Liz Story

Wikipedia:

Liz Story (born on October 28, 1956) is an American multiple Grammy Award nominee pianist and composer. She was born in San Diego, California.

Story began her musical training as a young child, mastering Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 11 by the age of 11. After studying at Juilliard School and Hunter College, she attended a performance of the jazz pianist Bill Evans at the Bottom Line in New York City. As a result, she decided to learn jazz piano and became a student of Sanford Gold, whom Evans recommended.

After moving back to Southern California from New York City, she studied at the Dick Grove Music Workshops in Studio City. During her studies, she took a job playing piano in a restaurant and was thrust suddenly into improvisations when the piano had no music stand. Over several months these improvisations developed into compositions. When Windham Hill’s William Ackerman heard a tape of these, he signed her to record her debut album, Solid Colors.

In the 1980s, Story emerged as a prominent figure in new age music while frequently touring the United States, and as a recording artist at Windham Hill Records and RCA Novus Records. She is one of the foremost pioneers of contemporary solo piano. Her musical style defies traditional description, and her works cross many musical genres.

Liz Story uses Steinway pianos exclusively.

Two of Story's compositions, "Wedding Rain" and "Things With Wings" have been covered by the solo pianist Isadar. He also based a "Greensleeves" arrangement (as a homage) on Story's original version which appeared on Windham Hill's compilation, A Winter's Solstice (1986).