Dave Meder

A pianist of considerable esteem, Dave Meder has built his reputation on a harmonically intricate style that bridges post-bop and contemporary creative jazz. Thelonious Monk, Jaki Byard, and Bill Evans stand among his primary jazz touchstones, while Philip Glass represents the classical modernists who have also shaped his voice; his initial recognition arrived during the 2010s amid studies at NYU and Juilliard. After relocating to the University of North Texas to serve as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano, he released his first album, Passage, in 2019.

Born in 1990 and raised in Tampa, Florida, Meder began classical piano training in childhood. By middle school he already possessed sufficient skill to offer private lessons, and during those same years he assembled a school jazz ensemble with classmates—an interest that persisted through his teenage years. Following high school he enrolled at Florida State University, where he pursued degrees in music, Spanish, and political science while refining his jazz technique under the guidance of pianist Marcus Roberts. In 2011 he took part in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center and the Steans Music Institute at the Ravinia Festival. The following year brought victory in the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, also known as The Great American Jazz Piano Competition; he graduated summa cum laude from FSU in 2013 and immediately moved to New York. There he completed a master’s degree at NYU and later earned an Artist Diploma from Juilliard, supplementing his formal training with private lessons from Fred Hersch, Kenny Barron, Dave Douglas, and additional mentors. Since 2018 he has occupied the Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano post at the University of North Texas. In 2019 he issued his debut solo recording, Passage, which included guest contributions from saxophonists Chris Potter and Miguel Zenón.