Dr. Zachary Bartholomew is an award-winning pianist, composer, and music educator who maintains a highly active performance career as one of the most heavily sought-after pianists, accompanists, and sidemen in all of Florida. In both 2016 and 2017, he placed as one of the top three finalists in the highly acclaimed Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and every year since 2021 has been awarded the prestigious “Artist Performance on Tour” grant from the state of Florida for his “Jazz Access Tour,” an outreach program that aims to provide underserved communities and schools in Florida with world-class public performances and educational programs.
Zach has headlined at some of the top jazz venues and performing arts centers in the country and has been featured at national and international jazz festivals including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Jalisco Jazz Festival, and Festival Miami. He has performed with artists such as Sean Jones, Victor Goines, Dave Holland, David Liebman, Ira Sullivan, Carmen Bradford, Byron Stripling, and Dan Miller. He is a full-time music professor at Florida Memorial University, the pianist for the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, and performs regularly with professional organizations such as the Sarasota Pops Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, and the Lake Wales Jazz Connection. Additionally, he is a Resident Artist at Arts Bonita in Bonita Springs, FL where he presents a monthly jazz concert series that features musicians from all over the country. His debut album, Balancing Act, made both the JazzWeek and NACC Jazz Charts within its first week of release in August 2024 and continues to receive positive accolades from journalists and music critics from around the world.
Press Quotes/Reviews:
“Bartholomew’s quintet really cooks… the music practically explodes out of your speakers. Bartholomew’s style on piano is energetic. The music is truly interesting, never lacking in invention or surprises. Highly recommended!”
– The Art Music Lounge by Lynn Rene Bayley
“Bartholomew brings bold individuality to this project and an ensemble of musicians that support his composer skills with inventiveness and energy. When Bartholomew takes his solo, he improvises wildly on piano before pulling open the curtains to showcase Zuniga on solo drums… the song establishes Bartholomew as an excellent composer and arranger.”
“It’s not always easy to balance one’s life, but Dr. Zachary Bartholomew seems to be doing a fine job, as reflected on this newly released album.”
– Making a Scene by Dee Dee McNeil
“There’s a dollop or two of Brubeck in the mix and I suspect that had they ever met, I think there would have been plenty of mutual respect. Well worth checking out.”
– Bebop Spoken Here by Lance Liddle
“Balancing Act by pianist/composer Zachary Bartholomew is a dazzlingly eclectic, ultra-adventurous debut. The soulful, improv-rich sparks he creates is only part of the magical spell. The pianist and his crew are also master storytellers, creating musical expressions and illustrations from visual concepts and themes.”
– JW Vibe by Jonathan Widran
Links:
- Website: https://www.zacharybartholomew.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/zachbartholomew
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachbartholomewmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zbjazz
- Music: https://www.zacharybartholomew.com/music
