Bio
Being recognized as “one of the most exciting pianists in contemporary jazz,” (The Guardian, UK) pianist Lynne Arriale has performed on the most prestigious international concert stages over the past 30 years. Jazz Police called her “the poet laureate of her generation.” JazzTimes said of her, “Lynne Arriale’s music lies at the synaptic intersection where brain meets heart, where body meets soul. She is one of jazzdom’s most intensely unique voices.” Jazz Journal commented, “Arriale is clearly one of the best contemporary jazz pianists.”
Lynne won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. She toured Japan with “100 Golden Fingers” with Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Roger Kellaway, Junior Mance and Ray Bryant. She has performed at major international festivals including Montreux, Burghausen, Gilmore, Spoleto Arts, Montreal, Monterey, North Sea, Stuttgart, Pori, San Francisco, Ottawa, Zagreb, Perth, Brisbane, Rouen, Sardinia, Rochester, Wigan, Poznan, Estoril, Inverness, Cork, San Javier and has given five performances at the Kennedy Center.
Lynne’s 17 albums as a leader have topped the JazzWeek radio charts, including: Inspiration #1, Arise #1, Come Together #3, The Lights Are Always On #3, Nuance #4, Convergence #4, Being Human #5, Chimes of Freedom #8 and were recognized on numerous "Best Of" lists, including The New Yorker and United Press International. LIVE (CD/DVD) was named one of UPI’s Best Jazz CDs and among The New Yorker magazine’s Best CDs of the year. Solo was named one of the top CDs of 2012 by JAZZIZ magazine, and Convergence was named one of the top 50 CDs of 2011 by JazzTimes. Her release, Give Us These Days, was included in the top Jazz CDs of 2018 by Jazz History Online and the Best New Jazz Releases of 2018 by The Arts Fuse. Chimes of Freedom was named one of the Best CDs of 2020 by DownBeat and Best Jazz Instrumental Releases of 2020 by Jazz History Online. Lynne’s latest release, The Lights Are Always On, ranked #19 on the JazzWeek Radio year-end charts for all 2022 airplay, #2 on Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes “Favorite Jazz Records of 2022,” “Sounds Like America” on Ken Franckling’s “Favorite New Compositions from CDs released in 2022,” and #6 on Textura’s year-end “Top 30 Jazz Releases.”Being Human received five 4-star reviews and was included in the All About Jazz “Best Jazz Albums of 2024.”
Lynne has toured Brazil, Germany, Austria, Serbia, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Australia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, China, South Africa and the U.S.
Her live TV and radio appearances and concert performances include Profile of a Recording Artist, NPR’s Weekend Edition, Jazz Set, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz. Her print media features include Billboard, Downbeat, JazzTimes, JAZZIZ, BBC Magazine, and The London Times. Lynne was the first woman to have the cover story for JazzEd Magazine, and additional cover stories include One Way and M Magazines. Her live media appearances include CNN/FN’ Biz, NPR’s Jazz Piano Christmas – Live from The Kennedy Center, and radio/TV interviews throughout the U.S., U.K., and Europe, including the BBC, Radio France and German National Television. In 2020, Lynne was named in “The 50 Wisconsin Musicians With the Biggest Impact Over the Past 100 Years” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Being Human, pianist-composer Lynne Arriale's 17th album as a leader, is her fourth for Challenge Records International. Her suite of 10 original compositions celebrates the ways that our lives are enriched by acts of passion, courage, love, persistence, heart, soul, curiosity, faith and joy. Featuring bassist Alon Near and drummer Lukasz Zyta, the album explores these life-affirming facets of humankind. Many of the songs are dedicated to people who’ve inspired Arriale, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai.
In recent years, Lynne’s compositions and albums have reflected current social issues. Chimes of Freedom (2020) highlights the worldwide immigration crisis and the experiences of refugees who risk everything to find a better life for themselves and their families. The Lights Are Always On (2022) examines the life-changing events wrought by COVID-19. Some compositions are named in honor of heroes, including those who served as caregivers on the front lines of the pandemic and those who defended American democracy. In Being Human, Arriale affirms the need for love, hope and unity in a world torn by the negative effects of political and cultural polarization. It is a musical inspiration to fully appreciate the incredible potential in each of us, and to best express what it means to be human.
