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His album ''Radio Over Miles'' (2010) is a combination of Miles Davis and rock band [[Radiohead]]. The album was nominated for Best Jazz Album at the Chicago Music Awards. Spero's album ''Live in Toronto'' is "sold" at a karmic price; the download is available for free in exchange for karma. "Purchasers" have to check a box agreeing to complete four karmic transactions to include giving "five random smiles to people on the street, regardless of age, sex, or looks." His album ''Acoustic'' (2011) is in a piano trio setting.
His album ''Radio Over Miles'' (2010) is a combination of Miles Davis and rock band [[Radiohead]]. The album was nominated for Best Jazz Album at the Chicago Music Awards. Spero's album ''Live in Toronto'' is "sold" at a karmic price; the download is available for free in exchange for karma. "Purchasers" have to check a box agreeing to complete four karmic transactions to include giving "five random smiles to people on the street, regardless of age, sex, or looks." His album ''Acoustic'' (2011) is in a piano trio setting.

In 2014, Spero began performing with pop artist [[Halsey (singer)|Halsey]]. Between 2014 and his leave in 2018, Spero designed and performed all the synthesizer and keyboard parts for her live shows, at such venues as [[Madison Square Garden]], [[Allstate Arena]], and [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hplandmark.com/p/life-arts-arts/highland-park-native-creates-his-own-place-music-scene|title=Highland Park Native creates his Own Place in Music Scene|last=|first=|date=|website=www.hplandmark.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref>. Spero and Halsey also performed on such late night TV shows as [[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]], [[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon]], [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]], and [[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|The Late Show with Steven Colbert]]. On January 19th 2018, Spero performed live on [[Saturday Night Live]] with Halsey. That day, he announced that he would be leaving the group to pursue his band Spirit Fingers full time, along with curating a video series called Tiny Room out of his Los Angeles studio. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/after-touring-with-halsey-highland-park-musician-stretches-with-spirit-finger/|title=After Halsey tour, Highland Park musician stretches out with Spirit Fingers|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref>

In 2015, while on tour with Halsey, Spero began composing for his new project which would eventually be named Spirit Fingers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.revive-music.com/2018/03/16/pianist-greg-spero-spirit-fingers-interview-debut-stream/|title=Interview: Pianist Greg Spero On ‘SPIRIT FINGERS’ + Album Debut Stream|date=2018-03-16|website=Okayplayer|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> Spero accrued musicians [[Hadrien Feraud]], Mike Mitchell, and [[Dario Chiazzolino]] to join the group. They recorded their debut record on [[Shanachie Records]], released on March 16th 2018, and reached #11 on the iTunes Jazz charts and #20 on the Contemporary Jazz billboard charts. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-greg-spero-internet/|title=Meet Greg Spero, a Jazz Musician - Voyage Chicago {{!}} Chicago City Guide|last=Stories|first=Local|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref>


Although he has composed and performed jazz, his interest in other styles afforded him opportunities to record with [[Ski Beatz]], [[Shock G]],<ref name=okayplayer/> and American rapper [[Murs (rapper)|Murs]]. Spero has also written songs with [[Darryl Jones]]. He composed music for the Feltre Theater performances of [[Eugène Ionesco]]'s ''[[Exit the King]]'', two [[Tennessee Williams]] one-act plays, and for the film ''The Perfect Breakup''.
Although he has composed and performed jazz, his interest in other styles afforded him opportunities to record with [[Ski Beatz]], [[Shock G]],<ref name=okayplayer/> and American rapper [[Murs (rapper)|Murs]]. Spero has also written songs with [[Darryl Jones]]. He composed music for the Feltre Theater performances of [[Eugène Ionesco]]'s ''[[Exit the King]]'', two [[Tennessee Williams]] one-act plays, and for the film ''The Perfect Breakup''.

Revision as of 19:36, 11 February 2019

Greg Spero performing at the Ikeda Auditorium in Chicago, Illinois

Greg Spero (born February 22, 1985) is a pianist from Highland Park, Illinois. He has toured with Halsey and the Miles Davis Electric Band and has composed music for film and television. He leads the jazz band Spirit Fingers.[1]

Career

Spero's mother was a classical pianist and his father was a blues pianist. When he was fourteen, he joined his father's band. He also worked with Frank Catalano, Buddy Rich, and Robert Irving III.[2] Spero became a devotee of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism through Herbie Hancock, whom he met at the Ravinia Festival. Hancock revealed that he adopted the practice from jazz bassist Buster Williams.

His album Radio Over Miles (2010) is a combination of Miles Davis and rock band Radiohead. The album was nominated for Best Jazz Album at the Chicago Music Awards. Spero's album Live in Toronto is "sold" at a karmic price; the download is available for free in exchange for karma. "Purchasers" have to check a box agreeing to complete four karmic transactions to include giving "five random smiles to people on the street, regardless of age, sex, or looks." His album Acoustic (2011) is in a piano trio setting.

In 2014, Spero began performing with pop artist Halsey. Between 2014 and his leave in 2018, Spero designed and performed all the synthesizer and keyboard parts for her live shows, at such venues as Madison Square Garden, Allstate Arena, and The Forum[3]. Spero and Halsey also performed on such late night TV shows as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and The Late Show with Steven Colbert. On January 19th 2018, Spero performed live on Saturday Night Live with Halsey. That day, he announced that he would be leaving the group to pursue his band Spirit Fingers full time, along with curating a video series called Tiny Room out of his Los Angeles studio. [4]

In 2015, while on tour with Halsey, Spero began composing for his new project which would eventually be named Spirit Fingers.[5] Spero accrued musicians Hadrien Feraud, Mike Mitchell, and Dario Chiazzolino to join the group. They recorded their debut record on Shanachie Records, released on March 16th 2018, and reached #11 on the iTunes Jazz charts and #20 on the Contemporary Jazz billboard charts. [6]

Although he has composed and performed jazz, his interest in other styles afforded him opportunities to record with Ski Beatz, Shock G,[7] and American rapper Murs. Spero has also written songs with Darryl Jones. He composed music for the Feltre Theater performances of Eugène Ionesco's Exit the King, two Tennessee Williams one-act plays, and for the film The Perfect Breakup.

He has performed with Arturo Sandoval, Corey Wilkes, and co-produced tracks with Ski Beatz (of Jay Z) and Shock G.[7]

Discography

  • Fossil Fuels in the House that Mouse Built (Bucket Shop, 2002)
  • Live in 25 (Greg Spero Trio, 2005)
  • The Mighty Burner (Frank Catalano, 2006)
  • GMG (GMG, 2008)
  • Radio Over Miles (Greg Spero, 2010)
  • Frank Russell (Frank Russell, 2011)
  • Acoustic (Greg Spero, 2011)
  • Electric (Greg Spero, 2014)

References

  1. ^ Ephland, John (25 April 2018). "Greg Spero Commands a Multitude of Styles". DownBeat Magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ^ Fragassi, Selena (19 March 2018). "After Halsey tour, Highland Park musician stretches out with Spirit Fingers". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Highland Park Native creates his Own Place in Music Scene". www.hplandmark.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "After Halsey tour, Highland Park musician stretches out with Spirit Fingers". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  5. ^ "Interview: Pianist Greg Spero On 'SPIRIT FINGERS' + Album Debut Stream". Okayplayer. 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  6. ^ Stories, Local. "Meet Greg Spero, a Jazz Musician - Voyage Chicago | Chicago City Guide". Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  7. ^ a b http://revivalist.okayplayer.com/2011/12/07/greg-spero-greater-than-you-can-hear/
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