Kentucky-born pianist Jon Cowherd studied jazz piano and improvisation under the great Ellis Marsalis at Loyola University in New Orleans. He is best known as a core member of the Brian Blade Fellowship, contributing to landmark recordings including Season of Changes and Mama Rosa on Verve Records. As a producer, Cowherd has helmed albums for Lizz Wright and Alyssa Graham. His debut album as a leader, Mercy, released in 2013 on ArtistShare, features Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Bill Frisell, and was praised as a masterclass in musical connection, conception, and warmth.

BIO

Cowherd was born and raised in Kentucky. Born to a trombone player (father) and classically trained violinist (mother), both of whom were also educators, Cowherd began piano lessons at the age of five and trumpet and violin lessons at ten years of age. Cowherd began music at an early age singing, playing the piano, French horn and violin. He moved to New Orleans to attend Loyola University, where he studied jazz piano and improvisation under Ellis Marsalis, John Mahoney, and Steve Masakowski.

The Brian Blade Fellowship album Season of Changes was released around 2008. Cowherd also worked with Brian Blade in his debut singer-songwriter album Mama Rosa, which was released in 2009 on Verve Records. As a producer, Cowherd has overseen albums by Lizz Wright, Alyssa Graham and The Local NYC. Cowherd’s debut album as a leader, Mercy, was released in 2013 on ArtistShare.

It features Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Bill Frisell. Reviewing the album for allaboutjazz, John Kelman wrote: “With music this well-conceived and a band so telepathically connected, it may have taken Cowherd a long time to release an album under his own name, but with Mercy as the result, it’s been well worth the wait; hopefully there won’t be such a long one for the follow-up.”