Connie Crothers was born in Palo Alto, California on May 2, 1941. When she was nine years old, she began piano lessons. She also began composing. She performed frequently in concerts and recitals, sometimes performing her compositions. At the University of California in Berkeley she majored in music with an emphasis on composition.
She moved to New York City in 1962 and began studying with Lennie Tristano. In 1972 he began presenting her in performances for invited audiences in his home. In 1973 he presented her in solo concert at Carnegie Recital Hall. He produced two other solo concerts in Carnegie Recital Hall, in 1977 and 1978. The Lennie Tristano Jazz Foundation produced a solo concert in Carnegie Recital Hall in 1979.
In 1974, she recorded "Perception" for the SteepleChase label, SCS-1002, solo and and trio with drummer Roger Mancuso and bassist Joe Solomon. Gary Giddens, in a feature review in the Village Voice, wrote, "Her mastery of the piano is not to be gainsaid. It is her own enigmatic personality that gives this disc its special, haunting character. It clearly heralds the arrival of a pianist of stature."
When this record was reissued in 1983 on the Inner City label, IC 2022, Mark Weber selected it as one of the ten best records of the year in Coda. When, in 1986, SteepleChase reissued it, Patrick Williams chose it as record of the month in Jazz Magazine, saying, "Because she has unerring fingers, true swing, a true blues sensibilty, because she knows where she is going, because of her originality, the music of Connie Crothers, which transcends the distinction between personal compositions and standards, causes the listener to experience a captivating joy." And in 1995 SteepleChase reissued this record on CD, SCCD31022, Claude Colpaert selected it as record of the month in Jazz Hot.
In 1975, she performed in concert with tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, with Roger Mancuso and Joe Solomon, in Carnegie Recital Hall.
Connie co-produced along with tenor saxophonist Lenny Popkin, the Lennie Tristano memorial concert, held in Town Hall in New York City in 1979. She performed duo at this concert with flute player Nomi Rosen.This performance was issued on the five-record album box set of this concert released on the Jazz Records label, JR-3.
In 1980, she co-led an engagement with Warne Marsh at the Village Vanguard, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Peter Scattaretico on drums.
Her second record, "Solo," released on Jazz Records, JR-4, in 1980, is a two-record album of an entire concert. In Jazz Journal, Derrick Stewart-Baxter wrote, "Her chord structure and modern outlook I find very exciting and all her piano solos are excellent. The two piano solos which open the record are fascinating. There are delightful renderings of classic songs -- the marvelous 'How Deep is the Ocean,' with its single note inventions, quite fascinating, and the great version of 'Sentimental Over You.' This LP should prove very rewarding. I am hooked!"
In a review in Cadence, Per Husby wrote, "Ms. Crothers comes out as a very original player. The music has a very uncompromising air to it, her piano technique is very clean and never is there any sign of superfluousness. It is good to hear a player who hits every note no-nonsense straight."
In 1980, Connie performed solo at the Berlin Jazztage. With composer and percussionist Max Roach she recorded duo. In 1982 they produced this session, "Swish," on New Artists, a record company which they co-founded. It received a four-star review in Down Beat. Bill Shoemaker wrote, "Connie Crothers, a pianist who has expanded Tristano's labyrinthine complexes, is a refreshing surprise." When this record was reissued on CD in 1994, it received another four-star review in Down Beat. Jon Andrews wrote, "The relative freedom of the duet setting fits the tension and energy of Crothers' uninhibited playing. Roach is always fascinating."
In 1983, she co-led an engagement with Max Roach, Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a four-way collaboration entitled, "Intuitive Momentum," featuring the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.
Connie performed solo in 1984 at Cooper Union in New York City. This concert was released on the New Artists label, NA1002, "Concert at Cooper Union." Reviewing it in Jazz Nu, Jean Quist called her "a lioness on the keyboard." In 1992, when it was reissued on CD, it was mentioned in Coda where the reviewer described it as a "powerful two-handed style, percussive and explorative. Her sudden descent to a crystal-toned delicacy permits the lyrical aspects to blossom with awe-inspiring beauty. Her closing 'Trilogy' is a study in mood shifts, ranging from deep foreboding to a spirited explosion of joy."
