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Bradley Sowash

Bradley Sowash is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator known for his innovative online group jazz piano classes, widely-acclaimed keyboard improvisation books, and as the co-founder of 88 Creative Keys workshops and webinars for music teachers. Learn more at https://bradleysowash.com/

Awards

In 1999, he was the featured artist at the Arts Midwest 15-state regional conference in Cleveland, Ohio. He is listed in John Schaefer's book, New Sounds: A Listener's Guide to New Music and in Katherine Teck's Movement to Music. Sowash has received numerous grants from the Ohio Arts Council as well as from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Hazelbaker Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Bradley Sowash: For The Beauty Of The Earth

Read "For The Beauty Of The Earth" reviewed by Mark Sabbatini

by Mark Sabbatini
May 1, 2005

If there's a prototypical album for Starbucks to play on Sunday mornings, this is it. Whether that's a good or bad thing will ultimately shape opinions about Bradley Sowash's For The Beauty Of The Earth. He performs the fourteen solo piano hymns and spirituals well with a sprinkling of personal accents and a lively contemporary sound, but little overall departure from the actual compositions. It is, essentially, a gifted lounge pianist taking his Saturday evening gig to church the next ...

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Album Review

Bradley Sowash: For the Beauty of the Earth

Read "For the Beauty of the Earth" reviewed by David Rickert

by David Rickert
February 11, 2005

Jazz has always had a close tie to religion, from its roots in gospel music and spirituals to the divine musical quests of Coltrane and the Sacred Concerts of Ellington. However, few artists have mined the hymnal directly for source material, and fewer still have then recorded albums that have reflection and meditation as their key goal.

Bradley Sowash has dedicated a large part of his career to playing this music in a jazz context. For the Beauty ...

Recording

New Christmas CD: Fum Bells--Live! by Bradley Sowash

Source: Bradley Sowash
December 10, 2010

Fum Bells—Live!—Christmas classics uniquely arranged for big band and choir by Bradley Sowash In 2008, Richard Rudolph, director of music for Covenant Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, VA had an unusual vision: to combine his traditional music-reading choir with the nearby Kingdom of Life sing-by-ear gospel choir to perform Christmas classics. Furthermore, a 17-piece big band would join them instead of the usual piano accompaniment. However, sacred Christmas music for this combination of musicians and singers was not available. So Richard ...
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Education

Ohio Piano Teacher Training in Columbus Throughout June

Source: All About Jazz
April 25, 2008

Focus On Jazz - Teacher Training Workshop This three-session workshop is designed specifically for traditional studio piano teachers who have some or no experience with jazz or blues but would like to integrate these styles into their teaching and playing. Through lecture, demonstration, written example, and hands-on experience, participants will learn how to integrate a teaching approach that involves personal expression, improvisation and the applied knowledge of music theory. Sponsor: Jazz Arts Group Time/Dates: Fridays, June 6, 13 & 20, ...
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He can really move an audience along with zest and wit. - Billboard Magazine

Sowash's music powerfully conjures the moods. - Village Voice

Bradley Sowash is quite simply one of the best pianists on the contemporary scene. - Solo Piano Publications

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Want to have more fun playing or teaching piano? Learn to “do your own thing” with Pop, Blues, and Jazz standards. These are interactive “live” group lessons, not pre-produced videos. Watch replay videos of lessons you miss or want to review on YouTube (group lessons only). 8-week terms have clear pre-set topics, tunes, and takeaways. No long-longterm commitment. 75-minute “one-hour” classes include a 15 minute buffer to allow for potential tech glitches that are inherent to the internet and a “softer” end point. Multiple angles: see instructor’s face, piano keys, and instant notated examples. Opt for active participation on or watch passively off camera (group lessons only). Share videos and network with fellow participants in a private Facebook group.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Clinic/Workshop Information

1. That’s Jazz Student Master Class Do your students use the That’s Jazz books? Arrange a Bradley Sowash festival and give your students the thrill of learning directly from a leader in modern creative piano pedagogy. Students prepare 2 pieces at their level from one of Bradley Sowash’s “That’s Jazz” Method, Performance or Christmas books. Bradley Sowash offers students brief personalized coaching on their chosen pieces, in public. A written evaluation of each performance is provided. Students are motivated to prepare by the opportunity to meet the composer, take pictures, get autographs, etc.4th grader The best masterclass students and Improvisation groups are invited to perform in a non-competitive public concert Bradley Sowash “jams” along on a second piano with the students playing solo pieces. The event concludes with Bradley Sowash then performing a short solo piano concert. His rare combination of improvisational virtuosity and accessible jazz has delighted listeners both here and abroad for over 30 years. 2. Improvising is for Everyone (all instruments) Eye players read music. Ear players improvise. To play contemporary music, students need experience in both yet improvisation is often missing from their curriculum. Rather than feel limited to reproducing the notes on the page, Sowash helps students understand how they came to be there in the first place by tapping into their creative music-making impulses.

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