John Beasley in Toronto

John Beasley is an American jazz pianist, composer and arranger, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1960. He plays modern jazz shaped by post-bop, fusion and big-band writing. His best-known project is MONK’estra, a large ensemble that reworks the music of Thelonious Monk; his own albums also include Letter to Herbie and Positootly!. In the late 1980s, John Beasley toured as a keyboardist with Miles Davis and also performed with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. He later led MONK’estra in concert and repeatedly served as musical director and arranger for the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert, including performances at the White House and Gran Teatro de La Habana.