Live music is a collective experience of shared emotions and Damian Espinosa continues to bring that experience to venues around Chicago. He has played piano in many diverse musical settings as both a jazz leader and as sideman, as a solo pianist, accompanist, for stage productions, operas, Second City, and even for a silent film. His piano style combines elements of jazz, classical, rock, and latin. The music yields a wealth of tantalizing harmonic colors and rhythmic grooves that span the continuum of jazz. Currently Damian is involved in many creative projects that include traditional jazz, mainstream jazz, pop, funk, and avant-garde. He also stays busy as a composer and arranger. Damian Espinosa brings the music that gets toes tapping, heads bobbing, and smiles glowing to the rhythmic flow of jazz, Chicago-style.

Damian grew up in Albuquerque, NM and started classical piano lessons at an early age. Though his ability was apparent, by high school his interest had waned and Damian took some time away from classical piano study to play in rock bands. He found the group interaction of music making exhilarating. It also afforded Damian the opportunity to start composing and have his music realized.

Damian attended Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Though not initially a music major, Damian rekindled his passion for music and emerged with a B.A. Degree in Piano Performance in 1995. Though immersed in classical music in the academy, he continued to play in rock bands around the city. Wanting to enrich his sound, Damian started listening to jazz recordings. Though the musical language was foreign to him, he loved what he heard. He felt a kinship with the music and immediately knew that this was the music he was meant to play.

In the winter of 1996 Damian decided to return home to Albuquerque. To heighten his musical understanding, Damian began studying music theory with Professor Richard Hermann at the University of New Mexico. Music theory thoroughly engaged Damian, ands he decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of New Mexico, which he received in 2000. Specifically, Damian researched improvisational strategies and compositional processes, eventually presenting analytical papers on both Charlie Parker’s improvisational methods and on 18th-Century classical improvisation methods. He has also presented papers on the use of pop music in film.

At this time Damian began assembling a composition portfolio. He composed some vocal and piano pieces in a “classical� style and even started on a string quartet. However, his compositional language more and more took on the harmonic structures and rhythmic energy of jazz.

While in New Mexico, Damian started taking private lessons in jazz piano and played with the University of New Mexico’s jazz band. He also started making forays into the local jazz scene.

In the fall of 2000, Damian Espinosa moved to Chicago and began the PhD program in music theory at the University of Chicago. He immediately started playing for the University of Chicago’s Jazz X-tet, under the direction of Mwata Bowden and can be heard on the group’s Vision of Things to Come (2001). Damian also began studying piano with Chicago jazz pianist Jim Trompeter. In Chicago Damian found the musical environment he had been searching for.

With bassist Paul Steinbeck and drummer Scott Garrigan, the rhythm section from the Jazz X-tet, Damian formed the Damian Espinosa Trio. All three members shared an interest in composition. Their tight relationship allowed for unfettered musical explorations in composition and through improvisation. They recorded two albums of original material: Anticipation (2001) and The End of the New (2002).

While finishing his degree at the University of Chicago, Damian also taught various courses in music appreciation, music theory, and jazz piano. Besides teaching at the University of Chicago, Damian also taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Wheaton College as well as teaching private piano lessons.

Currently Damian leads his own trio and plays several nights a month with saxophonist Chris Greene’s Quartet. He also stays busy as a composer and arranger as well as working with several vocalists and sideman projects.


Damian Espinosa performs regularly with the following groups:

Chris Greene Quartet
Jazz Conspiracy

Myles Hayes (vocalist)
Heather Moran (vocalist)
Julie O’Connell (vocalist)
Dave Van Der Laan (vocalist)
Natalie Yokley (vocalist)


Recordings

Chris Greene Quartet, Soul and Science, Volume 1, 2007
Chris Greene and New Perspective, “Jazz�, 2004
www.chrisgreenejazz.com

Heather Moran, Heatherland, 2004
www.heathermoran.com

ESP, Depth, 2004
www.espjazz.com

The Damian Espinosa Trio, The End of the New, 2002
The Damian Espinosa Trio, Anticipation, 2001
www.damianespinosa.com
www.cdbaby.com/cd/damiane

The University of Chicago’s Jazz X-tet, Vision of Things to Come, 2001