Andru Dennis
Piano
Piano
Style:Jazz, Rock
Education:Tri-C Jazz Studies Program
Jackie Mclean Institute of Jazz – University of Hartford
Andru Dennis is a local Northeast Ohio pianist and composer born in North Canton. He is an alumnus of the Tri-c jazz studies program as well as the Jackie Mclean institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford. During his time at Tri-c he was fortunate to have studied with great Cleveland educators such as Jackie Warren, Joe Hunter, Ernie Krivda, Dave Sterner and Steve Enos and to have met, shared the stage with or performed for guests such as Helen Sung, Diego Figueiredo, Janis Siegel, Christian Mcbride, Dominick Farinacci, Terri Lyne Carrington, Amina Figarova, Peter Mazza, Terence Blanchard and more.
At the University of Hartford Andru likewise studied with great musicians and educators including Rick Germanson, Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Javon Jackson, Pete Woodard, Loren Schoenberg and Gabe Herman, and had the pleasure of meeting, performing for or sharing the stage with guests such as George Cables, Jack Dejohnette, Eddie Gomez, Bobby Broom, Donald Harrison, Wynton Marsalis, Mike Stern and more. Currently Andru is performing regularly around NE Ohio with various local musicians and groups of many genres, periodically travelling around the country performing, accompanying high school choirs in the area, and teaching piano.
Andru’s primary goals as an educator are to present music as a language and impart the joys of improvisation and informed listening to his students.