john stetch
Pianist, Composer, Educator
Steinway Artist John Stetch is a 6-time Juno Nominee, and has written over 50 compositions for solo piano, jazz combo and more recently some classical chamber formats. Originally from Edmonton, he has worked at the top clubs of New York City including Mezzrow, Smalls, Smoke and the Jazz Standard, played on many continents, toured Canada a dozen times as a leader, and was a member of Rufus Reid’s group for nearly a decade. He taught at Cornell University for several years, won the Prix Du Jazz at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1998, and was a finalist in the Thelonious International Monk Competition twice - once as a composer and once as a performer. Stetch divides his time between Vancouver and NYC, and is especially interested in bringing classical and jazz together, and fusing ethnic and popular music with his personal jazz stamp. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Music in classical Composition at UBC and is on the faculty of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music. Stetch just released his 15th CD - Vulneraville: The Vancouver Concert.
Fearless pianist John Stetch pushes the edges of his jazz and classical training to fuse melodies from all around the world; from Mozart to Ukrainian folk music to TV themes. Originally from Edmonton, Stetch started piano late, at age 19, and is now a Steinway Artist and a 6-time Juno nominee. Stetch has played at the top New York clubs – Mezzrow, Smoke, Birdland, the Jazz Standard and just released his 15th CD - Vulneraville: The Vancouver Concert.
TESTIMONIALS
“Like hearing a painting by Miro or Matisse come to life…playful technique and unfettered imagination.”
- Paul de Barros, Downbeat
“There is such clarity and so much humor in Stetch’s playing! I've always loved that about him.”
- Rufus Reid, bassist, composer and bandleader
“Fantastic! Truly personal takes on the classics.”
- Joseph Lin, The Julliard String Quartet