Jonathan Kreisberg

Biography

Guitarist/Composer Jonathan Kreisberg was born in New York City. While still a child his family moved to Miami, where at age 10 he began playing the guitar. Originally inspired by a range of music, his early studies focused on Rock and Classical guitar as well as music theory. At age 16 he was featured in Guitar Player Magazine for his original music, and was also accepted to the New World School of the Arts where his jazz studies took center stage. He began an intense practice schedule and and...

Guitarist/Composer Jonathan Kreisberg was born in New York City. While still a child his family moved to Miami, where at age 10 he began playing the guitar. Originally inspired by a range of music, his early studies focused on Rock and Classical guitar as well as music theory. At age 16 he was featured in Guitar Player Magazine for his original music, and was also accepted to the New World School of the Arts where his jazz studies took center stage. He began an intense practice schedule and and by the time he graduated high school he had been featured in Down Beat Magazine and had received a scholarship to the University of Miami Jazz program. At U of M he held the chair as guitarist for the acclaimed Concert Jazz band, touring Brazil and performing with Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, and Red Rodney.

Upon graduation, Jonathan began playing straight ahead jazz gigs as well as a myriad of other projects. He performed 20th century works with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas. He also recorded a C.D. and performed extensively with progressive rock group Third Wish. He formed the electric jazz oriented Jonathan Kreisberg Trio. Based in Miami, this Trio released a C.D. and completed several U.S. East Coast tours, which included opening slots for George Benson and Steve Morse. He also began giving clinics at music schools as well as teaching private lessons.

In 1997 he returned to his birthplace in NYC with his focus on cutting edge acoustic jazz. He has since performed in the groups of Joe Locke, Joel Frahm, Greg Tardy, Jeff Andrews, Josh Roseman, Roy Nathanson (Jazz Passengers), Donald Edwards, Jane Monheit, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ari Hoenig, Yosvany Terry and Lenny White, as well as leading his own groups of various instrumentations.

Jonathan also teaches/has taught lessons and workshops at the New School, City College, Philadelphia College of the Arts, Mannes School of Music and many other universities worldwide. He has recorded five cd’s under his own name including the electric oriented JONATHAN KREISBERG TRIO (1996), and the all standards recording TRIOING (2001) with Ari Hoenig and Johannes Weidenmueller. NINE STORIES WIDE (2004), Released on the CrissCross Jazz label, features the sublime interplay of drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Larry Grenadier. In 2005 he released NEW FOR NOW for Criss Cross Jazz. This documented his groundbreaking organ trio with Gary Versace and Mark Ferber, and received heavy critical acclaim. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.