Now residing in Los Angeles, John Gentry Tennyson has embraced a new musical chapter of his life. In the past year, he has been the 2009 recipient of the NEA Grant, Challenge America, served as Musical Director and Conductor for the new Broadway-bound musical, The First Wives Club under the direction of Francesca Zambello, co-written music for two new musicals and was offered the position of Musical Director for Cirque du Soleil’s most challenging touring show, Corteo. Tennyson is now fully committed to new opportunities composing music for TV and Film in Los Angeles.
Originally from Houston, Texas, Tennyson established himself in New York and began developing his own sound. He began composing original music that culminated in his first piano trio recording, John Tennyson's, Real World Trio, featuring guest artists, Randy Brecker and Dewey Redman. Following this release, Tennyson was signed as a solo artist with Angel/EMI Records by Bruce Lundvall and recorded his cross-over release of neo-classical originals, Europa. Subsequent albums include the Euro-release, Tennyson & Keiser-PopJazz, with bassist/partner, Peter Keiser, resulting in four tours and numerous concerts in the European jazz festival circuit. As well, two of Tennyson & Keiser’s originals were covered by the legendary drummer, Billy Cobham and his band. Currently, a Latin-jazz piano trio CD of several new Tennyson originals and re-worked standards entitled, Mi Rojita, is in progress.
During Tennyson’s New York tenure as local jazz mainstay, Les Paul learned of Tennyson and he became a featured performer with Les at the Iridium Jazz Club for seven years. The list of artists after that gig grew to include many jazz legends such as, Mel Lewis, Grady Tate, Joe Morello, Buddy Williams, Jeff Hirshfield, Terry Silverlight, Gerry Brown, Joel Rosenblatt, Munyungo Jackson, Bucky Pizarelli, Howard Alden, Monty Alexander, Dewey Redman, Frank Foster, J.J. Johnson, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Stanton Davis, Les Paul, Al Di Meola, Hiram Bullock, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Rodney Jones, Chuck Loeb, Mark O’Connor, Mark Feldman, Todd Reynolds, Todd Coolman, Chip Jackson, Will Lee, Chuck Rainey, Kermit Driscoll, Lonnie Plaxico, Marc Johnson, Eddie Gomez and John Patitucci.
In the past few years, Tennyson has branched out to other endeavors on Broadway in musical theater. Tennyson has worked extensively as Musical Director and Associate Conductor for Broadway Directors; Francesca Zambello in The First Wives Club, George C. Wolfe in Harlem Song at the Apollo Theatre, Andre De Shields in Harlem Nocturne, George Faison in the Monte-Carlo Starshow, Otis Sallid in Jazzical, for the Los Angeles African American opera company, Opera Noir and for the Radio City Rockettes in the annual Christmas Show.
Other credits include, Musical Director for Grammy Award-winning vocalists Sophie B. Hawkins, Mary Fahl, Jennifer Holliday, BJ Crosby, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Queen Esther, Antonia Bennett and in various musical capacities for Diana Ross, Sarah Brightman, Liza Minelli, Nelson Riddle, Martika, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Maurice White, Freddie Jackson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Holland, Dozier & Holland, Tom Wopat, Ray Price, Sam Harris, Karen Ziemba, Barbara Walsh, Brian Lane Green, Natalie Toro, Sean McDermott and David Burnham to name a few.