Biography
In New York City jazz circles, the bop-oriented Joan Stiles earns recognition not solely for her lyrical and melodic piano playing but also for her abilities as a bandleader, arranger, and producer. Although she occasionally sings, Stiles functions chiefly as an instrumentalist who avoids limiting herself to jam sessions or rapid navigation through the chord changes of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" or Sonny Rollins' "Oleo." She improvises and stretches out without hesitation, yet the roles of bandleader and arranger form a central element of her musical identity. When her influences are considered, the pianists and soloists who have shaped her work must be distinguished from those affecting her leadership and arranging. As a pianist and soloist, she plays thoughtfully, drawing direct or indirect inspiration from Wynton Kelly, Tommy Flanagan, Thelonious Monk (whom she acknowledges on her composition "Spherical"), Hank Jones, Nat King Cole, and Erroll Garner. As a bandleader and arranger, she demonstrates clear awareness of Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson, and Charles Mingus. Stiles parts company with Ellington by favoring a bop orientation that incorporates some swing elements rather than a primary swing focus; she would have been labeled a "modernist" in the late '40s or '50s despite her regard for Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.
Stiles was born and raised in Brooklyn, where her introduction to jazz occurred during her teenage years. The New Yorker pursued classical piano studies in college and performed vocals with various pop bands as a young adult before straight-ahead jazz emerged as her central pursuit. During the '80s, a fall caused multiple fractures in her left wrist and created a significant interruption in her piano playing. Following surgery and rehabilitation, Stiles returned to the instrument, and by the early '90s she appeared regularly in Big Apple jazz venues. She currently resides in Manhattan, where she serves on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and teaches at the New School University. Manhattan is also the site of her concert series "Mostly Mary Lou," which has allowed her to perform and arrange the music of the late swing pianist Mary Lou Williams. In 1998, Stiles produced Love Call, her debut album as a leader; the recording assembled an impressive roster that included Clark Terry on trumpet and flugelhorn, Warren Vaché on trumpet, Benny Powell on trombone, Count Basie alumni Frank Wess on tenor sax, and Joe Temperley on baritone sax and bass clarinet. Although many jazz artists would value the opportunity to feature such heavyweights as Clark Terry and Frank Wess on a first release, Love Call remained unreleased for six years despite their participation. The album finally appeared in 2004 on the independent, Millwood, NY-based Zoho Music.
Stiles was born and raised in Brooklyn, where her introduction to jazz occurred during her teenage years. The New Yorker pursued classical piano studies in college and performed vocals with various pop bands as a young adult before straight-ahead jazz emerged as her central pursuit. During the '80s, a fall caused multiple fractures in her left wrist and created a significant interruption in her piano playing. Following surgery and rehabilitation, Stiles returned to the instrument, and by the early '90s she appeared regularly in Big Apple jazz venues. She currently resides in Manhattan, where she serves on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and teaches at the New School University. Manhattan is also the site of her concert series "Mostly Mary Lou," which has allowed her to perform and arrange the music of the late swing pianist Mary Lou Williams. In 1998, Stiles produced Love Call, her debut album as a leader; the recording assembled an impressive roster that included Clark Terry on trumpet and flugelhorn, Warren Vaché on trumpet, Benny Powell on trombone, Count Basie alumni Frank Wess on tenor sax, and Joe Temperley on baritone sax and bass clarinet. Although many jazz artists would value the opportunity to feature such heavyweights as Clark Terry and Frank Wess on a first release, Love Call remained unreleased for six years despite their participation. The album finally appeared in 2004 on the independent, Millwood, NY-based Zoho Music.
Albums
