John Beasley, the one-time keyboardist for Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, whose playing reflects a variety of generational influences,  incorporating the emphatic chordal clusters of Herbie Hancock, the rhythmic quirkiness of Monk and the lush intelligence of Art Tatum  into a highly refined personal voice.”

— Los Angeles Times

Pianist, composer, and arranger, John Beasley’s career brims with accomplishments that bridge musical and visual media. An uncommonly versatile pianist, he backed jazz icons Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard in his 20s. Since then, he has performed with Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Chaka Khan, Kenny Garrett, Stanley Clarke. He even performed one concert with James Brown reviving Brown’s Soul on Top big band music. Beasley’s extensive work as a composer and arranger extends far beyond jazz, with numerous credits in television and film, including blockbuster movies scored by 15x Oscar nominee Thomas Newman. His 20+ recordings have earned him 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 12 nominations, 2 Latin Grammy nominations, and an Emmy nod.

His vision and musical insight have brought him to the podium as Music director (MD) for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz since 2011, where he directs the annual global “International Jazz Day” concerts and competition galas. The 2016 Jazz at the White House gala hosted by President Obama earned Beasley an Emmy nomination for “Best Musical Direction.” He honed his craft as MD with Steely Dan, Queen Latifah, AR Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), and Chucho Valdés “La Creación” tour. Beasley relied on his MD instincts when directing various TV singing competitions, including Duets (Kelly Clarkson/John Legend) and as Assoc MD for American Idol, where he contributed to Carrie Underwood’s win. He then spent a decade working as Lead Arranger for American Idol and The Tonight Show with MD Rickey Minor.