She appeared as a soloist as part of the New Music America festival in Washington D.C. in 1983.
In 1986, she performed solo at the DuMaurier International Jazz Festival in Toronto, Canada.
In 1987, working with her associates, she reorganized the New Artists label as a cooperative record company. She has participated in the expansion of this label to include an extensive catalog of CDs, all expressive of the company's premise and label identity -- improvised original music. New Artists Records was featured in the July 2000 Issue of Jazz Times.Connie appeared at Birdland, New York City, when the club featured the record label with performances by the artist-producers on April 5, 2000. Birdland presented the label on seven consecutive Saturday afternoon performances in May-June 2000; she performed with her quartet featuring singers Linda Satin and Harry Schulz. Birdland will present the label once weekly starting September 2000.
The first CD on the reorganized label was a duo with alto saxophonist Richard Tabnik, "Duo Dimension", NA1003. Lois Moody selected this record for her ten best of the year list for the Ottowa Citizen. She described the music as "played with an inspired blend of strength, fire and lines drawn with a fine edge. Adventurous, fresh and rewarding, Connie Crothers' rhythmic sense never wavers, even in the most 'outside,' adventurous constructions."
In 1989 she performed solo in the Jazz Middleheim festival in Belgium. The producer, radio programmer and writer Rob Leurentop wrote a feature on her which appeared in the Belgian magazine Knack.
Connie formed a quartet with co-leader Lenny Popkin, tenor saxophone, featuring Carol Tristano on drums and Cameron Brown on bass. This quartet released its first record in 1988, "Love Energy," New Artists NA1005. This release was noted in Knack, where Rob Leurentop described it as "the art of improvising in all its classic glory." Jack Cooke, in Wire, voted it #1 record of the year.
This quartet performed at the Blue Note, Sweet Basil and Birdland in New York City. They toured Europe and Canada. In 1990, they were presented at the duMaurier Festival in Toronto. They appeared at de Werf in Bruges, Belgium by in 1989 and 1991. Also in 1991 they performed two concerts in de Singel, Antwerp, Belgium, produced by Rob Leurentop. In one of the concerts, the bassist was Jean-Francois Jenny-Clarke, who also performed with them at Bim House. They appeared at the Spoleto Festival in 1995 and 1996.
Their recordings include "New York Night," NA1008, 1990, recorded at the Blue Note, released in Japan on the Americana label, 28C 8008(A); "In Motion," NA1013, 1991, recorded in Belgium by Belgian Radio and Television (BRT), voted one of the top 50 records of the year by Jazz Magazine; "Jazz Spring," NA1017, 1993, selected as record of the month by Xavier Prevost of Jazz Magazine; "Session," NA1027, 1998, which features Rich Califano on bass. Writing about this group in Jazz Nu, Frank van Herk said, "This is linear improvisation at its best."
Connie recorded duo with drummer Roger Mancuso, "Deep into the Center," New Artists NA1020, 1994.
In 1996, Marion McPartland featured Connie on her radio series "Piano Jazz," on National Public Radio.
In 1997, she released a solo CD, "Music from Everyday Life," New Artists NA1025. John Sutherland, in Coda, selected it for his best of the year list.
"Just for the Joy of It," a duo CD featuring Connie with singer Bob Casanova was released in 1998, New Artists NA1026. It was described by Frank Rubolino in Cadence as "pure musical experience... a moving album which achieves a whole new level of originality."
Connie performed solo at The Jazz School in Berkeley, California in 1998.
She appeared on singer Linda Satin's CD, "The Way I Am," New Artists NA1028 in 1999.
Max Roach performed a duet with Connie in Bologna, Italy, February 20000 at El Teatro di Celebrazione.
She recently formed a quartet with Richard Tabnik, Roger Mancuso and bassist Sean Smith, performing in New York City and releasing the CD "Ontology," New Artists NA1035 in 2000. This quartet appeared at Birdland in New York City with bassist Ratzo Harris.
Other musicians who have performed with Connie include Charley Krachy, Dori Levine, Calvin Hill, Jan Leder, Fran Canisius and Lynn Anderson.
