Music Style Jazz

Musical Influences His major influences are Egberto Gismonti, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius and Antonio Carlos Jobim, his style being likened to the late Bill Evans.

Similar Artists Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans.

Artist History "In an age when many musicians seem intent on pulping the aural capabilities and the senses of their audiences, it is more than passing pleasant to be able to listen, be able to hear, without feeling that sensibilities are threatened.""It is refreshing to find a musician who uses acoustic sounds to awaken our senses and emotions and whose moving performances call for the listener to listen."A gifted child prodigy, Bill commenced piano at age 3, and was the youngest student to study piano at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music (Australia), playing 7th Grade pieces by the time he was 6 years old. At age 7, he received a four year private scholarship to study piano under Albert Landa, and after high school, completed an Associate Diploma in Jazz Studies with Merit in 1987.By the time he was 15, he had already performed in Bartok Festivals, Piano Competitions, Leonard Bernstein's "Mass", and Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" as solo pianist as well as gigs around town with the "pop" bands of the moment.And he had also started to sneak into famed music spots in Sydney such as the Basement to check out the music scene he would soon be a major force in. Here also began a romance with the Bass Guitar which, if he's given the chance, will play at the same time as the piano! (You have to see it to believe it!)Shortly after his studies, he founded the group "The Storytellers" which used to play a combination of Bill's original material and electric jazz covers (Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny) - the 4 piece group playing live gigs as well as many Gospel music festivals around Australia. A developing interest in Gospel Music led him, at 21, to study theology full time for a period of two years, whilst working weekends as Music Director at Wollongong Church of Christ. He went on to work with some on the huge names in the international Gospel music scene such as Multi Grammy Winner, Andrae Crouch, Ron Kenoly and Dr Anton Armstrong (Director of St. Olaf's Gospel Choir, Minnesota, USA). As a result, though no longer an active member of the Church, Bill plays a mean Gospel Piano to rival the best.

Instruments Piano & Bass

Albums "STORIES" "SUCH LOVE & SORROW" "FALLING FROM GRACE""BILL RISBY TRIO - LIVE IN SYDNEY" "THE PAINTER & THE BIRD"

Press Reviews A reviewer captured him best by saying, "Risby is blessed with beautiful touch on the keyboard, no doubt helped by the fact that he has been playing since the age of 3. Tothe technique and touch is added a glorious sense of shape and colour, and a musical personality that is exuberant, warm, self-effacing and impassioned."

Location Sydney, NSW - Australia

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