“I wrote this suite in response to the division and turmoil in our world,” Arriale says. “The music focuses on qualities we all share, that define our humanity. I hope this album will be uplifting and convey a sense of unity and optimism.”
PRESS
“One of the most exciting pianists in contemporary jazz.”
The Guardian, UK
“She is clearly one of the best contemporary jazz pianists.”
Jazz Journal
“She remains a force of nature.”
All About Jazz
“Lynne Arriale has been one of the great poets on the piano for decades.”
Jazzthing
“...easily the most outstanding album we have heard recently...”
Marlbank, UK
“This is music that is born of body and soul…an album with so many heart-on-the sleeve moments that you will find yourself catching your breath in absolute awe of Arriale’s introspective artistry…an artist of the first order… we have an album to absolutely die for.”
That Canadian Magazine
★★★★ Marlbank, UK
★★★★ Downbeat
★★★★ BBC Magazine
★★★★ All About Jazz
★★★★ Jazzwise
“Lynne Arriale’s remarkable career is graced by a rare commitment to authenticity and vulnerability defined by careful craft and high artistic standards. It is precisely this willingness to remain so emotionally exposed that makes her performances so accessible to music lovers of all kinds”
All About Jazz
“There may be no jazz artist working today who brings a broader spectrum of musical ideas to the connection of mind and heart.
The poet laureate of her generation….a stunning composer and prolific recording artist who has followed her muse without compromise.”
Jazz Police
BEING HUMAN (2024)
All About Jazz’s Best Jazz Albums Of 2024: All-Star Break Edition
Being Human reached #5 on the JazzWeek Radio Charts
22 weeks on US Jazz Radio Charts; 6 weeks in the top 10, 10 weeks in the top 20
THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON (2022)
#3 JazzWeek Radio charts
#19 JazzWeek Radio Charts, CDs receiving the most airplay in 2020
#2 Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes “Favorite Jazz Records of 2022”
“Sounds Like America” Ken Franckling’s “Favorite New Compositions from CDs released in 2022”
#6 Textura’s year end “Top 30 Jazz Releases”
CHIMES OF FREEDOM (2020)
#8 JazzWeek Radio Charts,
#34 JazzWeek Radio Charts, CDs receiving the most airplay in 2020
Downbeat magazine included “Chimes” in the Best CDs of 2020 list
Jazz History Online included “Chimes” in the Best Jazz Instrumental Releases of 2020
GIVE US THESE DAYS (2018)
Best Jazz CDs of 2018, Jazz History Online; Tom Cunniffe
Best New Jazz Releases of 2018; Artsfuse, Michael Ullman
#15 on National Jazz Week Radio Chart
Lynne Arriale voted #18 in 2018 Downbeat Readers Poll, piano category
Jazz Album of the Week, WRTI Radio
SOLO (2012)
Named one of the top CDs of 2012 by JAZZIZ Magazine
Irish Times – 4 stars
Named Best CD of 2012 – Bird’s the Worm
#28 National Jazz Week Radio
Pick of the Week - EMusic
CONVERGENCE (2011)
DownBeat Magazine – 4 stars
#4 on National Jazz Week Radio Chart
Named in the Top 50 CDs of 2011 by JazzTimes
Named Ten Best New Jazz Releases of 2011 in journalist Ken Frankling’s “Jazz Notes”
‘Dance of the Rain’ named in Frankling’s 10 Best New Songs of 2011 list
One of Jazz Police’s Essential CDs of 2011
Winner of the SESAC 2012 National Performance Activity Award
NUANCE (2008)
#4 Jazz Week Radio
DownBeat – 4 stars
The Guardian (London) – 4 stars
The Sunday Times (London) – 4 stars