She teaches improvising in her studio in Manhattan.
She moved to New York City in 1962 and began studying with Lennie Tristano. In 1972 he began presenting her in performances for invited audiences in his home. In 1973 he presented her in solo concert at Carnegie Recital Hall. He produced two other solo concerts in Carnegie Recital Hall, in 1977 and 1978. The Lennie Tristano Jazz Foundation produced a solo concert in Carnegie Recital Hall in 1979.
In 1974, she recorded "Perception" for the SteepleChase label, SCS-1002, solo and and trio with drummer Roger Mancuso and bassist Joe Solomon. Gary Giddens, in a feature review in the Village Voice, wrote, "Her mastery of the piano is not to be gainsaid. It is her own enigmatic personality that gives this disc its special, haunting character. It clearly heralds the arrival of a pianist of stature."
When this record was reissued in 1983 on the Inner City label, IC 2022, Mark Weber selected it as one of the ten best records of the year in Coda. When, in 1986, SteepleChase reissued it, Patrick Williams chose it as record of the month in Jazz Magazine, saying, "Because she has unerring fingers, true swing, a true blues sensibilty, because she knows where she is going, because of her originality, the music of Connie Crothers, which transcends the distinction between personal compositions and standards, causes the listener to experience a captivating joy." And in 1995 SteepleChase reissued this record on CD, SCCD31022, Claude Colpaert selected it as record of the month in Jazz Hot.
In 1975, she performed in concert with tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, with Roger Mancuso and Joe Solomon, in Carnegie Recital Hall.
Connie co-produced along with tenor saxophonist Lenny Popkin, the Lennie Tristano memorial concert, held in Town Hall in New York City in 1979. She performed duo at this concert with flute player Nomi Rosen.This performance was issued on the five-record album box set of this concert released on the Jazz Records label, JR-3.
In 1980, she co-led an engagement with Warne Marsh at the Village Vanguard, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Peter Scattaretico on drums.
Her second record, "Solo," released on Jazz Records, JR-4, in 1980, is a two-record album of an entire concert. In Jazz Journal, Derrick Stewart-Baxter wrote, "Her chord structure and modern outlook I find very exciting and all her piano solos are excellent. The two piano solos which open the record are fascinating. There are delightful renderings of classic songs -- the marvelous 'How Deep is the Ocean,' with its single note inventions, quite fascinating, and the great version of 'Sentimental Over You.' This LP should prove very rewarding. I am hooked!"
In a review in Cadence, Per Husby wrote, "Ms. Crothers comes out as a very original player. The music has a very uncompromising air to it, her piano technique is very clean and never is there any sign of superfluousness. It is good to hear a player who hits every note no-nonsense straight."
In 1980, Connie performed solo at the Berlin Jazztage. With composer and percussionist Max Roach she recorded duo. In 1982 they produced this session, "Swish," on New Artists, a record company which they co-founded. It received a four-star review in Down Beat. Bill Shoemaker wrote, "Connie Crothers, a pianist who has expanded Tristano's labyrinthine complexes, is a refreshing surprise." When this record was reissued on CD in 1994, it received another four-star review in Down Beat. Jon Andrews wrote, "The relative freedom of the duet setting fits the tension and energy of Crothers' uninhibited playing. Roach is always fascinating."
In 1983, she co-led an engagement with Max Roach, Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a four-way collaboration entitled, "Intuitive Momentum," featuring the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.
Connie performed solo in 1984 at Cooper Union in New York City. This concert was released on the New Artists label, NA1002, "Concert at Cooper Union." Reviewing it in Jazz Nu, Jean Quist called her "a lioness on the keyboard." In 1992, when it was reissued on CD, it was mentioned in Coda where the reviewer described it as a "powerful two-handed style, percussive and explorative. Her sudden descent to a crystal-toned delicacy permits the lyrical aspects to blossom with awe-inspiring beauty. Her closing 'Trilogy' is a study in mood shifts, ranging from deep foreboding to a spirited explosion of joy."
She appeared as a soloist as part of the New Music America festival in Washington D.C. in 1983.
