A third-generation pianist, Jennifer grew up in a musical family and began playing piano as far back as she can remember. Her mother is a vocalist and piano player whose musical abilities landed her a spot in the Miss America pageant (Miss West Virginia 1955) and later, gigs in New York City. Whereas her siblings took up other instruments, her great-aunt was an accomplished banjo player, and her great-grandmother played a mean harmonica, Jennifer went straight to the piano and never looked back.
Jennifer was exposed to great music via the Bay Area community where she grew up and as a teenager, got to hear live jazz in San Francisco nightclubs. Jennifer’s exposure to different musical styles from around the world has further influenced her playing.
Originally trained as a classical musician, Jennifer attended Northwestern University’s School of Music for a year before branching out on her own. She has also studied with jazz pianist Peter Horvath and pianist/bandleader Chris Siebert of The Lavay Smith Band, among others.
Jennifer has appeared at venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to playing conventional gigs, she also takes her music to the streets on a custom-built keyboard tricycle.
Check out Jennifer’s calendar for a list of upcoming gigs or contact Jennifer for more information.