Biography

Pianist and composer Brian Fitzpatrick is quickly earning his place among the widely recognized jazz artists of today. Always a unique improviser, he has made serious triumphs as a composer as well. Brian Fitzpatrick has received the Bayles Award, acceptance to the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and served as guest composer at the Williams College New Music Festival. Fitzpatrick has been awarded the Siena Music Scholarship on two separate occasions in performance and composition. Additionally, he has written music for film, collaborated with dance and theatre troupes and visual artists.

Brian Fitzpatrick performs solo and with his trio. His piano improvisations soar into authentic musical experiences. Interested in improvisation at an early age, Fitzpatrick has dedicated time to playing traditional and modern jazz, as well as “stream of consciousness” playing. His improvisations develop with an impeccable temporal sense. They unfold as musical narratives tinged with colorful harmonies. Fitzpatrick’s idiomatic harmonies and his manner of directing a solo line ultimately create unique landscapes of sound. His musical sophistication brings enjoyment without sacrificing attention to form and structure.

Fitzpatrick’s compositions often stray from mainstream styles and forms. This holds true when performing original music or reworking jazz standards. His compositions demonstrate an interest in nontraditional chord progressions and unique formal structures. He has written for combos and large ensembles in the classical and jazz genres. He has made arrangements, notably for saxophone quartet, Thelonius Monk’s, Ask Me Now.

Graduate studies in piano and composition brought Fitzpatrick to the Hartt School and Ohio University. While pursuing his studies, he performed with several musicians and his own quartet. Currently, he performs solo and with his trio in the Boston area. Brian Fitzpatrick is Associate Professor of Music at Endicott College, Beverly, MA.