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Denny Zeitlin

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Denny Zeitlin
Zeitlin in 2000
Zeitlin in 2000
Background information
Birth nameDennis Jay Zeitlin
Born (1938-04-10) April 10, 1938 (age 86)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, clinical professor of psychiatry
Instrument(s)Piano, synthesizer
Years active1952–present
LabelsColumbia/CBS, Sunnyside Records
Websitedennyzeitlin.com

Denny Zeitlin (born April 10, 1938)[1] is an American jazz pianist, composer, and clinical professor of psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco. Since 1963, he has recorded more than 100 compositions and was a first-place winner in the DownBeat International Jazz Critics' Poll in 1965 and 1974. He composed the soundtrack for the 1978 science-fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers.[2]

Early life

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Zeitlin was born in Chicago, Illinois,[1] and grew up in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.[3] He began improvising on the piano at the age of two.[4] His father was a radiologist who played piano by ear. His mother was a speech pathologist and his first piano teacher. He began formal study in classical music at the age of six,[4] switching to jazz in the eighth grade. In high school, he played professionally in and around Chicago,[5] and by college at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, was playing with Ira Sullivan, Johnny Griffin, Wes Montgomery, Joe Farrell, Wilbur Ware, and Bob Cranshaw, among others. Mentors included pianist Billy Taylor and George Russell. Pianist Bill Evans, an early supporter, frequently recorded Zeitlin's composition "Quiet Now" and made it the title track of a 1970 album.[2][3][6]

Later life and career

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Signed by Columbia Records's John Hammond,[7] Zeitlin began his recording career in 1963 while studying medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, debuting as the featured pianist on the Jeremy Steig album Flute Fever, which also featured Ben Riley and Ben Tucker.[8] Zeitlin's recording debut as a leader was the album Cathexis, with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Freddie Waits.[4][9] Zeitlin then moved to San Francisco in 1964 to intern at the University of California, San Francisco, followed by a residency.[3] His next album was Carnival, with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Jerry Granelli.[4] That trio had a regular gig at The Trident in Sausalito, California, and recorded Zeitlin's next album, Shining Hour, there.[4]

Jazz critic Leonard Feather called Zeitlin "the most versatile young pianist to come to prominence in the early 1960s".[10] Reflecting on Zeitlin's Columbia period, jazz historian Ted Gioia wrote that the pianist "had assimilated the breakthroughs of the previous decade, from the impressionism of Bill Evans to the free-fall explorations of Ornette Coleman, and blended them into a personal style that anticipated the next fifteen years of keyboard advances. He stood out from the crowd for the unbridled creativity of his work, the richness of his harmonic palette, and the sheer beauty of his piano tone".[11]

Between 1968 and 1978, Zeitlin integrated electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and sound-altering devices with acoustic instruments, working in multiple musical genres. The results were first heard in 1969 when Zeitlin composed and performed music for the "Jazzy Spies" sequences on the first season of Sesame Street, featuring vocal overdubs by Grace Slick. In 1973, he released Expansion, a trio album with George Marsh and Mel Graves, which DownBeat magazine awarded its highest rating.[12][13] The period culminated with Zeitlin's writing the score for the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which turned out to be his only film score, despite numerous subsequent offers, because of the extreme workload of many 20-plus-hour days.[14] While New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael thought the music occasionally overpowered the action, she called the score "generally dazzling" and a large contributor to both the humor and terror of the film.[15]

Beginning in 1978, Zeitlin focused primarily on acoustic music, continuing to play concerts internationally[16] and recording some 22 albums. His projects included the solo album Soundings, the duo album Time Remembers One Time Once with Charlie Haden, and Denny Zeitlin Trio in Concert with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson. Zeitlin continued to draw strong reviews. Critic Doug Ramsey wrote that "Trio in Concert", released in 2009, "catches Dr. Zeitlin, at age 70, in his musical prime and his trio afire".[7] He recorded his 2020 album, Live at Mezzrow, at age 82, [13]

