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Before embarking on her musical career, NYC based jazz pianist and
composer Leslie Pintchik taught English literature (as a teaching
assistant) at Columbia University, where she also received her Master
of Philosophy degree in seventeenth-century English literature. While in graduate school,
she decided to change course in an effort to give music a larger
place in her life. After some years of study, jam sessions and local
restaurant gigs, Leslie surfaced on the Manhattan scene in a trio
with legendary bassist Red Mitchell at Bradley's. Red chose Leslie
(along with guitarist Scott Hardy) for the warmth and powerful interplay
he heard in their music, after hearing a tape of them playing together
as a duo. Red Mitchell wrote "Leslie Pintchik and Scott Hardy
play miraculous music - in tune in all ways. And you can quote me
on that."
In 1992, Leslie formed her own trio with her musical partner Scott
Hardy
(now playing bass instead of guitar) and with drummers Keith Copeland,
Rich DeRosa and most notably, the percussionist Satoshi
Takeishi,
and the drummer Mark
Dodge,
with whom they have worked and toured since 1998. The trio has performed
primarily in Manhattan at jazz venues that include Sweet Rhythm
(formerly Sweet Basil), Knickerbocker, the Blue Note, 55 Bar, the
Kitano, Zinno, Kavehaz, Watercolor Café, Sofia's and the
Bottom Line. The group was one of four finalists in the 1995 Cognac
Hennessy Jazz Search; subsequently, they shared a double bill with
the Jay Leonhart trio at the Blue Note, and were the featured performers
at the opening night gala of the 1996 Shandelee Music Festival.
Bassist Scott Hardy presented the trio at the 1997 International
Society of Bassists Convention held at Rice University in Houston.
In a review of their performance at the Canadian Jazz Expo in Toronto,
Doug Watson of Jazz.FM91 wrote that he "found the group's playing
to be the most musically satisfying listening experience heard there.
All the essential elements were in place - well-constructed originals,
great improvising and what really set this group apart from everything
else I heard that weekend was its solid sense of swing!" About
their demo recording Completely with Mark Dodge (which featured
Leslie and Scott's original compositions), Jim Hall said, "I
love the CD. The very first sound kept my attention All the Way.
I loved the tunes and I loved the playing."
Leslie, with Scott and percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, released
her debut CD entitled So Glad to Be Here on Ambient Records
in June 2004. In his review in Downbeat magazine, Ken Micallef wrote "...
Pintchik's music is fresh, full of light and instantly invigorating....
So Glad To Be Here is simply a joyous release.... Pintchik
and Takeishi express such playfulness in their musical conversations...
that their elation is contagious."
Her new CD (Quartets), also on Ambient Records, was released in October 2007. It features her working trio of bassist Scott
Hardy and drummer Mark Dodge, with special guest artists Steve Wilson on
soprano and alto saxophones, and Satoshi Takeishi on percussion.
Timeout NY said "Pianist Leslie Pintchik’s playing urges the same kind of reflection in her listeners that she uses to make things sparkle. Just check the reserved but gorgeous version of 'Happy Days Are Here Again' on her new album, Quartets."
Stay tuned!
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