Jed Distler |
23.10.2025

Composer/pianist and Steinway Artist Jed Distler gained acclaim early in his career for transcribing jazz piano solos by Art Tatum and Bill Evans. As a pianist championing new music, his recitals have offered premiers of works by Virgil Thomson, Richard Rodney Bennett, Frederic Rzewski, Alvin Curran, Lois V Vierk and many more. His master classes, lecture/demonstrations and work as a sought-after adjudicator have taken him across the United States and throughout Europe.

Distler’s presenting organization ComposersCollaborative, Inc earned a Guinness Record for world’s largest keyboard ensemble, featuring his works for 175 electronic keyboards. In 2021 Distler embarked on a multi-year project performing all of Mahler’s Symphonies in four-hand arrangements with pianists around the globe. He currently is composing 1, 827 Bagatelles for the 2027 Beethoven anniversary year.

Distler has recorded prolifically for the highresolution Steinway Spirio player piano, while TNC Music released Distler’s solo piano CD “Fearless Monk.” (available from Bandcamp). His 2025 fall tour includes recitals and master classes in the UK, Finland, Poland and Italy.

As Artist-in-Residence for WWFM.Org the Classical Network, Distler is the creator, host and producer of the 2017 ASCAP Deems Taylor Virgil Thomson Award radio program Between the Keys. He also hosts The Piano Maven, a friendly podcast guide to piano recordings, and will be a television commentator during the 19th International Chopin Competition in October 2025.

Distler contributes reviews and articles to Gramophone and Classicstoday.com and has written numerous CD booklet notes for Sony/BMG and Universal Classics.