Biography
Pianist, keyboard player and composer Jeff Sawyer has been a staple on the upstate New York music scene for years. He has had numerous recording sessions and appearances as a solo musician as well as a keyboardist for various pop and country acts. Sawyer has seven solo albums to his credit, including his latest release “Journey Home”, which has been received with much critical acclaim.
Sawyer’s six other albums, “Without Shores”, “The Wellspring Within”, “Celebrating the Holiday Season”, “Sawyer Plays The Standards”, “Country Classics”, “Inspirations” and his new CD “Journey Home” consist of recordings that feature mostly solo piano, or piano with some additional instrumentation and orchestration. These albums show a compelling musician; one who has spent over three decades both in the studio writing, producing and engineering, as well as on the stage. All seven albums were written, recorded and produced in Sawyer’s studio,
Blue Island Studios of which he owns and operates since 1992. Sawyers past musical endeavors are greatly varied. He has had the pleasure of entertaining well known people such as President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Frank McCourt, Al Roker, accompanying Golden Globe winner, Brian Dennehy jazz vocalist Karen Oberlin, Nancy Kelly and many others.
Sawyer has also spent time as musical director and pianist for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and American Hawaii Cruise Lines. He has played keyboards for Rocker Todd Hobin, Country sensations Chasen Powell and Ciara Lynn and Nationally recognized Jazz group ESP. Sawyer has been part of bands that have shared the stage with artists Johnny Cash, Toby Keith, Kansas, Trace Adkins, Peter Tork, Survivor, Steppenwolf and many others.
In addition to performing, Sawyer has co-written over 30 songs for various children’s shows on the Learning Channel and PBS Network. Have also written original pieces being used by publishing companies in Los Angeles and England.
The Sawyers and their four children have spent the last several years living in the beautiful scenic Upstate New York right on the shore of Lake Ontario. “Being able to interpret the music from the natural settings of this incredible area and interpret it into music as I heard it in my head is a great experience.” A graduate of Syracuse University Master’s program, Sawyer currently works in music education, an adjunct professor as well as continues to tour and perform numerous engagements a year.