George Essihos lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He trained
as a classical pianist but by the age of 40 had become fascinated by jazz.
A chance meeting with Ahmad Jamal was the turning point in George's career,
when he decided to re-invent himself as a jazz pianist. His style is unmistakable;
he has a seemingly limitless capacity for improvisation and an amazingly
active musical imagination. His concerts are fairly infrequent, so his
devoted fans consider each to be a special event. This promted CBC Radio's
Jurgen Gothe to say "George Essihos is the west coast's best kept jazz
secret."
In George's words:
"My basic approach to jazz is classical: theme and variations, and use of extended patterns combined with impressionistic harmonies. Most players probably enter jazz through the blues, but many, including Bill Evans, Andre Previn, and Michel Petrucciani, started with intensive classical training. In jazz one is free to bend the melody and harmony to suit one's inventive whims. I don't believe in strict reference to the title or words of a song; these are usually added later anyway and they can limit one's imagination. So, I let the sounds carry me. If I were a singer perhaps I would think differently, but as a pianist I am searching for freedom and originality of expression."
"Bill Evans has been my idol since the first time I heard his recordings
in the early sixties. Listening to him made me realize that someday I had
to learn to play jazz - I was strictly classical at the time. His lyricism
and amazing technique (never flamboyant, always musical) impressed me just
as much as the talents of my favorite classical pianists such as Gieseking,
Horowitz or Glenn Gould. Gould, incidentally, was also an avid fan of Evans."
Discography:
George's New CD "Solo Journeys" This is a wonderful recording of over an hour of beautiful solo piano music: just George and the piano, with no constraints to his improvisation. George plays several jazz standards interspersed with his own compositions. Many of the recordings were made at George's home, so he had complete freedom to shape the music as he wished, and no schedule to follow. The result is very smooth and relaxed; George's unique blend of contemporary and impressionistic musical form is instantly recognizable.
Very Early - Bill Evans
Variations On What Is This Thing Called Love - Cole
Porter
Echoes Of Spain - George Essihos
Make Someone Happy - Jule Styne
How Long Has This Been Going On - George
Gershwin
I Loves You Porgy - George Gershwin
Summertime - George Gershwin
In A Chinese Garden - George Essihos
To Renate - George Essihos
All The Things You Are - Jerome Kern
Lover Man - Ram Ramirez
Egyptian Tombs - George Essihos
Overall Length 61:36 Cdn $22.50 Credits
The George Essihos Trio
"Two remarkable, independently produced trio jazz CDs that will dazzle and delight. They are worth any amount of tracking down. Essihos achives some of the greatest trio-jazz moments on record since the days of Andre Previn and pals..." - Jurgen Gothe, DiscDrive CBC Radio
Live at Hermann's Jazz Club was recorded in the fall of 1992. The artists are George, with bassist John Macknight and drummer Don Leppard.
First set:
Lover Man Where Can You Be - Ram Ramirez play
Well You Needn't - Thelonious Monk
Sometime Ago - Sergio Mihanovich
Sophisticated Lady - Duke Ellington
If You Could See Me Now - Tadd Dameron
Walkin'- Richard Carpenter
Blue In Green - Bill Evans
Beautiful Love - Victor Young
Second set:
Here Is That Rainy Day - James van Heusen play
Stella By Starlight - Victor Young
Very Early - Bill Evans
Nardis - Miles Davis
Overall Length 59:46 Cdn $18.00 Credits
Extraordinary Measureswas recorded during live concerts and studio sessions from the fall of 1993 to the spring of 1995. The artists are George, with bassist Joey Smith and drummer Don Leppard.
I'm Beginning To See The Light - Duke Ellington play
A Foggy Day (In London Town) - George Gershwin
Blue Frederic - George Essihos (on
a theme of F. Chopin)
Some Other Time - Leonard Bernstein
Tenderly - Walter Gross
Willow Weep For Me - Ann Ronell
Blue Bossa - Kenny Doram
In a Sentimental Mood - Duke Ellington
Emily - Johnny Mandel
Body and Soul - Johnny Green play
Yesterdays - Jerome Kern
I'll Remember April - Don Raye
Overall Length 72:40 Cdn $18.00 Credits
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