* En anglais uniquement
A fine keyboardist who has ranged in styles from
Bill Evans to
Chick Corea and fusion,
Andy LaVerne has managed to avoid predictability throughout his career. He began studying as a classical piano student at Juilliard when he was eight. After discovering jazz,
LaVerne had some important lessons from
Bill Evans. He toured with
Woody Herman's big band (1973-1975), played with
John Abercrombie, and
Miroslav Vitous, and was with
Stan Getz's group during 1977-1980, often playing electric piano. In the 1980s, he performed with the Brubeck-LaVerne Trio (which also featured
Chris and
Dan Brubeck), recorded a tribute to
Chick Corea for DMP, and became a busy jazz educator. In the 1990s,
LaVerne has concentrated on acoustic piano, recording a solo concert at Maybeck Recital Hall. Through the years,
Andy LaVerne has recorded as a leader for Storyville (1977), Jazzline, SteepleChase, DMP, Triloka, Concord, and some smaller labels. ~ Scott Yanow