In 1986, she performed solo at the DuMaurier International Jazz Festival in Toronto, Canada.
In 1987, working with her associates, she reorganized the New Artists label as a cooperative record company. She has participated in the expansion of this label to include an extensive catalog of CDs, all expressive of the company's premise and label identity -- improvised original music. New Artists Records was featured in the July 2000 Issue of Jazz Times.Connie appeared at Birdland, New York City, when the club featured the record label with performances by the artist-producers on April 5, 2000. Birdland presented the label on seven consecutive Saturday afternoon performances in May-June 2000; she performed with her quartet featuring singers Linda Satin and Harry Schulz. Birdland will present the label once weekly starting September 2000.
The first CD on the reorganized label was a duo with alto saxophonist Richard Tabnik, "Duo Dimension", NA1003. Lois Moody selected this record for her ten best of the year list for the Ottowa Citizen. She described the music as "played with an inspired blend of strength, fire and lines drawn with a fine edge. Adventurous, fresh and rewarding, Connie Crothers' rhythmic sense never wavers, even in the most 'outside,' adventurous constructions."
In 1989 she performed solo in the Jazz Middleheim festival in Belgium. The producer, radio programmer and writer Rob Leurentop wrote a feature on her which appeared in the Belgian magazine Knack.
Connie formed a quartet with co-leader Lenny Popkin, tenor saxophone, featuring Carol Tristano on drums and Cameron Brown on bass. This quartet released its first record in 1988, "Love Energy," New Artists NA1005. This release was noted in Knack, where Rob Leurentop described it as "the art of improvising in all its classic glory." Jack Cooke, in Wire, voted it #1 record of the year.
This quartet performed at the Blue Note, Sweet Basil and Birdland in New York City. They toured Europe and Canada. In 1990, they were presented at the duMaurier Festival in Toronto. They appeared at de Werf in Bruges, Belgium by in 1989 and 1991. Also in 1991 they performed two concerts in de Singel, Antwerp, Belgium, produced by Rob Leurentop. In one of the concerts, the bassist was Jean-Francois Jenny-Clarke, who also performed with them at Bim House. They appeared at the Spoleto Festival in 1995 and 1996.
Their recordings include "New York Night," NA1008, 1990, recorded at the Blue Note, released in Japan on the Americana label, 28C 8008(A); "In Motion," NA1013, 1991, recorded in Belgium by Belgian Radio and Television (BRT), voted one of the top 50 records of the year by Jazz Magazine; "Jazz Spring," NA1017, 1993, selected as record of the month by Xavier Prevost of Jazz Magazine; "Session," NA1027, 1998, which features Rich Califano on bass. Writing about this group in Jazz Nu, Frank van Herk said, "This is linear improvisation at its best."
Connie recorded duo with drummer Roger Mancuso, "Deep into the Center," New Artists NA1020, 1994.
In 1996, Marion McPartland featured Connie on her radio series "Piano Jazz," on National Public Radio.
In 1997, she released a solo CD, "Music from Everyday Life," New Artists NA1025. John Sutherland, in Coda, selected it for his best of the year list.
"Just for the Joy of It," a duo CD featuring Connie with singer Bob Casanova was released in 1998, New Artists NA1026. It was described by Frank Rubolino in Cadence as "pure musical experience... a moving album which achieves a whole new level of originality."
Connie performed solo at The Jazz School in Berkeley, California in 1998.
She appeared on singer Linda Satin's CD, "The Way I Am," New Artists NA1028 in 1999.
Max Roach performed a duet with Connie in Bologna, Italy, February 20000 at El Teatro di Celebrazione.
She recently formed a quartet with Richard Tabnik, Roger Mancuso and bassist Sean Smith, performing in New York City and releasing the CD "Ontology," New Artists NA1035 in 2000. This quartet appeared at Birdland in New York City with bassist Ratzo Harris.
Other musicians who have performed with Connie include Charley Krachy, Dori Levine, Calvin Hill, Jan Leder, Fran Canisius and Lynn Anderson.
She teaches improvising in her studio in Manhattan.
Biography: Connie Crothers page
Photo Credits: Connie Crothers page