Kerry Politzer

Who is Kerry Politzer?

Kerry Politzer is a jazz pianist and composer with classical and Brazilian influences.

She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Charlie Banacos. She also attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, Tanglewood, Interlochen, Yellow Barn and the Banff Jazz Workshop. Her composition “Rhodes Rage” won Third Prize, Jazz Category in the 2005 International Songwriting Contest, while "Begin The Baiao" won Third Prize, Jazz Category in the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Song Competition and an Honorable Mention in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Politzer's debut CD, "Yearning", which received four stars from Allmusic, was released on the CAP Records label in 2001. The title track, "Yearning," is also featured on "Sax And The City: Musical Contributions From New York's Best Women Jazz Instrumentalists". She released two more CDs, “Watercolor” and “Labyrinth”, on her own Polisonic label; “Labyrinth” was a finalist for Best Jazz Album in the 2007 Independent Music Awards. She then took a musical detour, writing songs with lyrics, and released a fourth CD, "You Took Me In," in October 2007. This CD features Politzer on vocals and piano, as well as Tom Guarna on guitar, George Colligan on drums, Zach Brock on violin, and Lonnie Plaxico and Chris Higgins on bass. Politzer performed some of this new material at the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 62nd New Writers Showcase. In April 2010, Piloo Records released Politzer's fifth CD, "Blue in Blue," which is an instrumental jazz project featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin.