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Joe Utterback, JAZZ PIANIST
Blues, ballads, Broadway, and standard jazz favorites blossom with mesmerizing
"classically-derived virtuosity" (Audiophile Audition) and sophisticated harmonies in the jazz
improvisations of Yamaha Artist Joe Utterback. His piano improvs - "a composite of the
greatest American jazz and piano styles of the century" (Pianoforte) - owe much to his
admiration of Bill Evans, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner. Oscar Peterson, and Sarah Vaughan.
His style is known for "its deeply personal quality, dynamic ability to involve the audience,
haunting melodies and colorful sonorities" (Accent).
Utterback has been performing jazz for more than forty years, since his first gig at the
age of seventeen in Wichita, Kansas. His jazz journey has taken Joe throughout the United
States and Europe, with long-term engagements in such jazz centers as St. Louis, Kansas City, and San Francisco.
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Much involved in the New York City music scene, Dr. Joe performs annually for the
Tony Awards gala reception, in the lobby of The Empire State Building during the December holiday season,
and a weekly gig. In addition to his numerous appearances in Fairfield County, Connecticut,
the artist gives frequent solo concerts throughout the United States, at times participating in radio
interviews before these concerts. Dr. Joe often presents improvisation workshops at regional and national
conventions of such groups as the American Guild of Organists and the National Federation of Music Clubs.
Joe's career in the recording industry dates from 1960's vinyl. The pianist, already
recognized for his improvs, recorded Christmas Eve at the Wurlitzer on the soon-to-be
demolished theater organ in Wichita's doomed Miller Theater. Nearly thirty yeats later in
1996, Connoisseur Society, Inc. released Joe's first solo jazz piano CD, Gershwin: Porgy and Bess Jazz Suite.
Five additional Connoisseur CDs followed: Blues and Ballads at the Movies, Night & Day, Christmas on the Mountain, Night Train and Stardust.
In 2004, Joe recorded Dr. Joe's JAZZ
GOSPEL and Jazz Dreamz under his own publishing label Jazzmuze, Inc.
In June 2005, Connoisseur released Stardust, recorded right after 9/11.
With wonderful ballads, the CD is late night listening par excellence!
Joe is also actively involved in local studio work, recording with New York City cabaret singers.
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An internationally recognized composer, Joe has created jazz-influenced works for
piano, organ, harpsichord, voice, and instrumental combinations, which have won him
ASCAP awards annually since 1991. His more than 225 compositions have been performed in
concert venues and in church services worldwide. Recordings of his compositions include
Skyscape (Arktos) by the Canadian Duo Majoya; Spirituals and Rags: Jazz Harpsichord (AFKA)
by Australian-born harpsichordist Audley Green; utterbackanalia (Jazzmuze, Inc.) by
English organist Andrew Shenton; Concert Fantasy on Gershwin's Porgy & Bess (Connoisseur Society, Inc.)
by pianist David Allen Wehr. Individual selections have been recorded on issues by the
Organ Historical Society, Pro Organo, Ethereal, and Raven, among others.
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A Kansas native, Dr. Joe (b. 1944) holds degrees in piano from Wichita State University,
and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas. He teaches at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield CT;
directs the Stratford Sister Cities Chorus; and serves as Director of Music and Organist
at the First Congregational Church of Stratford, Connecticut (www.firstchurchstratford.org).
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