James Gelfand

James Gelfand (born April 3, 1959) is a Canadian jazz pianist who has written scores for film and television.

Early life Gelfand was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada into a large Jewish family. He is the great-grandson of Jacob Pascal, founder of J. Pascal's Hardware and Furniture. He is married with two children.

He began classical piano training at the age of four. During his teens, Gelfand diverged into jazz and other styles. Performing and competing at jazz festivals throughout North America and Europe, he has won a number of prestigious awards.

Professional career Gelfand recorded a number of cross-over albums combining jazz and classical styles. He has performed on over 40 albums, with 8 under his own name. During his earlier career, he established The James Gelfand Trio and The James Gelfand Group.

With his ability to compose in various styles such as techno, orchestral, folk, and jazz, Gelfand began writing score for film and television. He has composed the music for over 30 films and 300 television broadcasts.

Discography As leader or co-leader Neverland (CBC Records, 1988) Time Zones (Silence Records, 1996) Setting the Standard with Michel Donato (Unidisc, 1996) Children's Standards +1+2+3 (Lost Chart, 1998) Mother Tree (Effendi, 2002) Convergence (Unidisc, 2003) Exploding Sun (Kronos/Moviescore, 2013) Ground Midnight (Analekta, 2018)

As sideman or guest With Michel Donato 1997 Live 2003 Setting the Standard Vol. 2

With Sylvain Gagnon 1991 Crepuscule 1997 Readers of the Lost Chart

With Jean-Pierre Zanella 1995 Caminho 1997 Mystic Infancy 1999 Puzzle City 2006 Villa-Lobos-Jobim

With others 1994 Hymn to the Earth, Sonny Greenwich 1995 Rhythm 'n' Jazz, Alain Caron 1996 Welcome: Mother Earth, Meantime 1998 A Time for Love, Charito 1998 Marin Nasturica & Friends, Marin Nasturica 1998 Tricycle, Helmut Lipsky 2000 Arthur's Perfect Christmas, Arthur 2001 Arthur's Really Rockin' Music Mix, Arthur & Friends

Film and television

Sous un Ciel Variable – 1995 Virginie - 1996 Max the Cat - 1996 Investigating Tarzan - 1997 Kit & Kaboodle - 1998 The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures - 1998 Journey to the West – Legends of the Monkey King - 1999 (English version) Are You Afraid of the Dark? - 1999-2000 The Orphan Muses (Les Muses orphelines) - 2000 A Miss Mallard Mystery - 2000 Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat - 2001 Wicked Minds - 2002 Deadly Betrayal - 2002 The Rendering - 2002 Scent of Danger - 2002 Silent Night - 2002 Student Seduction - 2003 Wicked Minds - 2003 Wall of Secrets - 2003 The Clinic - 2004 Jack Paradise: Montreal by Night (Jack Paradise : Les nuits de Montréal) - 2004 Fries with That? - 2004 Pinocchio 3000 - 2004 Baby for Sale - 2004 False Pretenses - 2004 Crimes of Passion - 2005 Lies and Deception - 2005 Forbidden Secrets - 2005 Swarmed - 2005 Flirting with Danger - 2006 Black Widower - 2006 Proof of Lies - 2006 Thrill of the Kill - 2006 Mind Over Murder - 2006 Legacy of Fear - 2006 Doctor*ology - 2007 Housesitter - 2007 Blind Trust - 2007 A Life Interrupted - 2007 St. Urbain's Horseman - 2007 The Double Life of Eleanor Kendall - 2008 Swamp Devil - 2008 Secrets of the Summer House - 2008 An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving - 2008 Crusoe - 2009 The Christmas Choir - 2008 Hidden Crimes - 2009 Final Verdict - 2009 High Plains Invaders - 2009 Killer Hair - 2009 Perfect Plan - 2010 The Night Before the Night Before Christmas - 2010 The Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog - 2010 Web of Lies - 2009 High Plains Invaders - 2009 Naked Science - 2008-2009 Hostile Makeover - 2009 Cyberbully - 2011 Desperately Seeking Santa - 2011 Bullet in the Face - 2012 Northpole - 2014

Awards and honours 1989 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition - Performed in Washington, DC in semifinals 1991 2nd Place The Great American Jazz Piano Competition Jacksonville Jazz Festival - International Competition 1992 ADISQ nomination - Arranger of the Year - Children's Standards 1992 Winner of the Montreal International Jazz Festival Competition (James Gelfand Trio) 1995 Juno Award - Best Contemporary Jazz Album - The Merlin Factor 1997 Juno nomination - Best Contemporary Jazz Album - Time Zones (James Gelfand Group) 1997 Keyboardist of the Year - Jazz Report Magazine Awards 1998 Keyboardist of the Year - Jazz Report Magazine Awards 1999 Keyboardist of the Year - Jazz Report Magazine Awards 2000 Keyboardist of the Year - Jazz Report Magazine Awards 2001 Jutra Award - Best Original Score - Les Muses Orphelines 2003 Gemini Award nomination - Best Dramatic Score - Silent Night 2005 Jutra nomination - Best Music - Jack Paradise (Les nuits de Montréal) 2005 SOCAN Award - International Television Series Music Award 2006 SOCAN Award - International Television Series Music Award 2007 SOCAN Award - International Film Series Music Award 2008 Gemini Award nomination - Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV Movie - St. Urbain's Horseman