Dual careers

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Since 1968, Zeitlin has been on the teaching faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, where he is clinical professor of psychiatry. He has a private practice in San Francisco and Marin County. He had a 30-year mentorship with psychoanalyst Joseph Weiss, founder of Control Mastery Theory. Zeitlin has combined his two disciplines in a lecture and workshop entitled "Unlocking the Creative Impulse: The Psychology of Improvisation".[6][17]

In comparing his two careers, Zeitlin has said it would be a mistake to think that psychiatry served merely to support his passion for music, when in fact he has a passion for both. "In each setting, communication is utterly paramount. There has to be a depth of empathy that allows you to really inhabit the other person's world. It comes out as a collaborative journey in both settings."[3]

Personal life

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Zeitlin lives in Marin County, California, is an avid mountain biker and wine aficionado, the latter interest shared with his trio. He has been married to actress Josephine Shady since 1969.[2][18]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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Year recorded Title Label Year released Personnel/Notes
1964 Cathexis Columbia 1964 Trio, with Cecil McBee (bass), Freddie Waits (drums)[19]
1964 Carnival Columbia 1964 Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums)[19][20]
1965 Shining Hour - Live at The Trident Columbia 1965 Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); in concert; also known as Shining Hour[21]
1966,
1967 		Zeitgeist Columbia 1967 Trio; some tracks with Charlie Haden (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); some tracks with Joe Halpin (bass), Oliver Johnson (drums)[22]
1969 The Name of This Terrain Now-Again 2022 Trio, with Mel Graves (bass, electric bass, vocals), George Marsh (drums, percussion, vocals)[23]
1973 Expansion Double Helix 1973 Trio, with Mel Graves (bass, electric bass), George Marsh (drums, percussion)[24]
1977 Syzygy 1750 Arch 1977 Most tracks trio, with Ratzo B. Harris (bass, electric bass), George Marsh (drums, percussion); one track quartet, with Rich Fudoli (tenor sax, clarinet, flute) added; one track quartet with Tom Buckner (vocals) added[25][26]
1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers United Artists 1978 Soundtrack album for the 1978 film[25]
1978? Soundings 1750 Arch 1978 Solo piano; some tracks in concert[27]
1981 Time Remembers One Time Once ECM 1983 Duo, co-led with Charlie Haden (bass); in concert[28]
1981,
1983 		Tidal Wave Palo Alto 1984 Quartet, with John Abercrombie (guitar), Charlie Haden (bass), Peter Donald (drums); one track in concert[29]
1986? Homecoming Living Music 1986 Solo piano[30]
1988 Trio Windham Hill Jazz 1988 Trio, with Joel DiBartolo (bass, electric bass), Peter Donald (drums)[31][32]
1988,
1989 		In the Moment Windham Hill Jazz 1989 Most tracks duo, with David Friesen (bass); in concert; some tracks trio, with Joel DiBartolo (bass), Peter Donald (drums)[33]
1992 In Concert ITM Pacific 1992 Duo, with David Friesen (bass); in concert[31][34]
1992 Denny Zeitlin at Maybeck Concord 1993 Solo piano; in concert
1994 Denny Zeitlin/David Friesen Concord 1995 Duo, with David Friesen (bass); in concert[31]
1997 As Long as There's Music Venus 1998 Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Al Foster (drums)[35]
1998 Live at the Jazz Bakery Intuition 1999 Duo, co-led with David Friesen (bass); in concert[31]
2001 Trio in Concert Sunnyside 2009 Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert[36][31]
2001 Stairway to the Stars Sunnyside 2014 Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert[31]
2003 Slick Rock MAXJAZZ 2004 Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums)[31]
2004 Solo Voyage MAXJAZZ 2005 Solo piano, keyboards[37]
2008 Precipice Sunnyside 2010 Solo piano; in concert[38]
2009 Wishing On the Moon Sunnyside 2018 Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert[31]
2008,
2010 		Labyrinth/Live Solo Piano Sunnyside 2011 Solo piano; in concert[39][40]
2011 Wherever You Are Sunnyside 2012 Solo piano[41]
2003,
2004,
2011,
2012 		Both/And Sunnyside 2013 Solo piano, keyboards, electronics[42]
2013,
2014 		Riding the Moment Sunnyside 2015 Duo, co-led with George Marsh (drums, percussion)[43]
2014 Early Wayne Sunnyside 2016 Solo piano; in concert[31]
2016 Remembering Miles Sunnyside 2019 Solo piano; in concert[31]
2015–
2017 		Expedition Sunnyside 2017 Duo, co-led with George Marsh (drums, percussion)[44]
2014–
2019 		Telepathy Sunnyside 2021 Duo, co-led with George Marsh (drums, percussion)[45]
2019 Live at Mezzrow Sunnyside 2020 Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Matt Wilson (drums); in concert[46]

