Composer-pianist Bijan Taghavi, from California, performs and teaches in New York and Michigan. As a leader, the Bijan Taghavi Trio toured Japan in December 2018, including performances at Urayasu Concert Hall in Chiba, Live House ENN in Sendai, Live House ROXX in Aamori, and Nogata Kumin Hall in Tokyo. Bijan also leads a Duo Series at the National Arts Club in NYC, where he has performed concerts with Dick Oatts, Rich Perry, Jay Anderson, Ulysses Owens Jr., Roxy Coss, Giveton Gelin, and Kiyoshi Kitagawa.
As a collaborator, Bijan has worked with Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon, Ron Carter, Stefon Harris, and performed Coltrane’s A Love Supreme with Joe Lovano at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Bijan has also performed at venues such as: Blue Note Amsterdam, Beacon Theatre, 55 Bar, Apollo Theatre and Minton’s Playhouse Harlem. A sought-after composer and arranger, Bijan has written works for studio orchestra, big band, string quartet, and performed his original music at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency.
Alongside a busy performing career, Bijan is an Adjunct Professor of Jazz Piano at Hillsdale College. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bijan launched his unique Personalized Video Correspondence Lessons and was a guest panelist for “Hearin’ The Changes”, Luther Hughes’ weekly masterclass at California State University, Fullerton. Bijan has taught classes in Beginning Improvisation and Advanced Musicianship at Michigan State University and is also an educator for JazzPianoSchool.com. Classically-trained under the mentorship of Robert Estrin, Bijan studied the monumental classical piano works and performed as a soloist with the South Coast Symphony.
A recipient of the Presser Foundation Scholarship, Bijan is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and Michigan State University and has studied with Phil Markowitz, Fred Hersch, and Xavier Davis. www.BijanJazz.com