James Carney

Pianist, keyboardist and composer James Carney is an improviser who draws inspiration from many different sources of music, and he has been fortunate to work as a sideman/collaborator with unique artists like Ravi Coltrane, Ralph Alessi, Christian McBride, David Binney, Chris Lightcap, Peter Epstein, Gene Jackson, Michael Cain, Elliot Randall, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Peter Tork, Gene Clark, Nels Cline, Alex Cline, and many other musicians. Carney is from Syracuse, New York, and in late 2004, he moved from Los Angeles, his home of 18 years, to New York City.

His fourth album as leader, “Green-Wood” (Songlines) was released August 7, 2007. It features his working band: Ralph Alessi, Tony Malaby, Josh Roseman, Peter Epstein, Chris Lightcap, and Mark Ferber. He has released three other albums of original material: “Thread” (2002); “Offset Rhapsody” (1997); “Fables from the Aqueduct” (1994) all on the Jacaranda label. He has also been writing music for other ensembles and long-form projects that involve his own improvising group. Carney has been commissioned by the Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles New Works: Creation program (2007), The California Arts Council, The Extension Ensemble brass quintet, and the Syracuse International Film Festival.

James Carney won the 1999 Thelonious Monk International Composers Award, a California Arts Council fellowship in composition {2000}, and two American Composers Forum Subito Grants {2001 & 2004}. He received the “best jazz artist” award at the 2002 LA Weekly Music Awards, and he was on the roster of the California Arts Council Touring Program from 1998-2004. Carney also served on the advisory council of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Composers Forum, and he has been a visiting artist at The Eastman School of Music, New York University, Cal State Los Angeles, The University of Nevada at Reno, Ithaca College, Williams College, The University of Missouri at St. Louis and The School for Improvisational Music in Brooklyn.

Carney began to focus on the piano at fifteen, and spent years playing many types of rock and pop music as a keyboardist around upstate New York and New England. In 1990 he graduated with a B.F.A. degree in jazz piano performance from California Institute of the Arts {CalArts}, where he studied with Charlie Haden, James Newton, David Roitstein, Nyomen Wenten, Alfred and Kobla Ladzekpo and the late John Carter.

In addition to the James Carney Group, he has also led or collaborated on projects that featured Tim Berne, Kris Davis, Tom Rainey, Eivind Opsvik, Gerald Cleaver, David Binney, Jonathan Finlayson, Ravi Coltrane, Ted Poor, Jerome Sabbagh, Tyshawn Sorey, Dan Weiss, Matt Clohesy, Shane Endsley, Matt Pavolka, Michael Sarin, and Ches Smith. Carney also founded and curates the Tuesday night “konceptions” jazz and improvised music series, which is currently in residence at Biscuit BBQ in Park Slope, Brooklyn, presenting both emerging and well-established artists.

"Mr. Carney, a sharp pianist and a broadly imaginative conceptualist and composer, leads a cadre of adventurous and versatile players." - Nate Chinen, The New York Times.

James Carney endorses Baldwin Pianos, Motion Sound amplifiers, Alesis synthesizers and Coda Music Technology's Finale. Visit James Carney on Myspace by clicking here.

	Pianist, keyboardist and composer James Carney is an improviser who draws inspiration from many different sources of music, and he has been fortunate to work as a sideman/collaborator with unique artists like Ravi Coltrane, Ralph Alessi, Christian McBride, David Binney, Chris Lightcap, Peter Epstein, Gene Jackson, Michael Cain, Elliot Randall, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Peter Tork, Gene Clark, Nels Cline, Alex Cline, and many other musicians. Carney is from Syracuse, New York, and in late 2004, he moved from Los Angeles, his home of 18 years, to New York City. His fourth album as leader, “Green-Wood” (Songlines) was released August 7, 2007. It features his working band: Ralph Alessi, Tony Malaby, Josh Roseman, Peter Epstein, Chris Lightcap, and Mark Ferber. He has released three other albums of original material: “Thread” (2002); “Offset Rhapsody” (1997); “Fables from the Aqueduct” (1994) all on the Jacaranda label. He has also been writing music for other ensembles and long-form projects that involve his own improvising group. Carney has been commissioned by the Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles New Works: Creation program (2007), The California Arts Council, The Extension Ensemble brass quintet, and the Syracuse International Film Festival. James Carney won the 1999 Thelonious Monk International Composers Award, a California Arts Council fellowship in composition {2000}, and two American Composers Forum Subito Grants {2001 & 2004}. He received the “best jazz artist” award at the 2002 LA Weekly Music Awards, and he was on the roster of the California Arts Council Touring Program from 1998-2004. Carney also served on the advisory council of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Composers Forum, and he has been a visiting artist at The Eastman School of Music, New York University, Cal State Los Angeles, The University of Nevada at Reno, Ithaca College, Williams College, The University of Missouri at St. Louis and The School for Improvisational Music in Brooklyn. Carney began to focus on the piano at fifteen, and spent years playing many types of rock and pop music as a keyboardist around upstate New York and New England. In 1990 he graduated with a B.F.A. degree in jazz piano performance from California Institute of the Arts {CalArts}, where he studied with Charlie Haden, James Newton, David Roitstein, Nyomen Wenten, Alfred and Kobla Ladzekpo and the late John Carter. In addition to the James Carney Group, he has also led or collaborated on projects that featured Tim Berne, Kris Davis, Tom Rainey, Eivind Opsvik, Gerald Cleaver, David Binney, Jonathan Finlayson, Ravi Coltrane, Ted Poor, Jerome Sabbagh, Tyshawn Sorey, Dan Weiss, Matt Clohesy, Shane Endsley, Matt Pavolka, Michael Sarin, and Ches Smith. Carney also founded and curates the Tuesday night “konceptions” jazz and improvised music series, which is currently in residence at Biscuit BBQ in Park Slope, Brooklyn, presenting both emerging and well-established artists. "Mr. Carney, a sharp pianist and a broadly imaginative conceptualist and composer, leads a cadre of adventurous and versatile players." - Nate Chinen, The New York Times. James Carney endorses Baldwin Pianos, Motion Sound amplifiers, Alesis synthesizers and Coda Music Technology's Finale. Visit James Carney on Myspace by clicking here.

	The sound sample on this page is from the composition "Tipperary Hill" from the cd Offset Rhapsody.