As a pianist, composer, bandleader and accompanist, Anne Sajdera is a creative force whose music encompasses an unusually far-flung array of traditions. With musical roots spanning the globe, she melds American and Brazilian jazz to her training in European classical music, creating an utterly personal sound that’s melodically verdant, harmonically sophisticated and rhythmically compelling.
A regular Bay Area presence since 2001, her trio depicts the unique flexibility of the piano trio format with virtuostic arrangements of Brazilian and American repertoire as well as original compositions. Co-produced by Ray Obiedo and released by Bijuri Records in 2012, her first CD project, Azul, highlights her exquisite touch, rhythmic acuity, and melodic resourcefulness. The project received a place on one of JAZZIZ Magazine’s 2012 Top Ten Critic’s Polls, Latin Jazz Corner’s Great Latin Jazz Albums from 2012 and features the legendary percussionist Airto Moreira, among others. With the dynamic rhythm section pair, Gary Brown (bass) & Deszon Claiborne (drums), the trio is currently performing in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Created from a chance meeting at a jazz club in Prague 2014, Anne Sajdera’s newest project, New Year, was released in November of 2018 and features two award-winning young composer/instrumentalists from Prague: Miroslav Hloucal (trumpet) & Jan Fečo (alto sax), a special guest
appearance by the renowned sax player Bob Mintzer, as well as some of the finest musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area. Produced by Ray Obiedo & released by Bijuri Records, DownBeat Magazine chose it for the December 2018 Editor’s Pick list and Jazz Station Blog included it in the 2018 Best Instrumental Jazz Albums list. The ensemble performs original compositions, driving arrangements of traditional Roma melodies, as well as music of modern jazz masters like Herbie Hancock & Kenny Kirkland – at times lyrical, at times angular, yet always rooted in the rhythm, this ensemble reveals a skillful and inspiring sound that reaches musically across two continents and several cultures.
A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, pianist/composer Anne Sajdera received a B.Mu. in Composition. She performs regularly in the Bay Area – as leader of her own ensembles and performing with other artists such as Alexa Weber Morales, Sandy Cressman and Terrence Brewer. She has performed in many of the Bay Area’s most frequented performance venues including the San Jose Jazz Festival (Alexa Weber Morales), Fillmore Jazz Festival (Sandy Cressman), The California Jazz Conservatory, Herbst Theater in San Francisco and the nationally recognized SFJAZZ (Terrence Brewer). She is also one of the 2018 InterMusic SF grant awardees.
