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Jerod Sarlo: endless possibilities with 88 keys

Jerod Sarlo: endless possibilities with 88 keys

by Jerod Sarlo musicianship is best described as multidimensional, seamlessly cutting across genres as disparate as classical and jazz. In addition to impressing audiences as an extraordinary pianist, Sarlo is a gifted teacher, an accomplished producer and, to my surprise, a pioneering beatmaker. An invaluable faculty member, Sarlo has a knack for unlocking students’ inner creativity by employing refreshingly innovative pedagogical techniques.

Sarlo started playing the piano at age 4, and by 14, he was teaching his first students. As a result of his prodigious gift, Sarlo attended the Denver School of the Arts Middle and High School Magnet Program, and continued his piano studies on scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and The New School Jazz and Music program. Contemporary Music in New York City. While on the East Coast, Sarlo had the opportunity to study with legendary jazz masters including Andy Milne, Joanne Brakeen, Danilo Perez, Reggie Workman, and Andrew Cyrille. A combination of innate talent and fervent study has led to Sarlo’s long list of recent honors, including recognition as “Outstanding Soloist” by Downbeat magazine.

Although Sarlo’s initial entry into the world of music was through classical music, a genre that still captivates him, it was his appreciation for improvisation that ignited his passion for jazz. According to Sarlo, “Improvisation has always been a big part of my playing and I like to make sure that a part of me can be inside every song and make it different every time I play. My goal has always been to be able to let the music do the talking. me, and have the technical capacity to make it possible”. In addition to jazz, Sarlo has performed nearly every style of music, from Afro-Cuban to reggae, salsa to blues, funk to hip-hop, and musical theater to avant-garde.

While Sarlo is forging his own melodious path, he’ll be the first to acknowledge his influences. These include Oscar Peterson, dubbed the “maharajah of the keyboard” by none other than Duke Ellington, and Art Tatum, hailed for his technical prowess despite being nearly blind. In addition, Sarlo admires Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans for their innovative interpretations of the jazz repertoire and their imaginative composition and chord construction techniques. Finally, legendary “Free Jazz” pioneer Cecil Taylor, known for his polyrhythmic improvisations and energetic approach, is another of Sarlo’s idols.

This newcomer to our community has already contributed immensely to the soundscape of Louisville. Last November, attendees of the Louisville Arts District’s inaugural Rhythm and Hues event will remember the finale, when Sarlo’s moving interpretation of his original composition “Improvisation on Wind and Water” provided inspiration for collaborating visual artists. Sarlo has also been encouraging his students to play various styles as well as explore composition. In his words, “I hope to bring a new approach and balance to learning the things we need to learn in any piano lesson in a fun and creative way.” Exemplifying Sarlo’s playful approach, one of his writing exercises involves asking his emerging composers to use the musical letters of their names (A to G, since the musical alphabet ends there) as root notes for a new song. song. Such teaching methods serve to create a personalized repertoire for young pianists, as well as for the occasional giggle.

In addition to contributing to the Louisville art scene, Sarlo also performs at popular Denver venues with the bands BigWheel Electrosoul and Lamp. under his show name Qknox. This January, Qknox released a self-titled album that features an impressive combination of Sarlo’s virtuosic instrumental retorts, hip-hop beats, and operatic vocal samples. Critics applaud; one aptly describing Sarlo’s album as “stunningly creative”. My favorite song, titled “All the Gray and Rainy Days,” evokes a comforting mirage of rain falling from the sky punctuated by gentle rhythms, unexpected hues, and magical pauses in between.

Sarlo’s artist philosophy is simple yet powerful; “I’m an advocate of letting people do the things they want to do. In performance, this means thinking of music as all the sounds around us rather than just the notes on the page.” Driven by this progressive approach, Sarlo is destined to cultivate the musical tastes of downtown Louisville.

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