Ted Rosenthal
Ted Rosenthal first achieved international recognition by winning first prize in the 2nd annual Thelonius Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Since that time he has released 5 CD’s as a leader. His latest recording, Rosenthology, on Concord Jazz, is a trio outing which explores standards, jazz classics and originals with an invigorating and free spirited approach. Rosenthal has also recorded a solo-piano CD on the prestigious Live at Maybeck Hall series. His critically acclaimed CD, Images of Monk, showcases his highliy original treatments of Monk compositions arranged for a sextet. Rosenthal’s CD’s include some of the top names in jazz including established veterans such as: Ron Carter, Billy Higgins, Eddie Gomez and Tom Harrell; and musicians of his generation: Brian Lynch, Mark Feldman, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Michael Formanek and Billy Drummond.
Rosenthal toured for three and a half years with the last Gerry Mulligan Quartet until Mulligan’s death in 1996. He recorded three CD’s with Mulligan and performed in major jazz festivals throughout the world. Rosenthal is also the founder and musical director of The Gerry Mulligan All Star Tribute Band, featuring Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer and Randy Brecker. The group has performed in major venues and has a new recording on Arkadia Jazz.
As a sideman, Rosenthal has performed with the Art Famer, Jon Faddis, Benny Golson and James Moody Quartets. As a busy freelancer, he has also performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Rosenthal has appeared on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on National Public Radio, and performed with David Sanborn on NBC’s Night Music. Rosenthal regularly plays in the major New York Jazz clubs and performed for seven years at the Blue Note’s Sunday jazz brunch with Jay Leonhart and Joe Roccisano.
A recipient of three performance grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Rosenthal regularly performs and records his compositions, which include jazz tunes and large-scale works. "The Survivor," his concerto for piano and orchestra, was premiered by the Rockland Symphony Orchestra with Rosenthal at the piano. The piece combines written and improvised sections for the piano soloist, reflecting his interest in improvisation within jazz and classical styles. Rosenthal also performs Gershwin’s works for the piano and orchestra with improvisations adding an extra dimension of vitality and spontaneity to the music.
Other classical performances include solo and featured appearances with The Greater Palm Beach Symphony, The Tulsa Philharmonic, The North Carolina Symphony, and chamber and new music concerts at Carnegie’s Weil Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Merkin Concert Hall. Rosenthal recieved his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and subsequently continued his piano studies with Phillip Kawin.
A faculty member of The Mannes/New School Jazz Program, Rosenthal is also active in the educational arena. He teaches a variety of jazz courses and presents clinics throughout the country. Rosenthal is a contributing editor for Piano and Keyboard magazine and has published piano arrangments and feature articles for Piano Today, and The Piano Stylist.