CD of the month, Audio Magazine (Germany)
CD of the month, Stereo Magazine (Germany)
CD of the month, Fono Forum (Germany)
LYNNE ARRIALE TRIO LIVE (2005)
Selected in Billboard Magazine as one of Jazz’s Most Valuable Young Players
#17 Jazz Week Radio
Named one of United Press International's Best Jazz CDs
New Yorker Magazine’s Best CDs of the year
German Record Critics Award
COME TOGETHER (2003)
#17 on Billboard Jazz chart
#3 on Jazz Week Radio chart
Jazz Collector – 4 Stars
Best Jazz CD of 2003 – United Press International
SESAC’s (comparable to BMI or ASCAP) National Performance Activity Award
ARISE (2002)
#20 on Billboard jazz chart
#1 Jazz Week Radio
INSPIRATION (2000)
Pick of the Month, BBC Music Magazine
#1 Jazz Week Radio
New Yorker Magazine’s One of the Best 6 CDs of the year
German Record Critics Award
Jazz Review – Editor’s Choice
LIVE AT MONTREUX (1999)
Critic’s Choice – Reader’s Guide Magazine (Neil Tesser)
RECORDINGS
2024 Being Human with Alon Near, bass, Lukasz Zyta, drums, Challenge Records International, CR 73572
2022 The Lights are Always On with Jasper Samson, bass, E.J. Strickland, drums, Challenge Records International, CR 73532
2020 Chimes of Freedom with Jasper Somsen, bass, E.J. Strickland, drums and K.J. Denhert, guest vocalist, Challenge Records International, CR 73494
2018 Give Us These Days with Jasper Somsen, bass, Jasper van Hulten, drums, Kate McGarry guest vocalist, Challenge Records International, CR 73453
2016 Larry Coryell: Barefoot Man (Sanpaku), Larry Coryell, guitar, Dan Jordan, flute, saxophone, Lynne Arriale, piano, John Lee, bass, Lee Pierson, drums
2015 UNF Jazz Faculty CD, performed and was Assistant Producer
2012 SOLO, Motema Music, MTM83
2011 Convergence with Bill McHenry, tenor sax, Omer Avital, bass and Anthony Pinciotti, drums, Motema Music, MTM54
2008 Nuance with Randy Brecker, trumpet/flugelhorn, George Mraz, bass and Anthony Pinciotti, drums, Motema Music, MTM 00022
2005 LIVE with Jay Anderson, bass and Steve Davis, drums, Motema Music 00007
2005 Sara Caswell, But Beautiful, with Lynne Arriale, Rachel Caswell, Larry Kohut, Steve Davis, Arbors Records, ARCD19304
2004 Come Together with Jay Anderson, bass and Steve Davis, drums, Motema Music MTM00001
2002 Arise with Jay Anderson, bass and Steve Davis, drums, Motema Music MTM71372
2002 Rachel Caswell, Some Other Time, with Lynne Arriale, Sara Caswell, Kelly Sill, Steve Davis, RNC1001
2000 Inspiration with Jay Anderson, bass and Steve Davis, drums, TCB Music 22102
2000 Sara Caswell, First Song, with Lynne Arriale, Rachel Caswell, Jack Helsley, Steve Davis, Double-Time DTRCD166
1999 Live at Montreux with Jay Anderson, bass and Steve Davis, drums, TCB Music 20252
1999 Wolfgang Lackerschmid Quartet, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, vibes, marimba, Lynne Arriale, piano, Mike Sharfe, bass, Steve Davis, drums, TCB Music, TCB 34202, recorded 1999, released in 2015
1998 Melody with Scott Colley, bass and Steve Davis, drums, TCB Music 99552
1998 Pat Harbison Quartet, After All, with Lynne Arriale, Jay Anderson, Steve Davis
1997 A Long Road Home with John Pattituci, bass and Steve Davis, drums, TCB Music 97952
1996 With Words Unspoken with Drew Gress, bass and Steve Davis, drums, DMP CD518
1995 When You Listen with Drew Gress, bass and Steve Davis, drums, DMP CD511
1994 The Eyes Have It with Jay Anderson, bass and Steve Davis, drums, DMP CD502