Finger Songwriter

Jeremy Siskind is a young pianist/composer with degrees in music from Eastman and an MA in Literature, now turning heads on the New York jazz scene. On Finger Songwriter (BJU Records), Siskind adapts existing texts from poetry and prose into new lyrics supported by his original compositions; he enlists New York newbie Nancy Harms to give voice to these works, with additional support from young saxophonist Lucas Pino. The trio celebrates the spring release with a night at the Cornelia Street Cafe in Manhattan on Thursday, July 12th.

Jeremy Siskind

Lucas Pino

Vocalist Nancy Harms grew up in Clara City, MN, and for a few years taught music in another small Minnesota town, Milaca, before seriously pursuing a singing career in the Twin Cities. Shortly after releasing her debut CD (In the Indigo), she relocated to New York where she has quickly become one of the most exciting new singers on the jazz scene. She has performed at 55 Bar, Birdland, Dizzy's and more; has performed and recorded with Wycliffe Gordon; formed an unusual trio with singer Emily Braden and bassist Steve Whipple (Double Bass/Double Voice), and began a collaboration with Jeremy Siskind, leading to the release of Finger Songwriter.

Nancy Harms©Andrea Canter

A major source of inspiration was British vocalist/lyricist Norma Winstone and specifically her work with pianists John Taylor and Fred Hersch, the ensemble Azimuth, and her recent recordings with European saxophonist Klaus Gesing and pianist Glauco Venier, the latter providing the blueprint for Siskind’s trio here. Notes Jeremy, he was moved by “the warmth of the sound, the intimacy of the setting, and the emotional power of a lyric delivered against a subtly morphing acoustic backdrop.” Hence his choice of collaborators for Finger Songwriter--Harms, who “has an intense, focused, and captivating way of delivering a lyric” and a “beautiful, dark tone that’s perfect for the music,” and Pino for his “warm, deep and heartfelt tone reminiscent of Stan Getz… and phrasing similar to Joe Lovano.”

See and hear the fine results of this collaboration on July 12th at the Cornelia Street Cafe as part of the Spotlight on New Talent series, starting at 8:30 pm.

Cornelia Street Cafe is located at 29 Cornelia Street in Manhattan; $10 ticket plus $10 minimum; www.corneliastreetcafe.com. In the Twin Cities, catch Siskind, Harms and Pino at Jazz Central on July 21st, 8 pm.

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