Media & EPK
Full Bio
Pianist, singer, songwriter and composer Adrianne Duncan has been making music since the age of six. The daughter of renowned classical guitarist Charles Duncan (author of The Art of Classical Guitar Playing), she honed her classical piano skills through private study, master classes with such luminaries as Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher, Emanuel Ax and Ruth Laredo, and summers spent at such institutions as Tanglewood and Brevard Music Centers.
Adrianne attended Northwestern University on a music scholarship and is the winner of numerous piano competitions and awards. She has performed in multiple capacities: as a solo artist, in a duo, as an accompanist for individual musicians and musical theatre productions, with chamber groups, in jazz ensembles and as a soloist with symphony orchestra.
Now based in Los Angeles, Adrianne has performed in venues in the United States and internationally. She has performed and recorded with some of LA’s most noted musicians, including the Grammy-nominated Lado B Brazilian Project, with whom she toured Brazil on keyboards and vocals. She has played and sung on numerous recordings (including The Jazz Chamber with legendary multireedist Bennie Maupin) and was the musical director of the new musical Twins for its premiere in Berlin. Also a producer and arranger, her projects include albums for actor-singers Jacqueline Emerson (The Hunger Games) and Larry Wolf (Pound, Putney Swope). Her piano playing can be heard on film soundtracks including The Chameleon and The Young Kieslowski, as well as the short films Impact! The Musical and Na Na Na (Na), which screened at Britain’s Kindfest 2020 to an audience of over 50,000 viewers.
In addition to her own project, Adrianne performs regularly with her seven-person vocal improvisation collective Fish To Birds at such Los Angeles venues as the Blue Whale, Catalina Jazz Club, REDCAT at Disney Hall and the Skirball Cultural Center. She also has an extensive acting background and has appeared in numerous plays, films, commercials and television shows, including starring opposite venerable character actor Seymour Cassel in the thriller The Chameleon. She will appear in a documentary and a feature film in 2022, both currently in post-production. She was the founder and producer of LA Modern Jazz Series, a concert series featuring world-class creative jazz musicians.
Short Bio
Adrianne Duncan is a jazz and classical pianist, singer, songwriter and composer based in Los Angeles. The daughter of renowned classical guitarist Charles Duncan, she has performed and recorded with such notable jazz musicians and groups as Grammy-nominated Lado B Brazilian Project, with whom she toured Brazil on keyboards and vocals. Also a producer and arranger, her projects include albums for actor-singers Jacqueline Emerson (The Hunger Games) and Larry Wolf (Pound, Putney Swope). She has performed with her seven-person vocal improvisation collective Fish to Birds at such venues as the Blue Whale, Catalina Jazz Club, REDCAT at Disney Hall and the Skirball Cultural Center, and was the founder and curator of LA Modern Jazz Series, a live music series featuring world-class creative jazz musicians.
representation
Press: Holly Cooper | Mouthpiece Music | 310.993.4017 | holly@mouthpiecemusic.com
Radio: Ben Scholz | Scholz Productions | 940.206.8045 | info@benjaminscholz.com
Legal: Ned Menoyo | EEM Law, PC | 424.766.4529 | info@eemlawpc.com
press and interviews
All About Jazz (Jazz Vocals 2021)
All About Jazz Song of the Day (Gemini)
“Duncan’s cover of the Police’s ‘Roxanne’ is an inspired revelation, an alloy of jazz and rock delivered with stylish and graceful authority. ‘He’s Not Quite You’ allows Duncan to show off both her tempered voice and smart writing, while the title piece barges into the room unannounced to take control.”
“Rousing and evocative creativity. . . splendid piano and vocal talents. . . ‘Gemini’ is upbeat and full of life, among the very best jazz instrumentals I’ve listened to (yet) in 2022. The story-like ‘Home at Last’ will hold you spellbound; both the playing and the vocals are packed with emotional beauty. . . one thing that truly stands out is Adrianne’s magical touch on her keyboard. My choice for personal favorite of the five (long) songs offered up would be Adrianne’s rendition of The Police’s ‘Roxanne’. . . truly one of the most unique performances I’ve ever heard for the tune!”
“Her voice is clear with a delicate tremolo frosting the tail-end of her tones. She definitely has a style all her own. . . . It’s always refreshing to hear lyrics that are relatable and not like any we’ve heard before. Duncan is quite a lyricist. . . unique and well-written compositions.”
“With passionate songs and performances, a modern vocal album worthy of attention.”
Press Quotes
“On (Adrianne Duncan’s) Gemini, the vocalist/pianist/composer proves herself an adept and compelling artist in the jazz genre, one who isn't afraid to take some chances….a particularly promising jazz artist.”
All About Jazz (★★★★)
“Eloquent and stirring vocals. . . . With this exceptional solo effort, Adrianne Duncan’s many talents are showcased with much grace, adventurousness and skill, making this a must for fans of fusion and modern jazz.”
Take Effect (9/10)
“Deeply heartfelt, emotionally cathartic and often blissfully whimsical. . . Gemini is truly one of the most ambitious and fascinating contemporary jazz albums of the year!”
The JW Vibe
“Duncan has a penchant for suites with some deep lyrics that tell a story with some meaty details. . . . Almost like a set of jazz mini-movies, these self-contained suites cover ground that’s been covered before but never quite with this kind of Lewis and Clark intensity. Solid work throughout.”
Midwest Record
“Ms. Duncan has a strong voice leavened by subtlety, her renditions are lively and hopeful, and her modern piano playing is quite effective. Gemini is an impressive effort and will hopefully result in many more jazz projects.”
LA Jazz Scene
“‘Home at Last’ is a masterclass in contemporary lyric writing, emotional vocalizing, rich harmonies from piano and virtuosic flute playing, a story well told in both words and music. ‘Roxanne’ is. . . a breathtaking finish to an album that never fails to hold your attention.”
Bebop Spoken Here
“Adrianne Duncan gifts audiences with an after-hours elixir. The improvisations and melodic development of the tracks showcase her innovative leanings. Traversing the avenues between traditional jazz idioms and off-the-cuff excursions, Duncan masterfully helms the melodic course she embarks on.”
Jazz2Love
“The clever take of The Police’s ‘Roxanne’. . . richly displays Duncan’s vocal range. She excels in quietude while her piano chops are in good form. A charmer.”
Jazz Weekly
“With her gorgeous vocals and improvisational ability, Adrianne Duncan alternately moved and wowed the crowd.”
Chicago Reader
“Her poised and supple delivery indicated that a substantial talent has begun to blossom.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Her intelligent structures left substantial room for improvisation. Duncan embodied relaxed precision on the keyboard and proved warm and confident.”
Metaljazz
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