Lisbon, Portugal 2017
Frank Ponzio is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and teacher. He has performed and collaborated with a variety of well-known artists, including Ben Vereen, David Amram, Phil Donahue, Jacques d’Amboise, Joe Beck, Nancy LaMott, Baby Jane Dexter, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, Rosemary Loar, and Aisha Morris (Stevie Wonder's daughter).
He performs solo concerts and leads his own bands at the legendary Birdland, the Metropolitan Room, The Museum of Modern Art, Trinity Church, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Town Hall. As a music director, composer, and arranger, Frank has worked on numerous productions, including shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden.
"What I appreciate most about Frank Ponzio is his genuine sincerity towards and "across the footlights" connection with his audience. …. his rapport with the audience is a key aspect of the total performance .... He warmly invites his audience to enter his world and experience the same passion for the music that he personifies." Lawrence J. Knowles, Ph.D., Director of Arts, John Addison Concert Hall, Fort Washington, MD.
CD releases include A Song About Forever with The Kurt Weill Project, When Harry Met the Duke, featuring the vocalist Rosemary Loar, Mostly Jobim, featuring the vocalist Annie Kozuch, Christmas Christmas with bassist, Mark Peterson and drummer Matt Kane and Danielia Cotton’s, The Mystery of Me. Recently Frank has co-written songs with Eleanor Dubinsky and performed on and co-produced her new CD, Soft Spot, recorded in Lisbon, Portugal.
Gigging again! Please see the Calendar Page!
Having a great time playing Domaine Bar A Vins on Mondays with Rich Rosenzweig, Drums and Pete Donovan, bass.
It’s a very relaxed place with food, drink and sound.
It’s great playing with these musicians/friends.
no cover. Long Island City
7 Train To Vernon Jackson - 1st stop out of Manhattan
Here’s some Blue Monk to groove on—>
with special guests Tom Hubbard, bass & Vito Lesczak, drums.
The Song, Remember Me has been making a hopeful noise for 3 years now. Please see Special Project page for more details.
read and hear…Journal of Gospel Music Song of the week
with Eleanor Dubinsky and band Turn It Around live at the #MYWTC Summer Concert Series in Lower Manhattan, NYC September 13, 2018 Turn It Around is by Eleanor Dubinsky and Frank Ponzio Eleanor Dubinsky: lead vocals Maggie Collier: backing vocals Abena Malika: backing vocals Wesley Amorim: guitar Frank Ponzio: keyboard Benhur Oliveira: drums Arei Sekiguchi: percussion Michael O'Brien: bass
‘let the roadies take the stage’
Happy to be working and writing with Danielia Cotton
New York Times Original Song Mention. Song written by Danielia Cotton (mostly) and Frank Ponzio.
By Jon Pareles, NY Times.
Quote from a week of Solo performances in Paris, France
”Thank you for an absolutely magical night. Frank is extraordinary. He is a musician that achieves the seemingly impossible: he brings his own beautiful spirit into music. We loved hearing him play and loved also hearing him speak - with such knowledge, depth, but also with kindness, generosity and humility”
Part of a new review from a performance with the vocalist Rosemary Loar, bassist Tom Hubbard and drummer, Vito Leszcak.
"The highlight of the evening is Frank Ponzio's trenchant, imaginative arrangement of "Cold" (Annie Lennox). We begin with understated piano, bowed bass, patted drum and shivering cymbal. Vocal arrives pained, yet satiny. Eyes close, one arm floats, palm up. It's a visceral, in-tune wail, advancing and retreating. Music gradually swells becoming lush. Feels like standing under a waterfall of sound. Then, aria da capo, piano drops back, bass thrums, drum tiptoes out (leaving footprints), vocal echoes. From the inside out, Loar stakes a worthy claim on the material."
Alix Cohen Broadwayworld.com April 15, 2016
Opening Song from a recent Solo Piano Concert at St. Michael's Church, NYC. St. Louis Blues.
Video by Roberta Berman
Performing Sting's, Until.
St. Michael's Church jan, 2017, NYC
Video by Roberta Berman
Another wonderful project with Roberta Berman!
Video: Whisper Not
At the West End Lounge
with Kathyrn Allyn, vocals
Tom Hubbard, bass & Vito Lesczak, drums