FRED MOYER JAZZ TRIO
January 23 and 24, 2023
What can safely be called the only jazz group of its kind, the Fred Moyer Jazz Trio dazzles with stunning musicianship and a unique approach to jazz. Like other small jazz ensembles, the trio performs its own arrangements of standards from the great American Songbook. But what sets it apart from all others is its note-for-note transcriptions of great jazz trio performances from the past. Fred and friends painstakingly transcribe every note of favorite historic recordings, and then bring the resulting scores to life as would a chamber music ensemble playing Bach or Beethoven, infusing the music with their own vitality and interpretations. The result is a swinging celebration of the best in jazz, delighting both classical music lovers and long-time jazz enthusiasts.
Fred Moyer Jazz Trio – Reviews:
– “Will leave you breathless … This trio succeeds where other jazz trios fall light … they renew our hopes about the staying power of our beloved jazz idiom … a jazz trio to be reckoned with.” ejazznews.com
– “An important addition to the jazz genre … inspiring to behold … these performances stand on their own, no less legitimate than brilliant performances of Beethoven or Mozart by contemporary classical masters.” jazz.com
– “… their interpretations create a freshness that is both diverse and dynamic.” The Cabaret Exchange
FRED MOYER JAZZ TRIO ENTERTAINS KEYS LISTENERS
Review by Asta Kraskouskas, FLKCA Associate
“Florida Keys Concert Association presented its second of six concerts on Jan. 23-24 at Coral Shores and Marathon high schools – jazz by three musicians: Fred Moyer, piano, Lowell Ringle, bass, and Bob Savine, drums.
Moyer and Savine have played together in the trio for about 12 years. Ringle joined the trio seven years ago. Moyer and he are second cousins. Moyer and Ringle also are connected through music. In their family are about 15 talented and accomplished musicians. Moyer smiles: “When our family gets together, it gets noisy.”
Moyer’s grandfather, David Moyer, was a prodigy, who, at the age of 9, played for Teddy Roosevelt in the White House. Moyer’s father played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Moyer appeared in the Boston Symphony at age 14, performing with the Boston Pops as a teenager. He attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia while in high school and graduated from Indiana University.
Moyer is well known to Keys music lovers, many of whom know him as a classical musician. Last year, Moyer played Mendelssohn, Chopin and Tchaikovsky. This year, Moyer showed his free-spirited jazz musician’s side, playing his own arrangements of standards from the great American songbook. The trio played famous pieces of Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, and lyrical music of Alec Wilder. Songs included “Windmills Of Your Mind,” “Girl From Ipanema” and “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.”
Moyer’s concerts are educational and musical. His impressive knowledge of music, unique arrangements and piano play connect with the audience, letting everyone have their own experience of the night.
Moyer’s style is a classical approach to jazz. He sees many connections and the roots of jazz in classical music. Moyer said that in his early years, Beethoven was more famous as an improvising pianist than a classical composer. Many musicians would come from far away to hear Beethoven play. In classical music, every improvisation has its separate piece. In jazz, a tune is followed by the improvisations that later are bridged back to the tune. In other words, all variations of the tune come back to the tune in the same piece.
Moyer’s uniqueness is in his creativity to innovate and combine various computerized software accompaniments. One of them is an “amazing slow downer” application, which doesn’t change the notes, but does change the sound of them with a delayed tone. Moyer invented several software applications, which are integrated into the performance. Last year, Moyer used his USolo software to synchronize an orchestral accompaniment. Moyer also uses his MoyerCam to display a video of his hands playing the keyboard visible to the audience on the grand piano’s lid.
Ray Arsenault, a first-year season ticket holder said the concert was terrific and educational.
“The leader (Fred Moyer) is very charming, makes sense, is a good educator and knows much about jazz,” he said.
Marie DeLuca, a season ticket holder for many years, noted that it was an amazing performance.
“(I) love the tunes that Moyer picked and interpreted,” she said.
Mary Jo Gohmann, also a longtime season ticket holder, said she loved the music.
“(I) always enjoy hearing Moyer. (I) bought several CDs, listened online and followed what Moyer was doing”. ”
Frederick Moyer, Piano: Frederick Moyer has established a vital musical career that has taken him to forty-four countries and to such distant venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle, Carnegie Recital Hall, Tanglewood, and the Kennedy Center. He has appeared as piano soloist with world renowned orchestras including the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, the St. Louis, Dallas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, Boston, Singapore, Netherlands Radio, Latvian, Iceland and London Symphony Orchestras, the Buffalo, Hong Kong and Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra of Brazil, and the major orchestras of Australia. His many recordings on the Biddulph, GM and JRI labels reflect an affinity for a wide variety of styles. In recital, his delightful commentary from the stage brings the audience into the heart of the musical experience. Moyer’s wide-ranging interests have led him to undertake many unique and ground-breaking projects, often involving software that he writes himself.
Lowell Ringel, Bass: Lowell Ringel is an award-winning bassist, composer, and educator. Heavily influenced by Charlie Haden and Scott Lafaro, Ringel is known for his lyrical soloing, as well as his steady, yet creative, sense of groove and rhythm. He splits his time between his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Miami, Florida, where he attended the Frost School of Music and became immersed in Latin jazz and Cuban music. He has performed and recorded with many jazz and latin jazz masters, including Ignacio Berroa, Brian Lynch, Shelly Berg, Dafnis Prieto, and Martin Bejerano. Recent accolades include winning multiple Grammys as the bassist on Brian Lynch’s award-winning album, “The Omni-American Book Club.” As a leader, you can hear Ringel on his chamber-jazz quintet Threeplustwo’s self-titled 2019 debut as well the 2020 release Geodesics, the debut recording of Finnish-American collective Transatlanttiset, co-led by Ringel, trumpeter Tomi Nikku, and flautist/vocalist Josefiina Vannesluoma.
Bob Savine, Drums: Drummer Bob Savine, a native of Altoona, PA, studied at Penn State University and Berklee College of Music. In a long career, he has partnered with many of the jazz greats, including Mike Metheny, Dave Kikoski, Herb Pomeroy, Ray Santisi, Dick Johnson and the Artie Shaw Orchestra. He has performed at the Montreal, Telluride and Saratoga Jazz Festivals and recorded for Altenburgh Records and other labels. Bob is currently on staff at Wellesley College where he accompanies and coaches student ensembles.