Dan Tepfer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Tepfer
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| Background information | |
| Born | 8 January 1982 Paris, France |
| Genres | Jazz, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Sunnyside, Verve, StorySound |
| Associated acts | Lee Konitz, Ben Wendel |
Dan Tepfer is a talented jazz pianist and composer who was born in Paris, France, in 1982. He is well-known for his amazing piano playing and his creative projects. Two of his most famous works are his 2011 album Goldberg Variations/Variations and his 2019 project called Natural Machines, which mixes music with cool technology.
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About Dan Tepfer
Dan Tepfer grew up in Paris, France. His family loved both music and science, which probably helped him become so creative! He studied astrophysics (the science of stars and space) at the University of Edinburgh. Later, he earned a master's degree in jazz piano from the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Today, Dan lives in Brooklyn, New York. He travels all over the world to perform his music, especially in Europe. Since 2009, he has released many popular albums. He plays in different ways: sometimes by himself, sometimes with two other musicians (a trio), and sometimes with just one other musician (a duo).
Musical Friends and Cool Projects
Dan often plays music with other saxophonists. Some of these include the famous Lee Konitz, Grammy winner Miguel Zenon, and Ben Wendel. They create amazing music together!
One of Dan's most exciting projects is called Natural Machines. This project uses video and audio technology along with his piano playing. It's like the technology responds to his music in real-time! In 2025, an updated version of Natural Machines was shown at Carnegie Hall in New York. This new version allowed Dan to "play" an entire orchestra using technology as he performed. He is a regular performer in New York's jazz clubs and at special house concerts.
Awards and Achievements
Dan Tepfer has won many awards for his musical talent. Here are some of his achievements:
- 2006: He won First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival Bösendorfer Solo Piano Competition.
- 2007: He was the winner of the American Piano Awards and received the Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz.
- 2011: His album "Goldberg Variations / Variations" received a special award called CHOC from Jazz Magazine in France.
- 2011 – 2013: He was named a "Rising Star Pianist" by Down Beat magazine.
- 2012 – 2013: He was also named a "Rising Star Pianist" by JazzTimes magazine.
- 2014: He received the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
- 2016: He received a MacDowell Fellowship from the MacDowell Colony.
- 2017: His album "Eleven Cages" also received a CHOC award from Jazz Magazine in France.
- 2018: He received a three-year artistic development award from Fondation BNP-Paribas.
Music Albums
Dan Tepfer has released many albums. Here are some of them:
- 2009: Duos with Lee, a duo album with Lee Konitz
- 2011: Goldberg Variations/Variations
- 2013: Small Constructions, with Ben Wendel
- 2018: Decade, another duo album with Lee Konitz
- 2019: Natural Machines, which features his real-time musical and visual technology
- 2023: Inventions / Reinventions
- 2023: Internal Melodies, with Miguel Zenon
Other Music Projects
- With Billy Hart
- Sixty-Eight (2011)
- Film Music
- Movement+Location
