moshe
The Compositions of Daniel Carter - Daniel Carter, Matt Lavelle, Chris Forbes, Francois Grillot and Frederico Ughi
The Duo Project - Piano and Instrument Duos with various players.
Bio
Chris Forbes, an accomplished classically trained composer, jazz pianist, and music educator, has composed for symphonies, chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and musical theater. His performances and works have been described as "infectious" with "incredible energy and passion." His choral work, Song of the Stars, was featured on National Public Radio's Choral America, and is now available on CD. His musical, RoadRage, was premiered at the IN Series, Washington, DC and called a work of "terror and whimsy" by the Washington area critics. His trio, I Met Feldman in Cyberspace, will be released on a forthcoming OgreOgress CD, For Morton Feldman.
On of Chris's most recent works, The Sea Lion, a one-act dance theater piece, was commissioned by the American Composers Forum and premiered in Chicago. This classically inspired work was heavily influenced by jazz and world music, meshing different forms of expression to explore uncharted musical ground. It featured a percussion ensemble and improvised solos by acclaimed jazz flautist, Nicole Mitchell.
In addition to his commissioned compositions, Chris is a rising star in the New York improvised music scene. He has appeared in venues from Jazz on the Park to the FreeStyle series at CBGB's in the Bowery. He has collaborated with musicians such as Nicole Mitchell, Matt Lavelle, Ras Moshe, Sabir Mateen and Daniel Carter. Projects include a duo with tenor sax sensation Taylor, the piano chair in the Matt Lavelle/Ras Moshe big band, and as a member of the highly touted Latin/Free Jazz ensemble Morcilla, with Lavelle, Francois Grillot and Andre Martinez.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Berklee College of music, Chris went on to earn a Master's in Composition from the Juilliard School. He studied with musical masters such as Mike Gibbs, George Garzone, and Jeronomius Kacinkas and David Diamond. He is the recipient of the Downbeat Award for Jazz Solo Performance.