Earl Zindars (September 25, 1927 – August 15, 2005) was an American composer of jazz and classical music.
Biography
Trained as a classical and jazz percussionist, Zindars went on to compose works for both orchestra and piano. Many of his jazz piano works were recorded by his friend Bill Evans.
Pianist Bill Cunliffe brought out a CD entitled How My Heart Sings, dedicating it exclusively to the music of Zindars. Cunliffe described Zindars' contribution:He (Zindars) was an interesting composer in that he was one of the first, along with Brubeck, to write songs where the time signature changes. For example, on 'How My Heart Sings,' the first part of the song is in a waltz feel, but the middle part of the tune is in a 4/4, medium, swing jazz feel. That was very, very innovative for the fifties. Very few guys were doing that. His music is very interesting harmonically as well and he has a really strong melodic sense. He's a very good composer.
Zindars appeared on KCSM's Desert Island Jazz program in 2003.
He released two Compact Discs with his compositions: “The Return” and “And Then Some”. They were limited releases but featured local pianists (Don Haas and Larry Dunlap).
"Zindars, who expressed himself more through his music than words, composed his final composition less than a month" before dying; "it was called 'Roses for Annig' and was dedicated to his wife of 43 years."
He died of cancer in San Francisco at the age of 77.
References
External links
Zindars.com
Letter From Evans- Hinkle, Win. 1993. Please see pages 18–21 for extensive interview with Earl Zindars.
