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Adrianne Duncan

Pianist, singer, composer and songwriter Adrianne Duncan has been making music since the age of six. The daughter of renowned classical guitarist and Clark Atlanta University professor Charles Duncan (author of The Art of Classical Guitar Playing), she honed her classical piano skills through summers spent at Tanglewood and Brevard Music Centers, master classes with such luminaries as Leon Fleisher, Ruth Laredo, Murray Perahia and André Watts, and four years as the pianist for the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Jere Flint. She attended Northwestern University on a music scholarship and is the winner of numerous piano competitions and scholarships.

Now based in Los Angeles, Adrianne has performed at such diverse venues as Atlanta’s Symphony Hall as a concerto soloist, the American Embassy in Berlin, and Los Angeles’ Blue Whale, Catalina Jazz Club, REDCAT at Disney Hall and the Skirball Cultural Center. She has performed and recorded in the United States and internationally with globally recognized musicians including Grammy-nominated Lado B Brazilian Project, with whom she toured Brazil on keyboards and vocals, and on The Jazz Chamber with legendary multireedist Bennie Maupin. Also a producer and arranger, her projects include albums for actor-singers Jacqueline Emerson (The Hunger Games) and Larry Wolf (Pound, Putney Swope). Her latest album Gemini features her original compositions and arrangements.

Adrianne’s voice and piano playing can be heard in such films and television shows as God’s Country, Sanctuary, The Young Kieslowski and the Emmy-nominated musical episode of The L Word: Generation Q. She is a founding member of a cappella vocal improvisation collective Fish to Birds and is currently arranging a song cycle of spirituals for Grammy-nominated tenor Victor Ryan Robertson, recently performing the material as a duo to a capacity audience at the historic Penn Center on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

Awards

National Merit Scholar, Northwestern University

Music and academic scholarship recipient, Northwestern University

Scholarship recipient, Tanglewood, Brevard and Southeastern Music Centers

Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition winner

Atlanta Music Teachers Association competition winner (multiple years)

Georgia Music Teachers Association competition winner (multiple years)

Music Teachers National Association competition finalist (multiple years)

Winner of numerous other piano competitions and scholarships

Adrianne Duncan: Gemini

Read "Gemini" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
October 14, 2021

It started out for Adrianne Duncan with classical piano. Then—as it happens so often—she fell in with a jazz crowd. On her 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. And she has a way with words, penning lyrics in an off-the-beaten-path style on three of her songs—one offering is an instrumental—while throwing in Sting's “Roxanne" as a closer, a familiar tune than isn't initially recognizable, ...

Album Review

Cathy Segal-Garcia: The Jazz Chamber

Read "The Jazz Chamber" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
November 2, 2018

On this album, Cathy Segal-Garcia, a vocalist and educator on the Los Angeles jazz scene, comes up with something special, working with a chamber orchestra and a group of jazz musicians to produce a wide-ranging program that veers from lush romanticism to complex jazz-funk. On much of the disc, Segal-Garcia's thick, classically formal voice, combined with a full string section, presents a lilting hybrid of jazz and light classical music. On first hearing it sounds a bit too ...

Recording

Los Angeles-Based Pianist, Vocalist And Composer Adrianne Duncan Offers Songs Beautiful And Broad In Scope, Leading A Top-Shelf Ensemble On New Album 'Gemini'

Source: Two for the Show Media
September 23, 2021

In honing her own creative voice as a jazz pianist, singer and songwriter, Adrianne Duncan also discovered the ideal way to present it: with the devoted group of musicians and friends heard on her inspired recording Gemini. The versatile rhythm section features Duncan on piano with Dan Lutz on acoustic and electric bass and Jimmy Branly, who mixed the album, on drums. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini achieves a beautiful blend with Duncan’s instrument, serving the multifaceted songs with his fine touch ...
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“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)

“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 ★★★★)

“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’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.” (All About Jazz – Jazz Vocals 2021)

“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)

“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!” (Contemporary Fusion Reviews)

“With passionate songs and performances, a modern vocal album worthy of attention.” (Music Pen Club Japan)

“Her poised and supple delivery indicated that a substantial talent has begun to blossom.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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