Jeff Gardner was born in New York. He studied jazz with Jaki Byard, Charles Banacos, Don Friedman, and John Lewis, classical piano with Ruth Schontal and Ivan Tcherepnin, and harmony with Nadia Boulanger. He has performed with such musicians as Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Eddie Harris, Steve Lacy, Freddie Hubbard, Bob Sheppard, Paulo Moura, Dori Caymmi, Nelson Veras, Toninho Horta, and the Piano Quartet with Martial Solal, Jaki Byard, and Paul Bley. Jeff has released 17 CD's as a leader. His recordings include "Spirit Call" (solo), "Continuum", with Eddie Gomez and Billy Hart, "Alchemy", with Gary Peacock, "Second Home", with Rick Margitza, "Sky Dance" (recorded in Rio de Janeiro) with Gilberto Gil, and "Noches Habaneras", recorded in Havana, Cuba, with Anga, Maraca, Julio Barreto, Diego Valdez, and Felipe Cabrera. Jeff's CD, "The Music of Chance" features Rick Margitza and Ingrid Jensen. His brazilian recordings also include "Abraços", with Carlos Balla and Alberto Continentino. His trio CD's, "Breath" and "Lovelight" feature Drew Gress and Anthony Pinciotti. His duo CD with brazilian singer Jane Duboc - "Home is a River" showcases Jeff's lyrics as well as compositions. Jeff wrote and performed in Sao Paulo his first piano concerto, Voltas, mixing Brazilian rhythms with jazz and contemporary music. He released a world music CD as co-leader with French producer Pierre Comblat, "Look Inside". Upcoming releases include a duo CD with brazilian vibes player Arthur Dutra and a tribute to Bossa Nova legend Johnny Alf. Active in jazz education, Jeff has given workshops in many different countries and is the author of JAZZ PIANO: CREATIVE CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES, EASY JAZZ PRELUDES, SENTIMENTO BRASILEIRO, JEFF GARDNER'S BLUES BOOK, and SHAPES (all published by Editions H. Lemoine), 24 JAZZ PRELUDES (Terramar Music), and co-author with Niels Lan Doky of JAZZ TRANSCRIPTION (Advance Music). In the last several years, Jeff has published 4 new method books - POPULAR MUSIC HARMONY VOL. 1 - CYCLES, POPULAR MUSIC HARMONY VOL. 2 - CADENCES AND HARMONIC SEQUENCES, HARMONIC CONCEPTS FOR BASS, and BLUES WORKSHOP, as well as three new collections of piano music - CHILDREN'S SONGS, RADAMESIANAS, and SONGS OF INNOCENCE. www.jeffgardner.com.br