Art Lande

An adventurous yet subtle improviser, Art Lande has long been one of the top jazz pianists based in Colorado, which accounts for his regional fame but general lack of notoriety despite his talents and originality. He started having classical lessons when he was four, studied at Williams College, and moved to San Francisco in 1969. Lande, who occasionally played electric piano in the 1970s, has mostly carved out his own singular path throughout his career, taking the innovations of Bill Evans several steps further. In 1973 he recorded with Jan Garbarek and Ted Curson and in the mid-'70s had started his own jazz school. In 1976 he formed the quartet Rubisa Patrol, which recorded for ECM and lasted until 1983. After teaching for three years in Switzerland, Lande moved to Boulder, CO, in 1987. As a leader, Lande has recorded for ECM (four albums during 1973, 1976, 1977, and 1981), 1750 Arch (1977-1978), and the Great American Music Hall label (two sets during 1987-1988).