As sideman

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References

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  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2771. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ a b c Gilbert, Andreew (January–February 2014). "Denny Zeitlin: Of solo Piano, Psychology & Body Snatchers". JazzTimes.
  3. ^ a b c d Jerry, Karp (December 12, 2004). "Jazz Musical Doctor's Medicine". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  4. ^ a b c d e Toomajian, Steve (October 19, 1967). "Body & Soul: The Total Experience of Denny Zeitlin". DownBeat. Vol. 34, no. 21. pp. 19–20.
  5. ^ "Doctor Jazz". Newsweek. September 27, 1965. p. 94.
  6. ^ a b "Denny Zeitlin bio" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  7. ^ a b Ramsey, Doug (March 11, 2009). "A Psychiatrist's Alter Ego: Noted Jazzman". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  8. ^ Zeitlin, Denny. "The Columbia Years: 1963-67". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Dryden, Ken. "Cathexis/Carnival: Denny Zeitlin". AllMusic. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Feather, Leonard (1966). The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Sixties. New York: Horizon Press. ISBN 9780306802638.
  11. ^ Gioia, Ted (November 21, 2007). "Denny Zeitlin: My Shining Hour". Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  12. ^ DownBeat, January 31, 1974.
  13. ^ a b "Denny Zeitlin - Compact Discs". dennyzeitlin.com.
  14. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Invasion of the Body Snatchers". YouTube video of Zeitlin describing his score.
  15. ^ Kael, Pauline (1994). For Keeps: 30 Years at the Movies. New York: E.P. Dutton. p. 811. ISBN 9780525938965.
  16. ^ Wilson, David McKay (April 2007). "The Merger State". Johns Hopkins Magazine. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  17. ^ "Jazz Pianist & Psychiatrist Denny Zeitlin On The Psychology of Improvisation". Keyboard Magazine. October 1984. pp. 25, 30–35.
  18. ^ Scheinin, Richard (2 December 2013). "Pianist Zeitlin marks first album's 50th anniversary". The Mercury News. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  19. ^ a b "The Columbia Years: 1963-67". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "Carnival". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "Live at The Trident (Shining Hour)". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Zeitgeist". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: The Name of This Terrain". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "Expansion". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "A decade of Electronic/Acoustic/Genre Integration: 1968-1978". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "Syzygy". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  27. ^ "Soundings". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  28. ^ Dryden, Ken. "Time Remembers One Time Once: Charlie Haden / Denny Zeitlin". AllMusic. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  29. ^ "Tidal Wave". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  30. ^ "Homecoming". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "A Return to a Primary Focus on Acoustic Music: 1978+". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  32. ^ "Trio". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  33. ^ "In the Moment". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  34. ^ "In Concert". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  35. ^ "As Long as There's Music". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  36. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Denny Zeitlin Trio in Concert Featuring Buster Williams and Matt Wilson". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  37. ^ "Solo Voyage". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  38. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Precipice". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  39. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Labyrinth/Solo Piano in Concert". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  40. ^ Wolff, Carlo (December 12, 2011). "Denny Zeitlin: Labyrinth: Live Solo Piano". JazzTimes. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  41. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Wherever You Are". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  42. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Both/And". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  43. ^ "Denny Zeitlin & George Marsh: Riding the Moment". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  44. ^ "Denny Zeitlin & George Marsh: Expedition". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  45. ^ "Denny Zeitlin & George Marsh: Telepathy". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  46. ^ "Denny Zeitlin: Live at Mezzrow". dennyzeitlin.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
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