Laura Caviani - Jazz Pianist and Composer, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Laura performing with Dennis Marks
(bass) and Danny Gottlieb (drums, not pictured) at the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition in May, '10, where she was
one of five finalists.

Laura Caviani has performed and recorded for over 15 years. The Minneapolis Star Tribune hailed her debut CD, Dreamlife as "...in a word, outstanding". Marian McPartland called it "...sparkling and inventive". Her second release, As One, was touted as "stunningly fresh" by Jazz Times. Her holiday album, Angels We Haven't Heard, was considered "this season's finest new jazz cd of holiday music" by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Star Tribune claimed her solo release, In Your Own Sweet Way was, "...poised right where the salon meets the saloon, with as much spunk as serenity." Going There, her fifth recording as a leader, is already receiving wide praise. Bob Protzman, Downbeat Contributor and WQLN-FM host called it "...piano trio jazz of the highest order."

As a sideman, Ms. Caviani has recorded and toured with the 2002 Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson (Concord Records) whose band, according to the Wall Street Journal, "...could waltz into any New York nightclub and tear up the joint...". Ms. Caviani has shared the stage with other greats as Toots Theilemans, Bob Mintzer, and Dave Liebman. Locally, she has recorded with numerous musicians, including Pete Whitman's Quintet and Xtet, and the jazz orchestra JazzMN, all on the

from left to right:
Tom Lewis, Karrin Allyson,
Phil Hey, and Laura

Artegra label. She has also recorded with Twin Cities jazz vocal greats: Lucia Newell, Prudence Johnson, and Voice Trek.

In '97, Caviani received a grant from the Atlantic Center for the Arts to study with renowned pianist and composer JoAnne Brackeen. The following year, she was selected to study in Japan at the Akiyoshidai International Art Village.

As a composer, her commissions include numerous works for jazz ensembles and smaller jazz combos (some of which are currently available through Increase Music and Really Good Music) as well as orchestral works for both the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra.

Laura with bassist Gordy Johnson after MMTA concert. 6/5/07

Laura at the Artists' Quarter in downtown St. Paul, conducting Pete Whitman's Xtet (Sax Man Dave Karr also pictured) photo by Howard Gitelson

Caviani has both a bachelors of music in Composition from Lawrence University, and a masters of music in Improvisation from The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She has taught at a number of schools, including St. John's University, the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, The University of St. Thomas, and many middle schools in Minneapolis through the "Harman How to Listen Program", an outreach program co-founded by Wynton Marsalis. Currently, she is on faculty at both Carleton College and St. Olaf College, both located in Northfield, MN.

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Laura jamming with Shell Lake Highschool Junior Annie Dunham at their annual Cabaret Fundraiser (Feb 08) - photo by Tom Cusick	from left to right: Randy Sabien, Rebecca Patek and Wendy Tangen-Foster on violin, Gary Raynor on bass, Peter Johnson on drums and Jim Ouska on guitar. Photo taken by Mrs.Nila Ouska

Laura at the Shell Lake Art Center's annual Up North Jazz Festival (Feb 08) - photo by Tom Cusick	Laura Caviani and Dr. Billy Taylor, following a workshop he gave on Feb. 16, 2009 (fellow workshop participants Lois Schadewald and Frank Jesse, in background) Photo taken by Pamela Espeland

Laura and Karrin Allyson	Laura with Gordy Johnson (bass) and Phil Hey (drums) at the Bloomington Center for Arts, performing their tribute to Alec Wilder on Feb. 20, 2011. (picture by Don Jackson)