Bob Albanese

Pianist, composer, educator Bob Albanese , a native of Newark, NJ, began playing piano at age 8, andby the age of 14 won top prize at the Garden State Arts Festival. A natural on the piano, he is equallyat home in jazz, Latin, world, classical and theatrical musical settings. Albanese works with a widestylistic cross section of artists. Some of the notables he has performed, arranged and/or recordedwith include Al Foster, Anita O’Day, Buddy Rich, Warne Marsh, Ira Sullivan, Freddie Hubbard, RalphMoore, Dennis Irwin, Ratzo Harris, John Benitez, Ray Mantilla, Gil Goldstein, Steve Kuhn, Bill Mays,Karrin Allison, Roseanna Vitro, Sean Smith, Brian Lynch, Bobby Sanabria, Steve Slagle, Bob Mover,Datevik Hovanesian, Rita Moreno, Harvie S, Paulo Szot, Ben Vereen, Leslie Uggams & Bill Watrous. He has been based in New York since 1980, but has also spend a fair amount of time on the roadperforming all over the continental U.S. and Hawaii (where he stayed for 2 years in the mid ‘90’s),Europe, Japan, Russia, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. While in Hawaii he acted as pianistfor the Honolulu Symphony Pops and did numerous recordings and live performances with local andnational artists including Phil Woods, Jack Elliot, Branford Marsalis and James Ingram. While there, healso recorded his first solo album as songwriter/multi keyboardist and vocalist entitled "The LoveWithin" for the Tropicool Jazz Label. His longest stint of steady employment in N.Y.C. came in 1989when he was hired as house pianist at the legendary Rainbow Room, playing there for a number ofyears as alternating Latin and American Jazz pianist. He also performed there as a solo pianist forsome time upon returning to NYC from Hawaii. In 2003, he was selected to serve the U.S.A. as a JazzAmbassador and led his band, Café Simpatico in performance, workshops and cultural exchangethroughout war torn former Yugoslavia. He was accompanist for Ben Vereen for 13 years andperformed with him regularly as musical director, group pianist and as solo accompanist for Mr.Vereen's keynote speaking/performing engagements.

He has taught at NYU Steinhart School and FiveTowns College. Conversely, Albanese, a perpetual student, was granted a full scholarship in 2002 tocomplete a B.M. and M.M. at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in Jazz Composition. Whileunder the M.S.M. umbrella composed a number of new works including a Jazz Philharmonic pieceentitled Samba Esperança that was performed by the Cincinnati Conservatory Philharmonic in April of2006. He completed his formal degrees, BM and MM in May 2006 graduating with honors, receivingthe William C. Borden award [for outstanding achievement in the field of Jazz]. He has composed anumber of original works including songs with lyrics, jazz tunes, pieces for Philharmonic Orchestraand numerous pieces for Jazz Orchestra. In July 2007, Albanese was selected to compose andconduct the music for the World Travel Awards in Abu Dhabi. His most recent recording as a leaderentitled “One Way/Detour” on ZOHO is a small group recording that includes Tom Kennedy on Bassand Willard Dyson on drums as well as special featured soloist, legendary multi-instrumentalist IraSullivan. Recorded in January 2008, it includes a number of Albanese originals and a few standardsand has received a wide range of critical acclaim as well as airplay on Jazz radio stations throughoutthe world, including WBGO fm. In March 2009, Albanese embarked on a series of solo concerts inGermany in friendly cooperation with Steinway and Sons. In November, 2009, he was invited toPristina Jazz Festival in Kosovo. Albanese served as musical director with Tony Award winning stageactor and singer Paulo Szot in his debut of “An Intimate Evening with Paulo Szot” at the Café Carlylein NYC. He recently played at the Village Vanguard in NYC as pianist for the legendary drummer Al Foster.

Albanese has a new recording coming out entitled “Time Remembered” on Mayimba/Sony forinternational release in early 2015. It features eminent bassist Eddie Gomez and veteran drummerWillard Dyson.

Albanese is married to Jennifer Freedman Albanese and has a 10 year old son named Louis Cole. Heteaches privately in his studio in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. and is equipped and available for videoconferenceclinics and teaches and conducts workshops worldwide.