Chris Rutkowski

Jazz pianist Chris Rutkowski has enjoyed several careers over a lifetime in music. Beginning as a self-taught improviser, he digressed into the study of philosophy at Kings College London. He returned to Detroit, immersed in its rich jazz world, working with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, The Temptations, etc. He also began writing classical music, studying with Aaron Copland student Anthony Iannaccone, subsequently pursuing graduate work at Indiana University. There followed a 20-year period of academic musical appointments at institutions such as the College of Wooster and Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. Currently he devotes his time to jazz piano performance with his band, the Project (watch/listen at CRPJazz.com), focused on his original compositions. Performance venues include the Detroit, Elkhart, Indianapolis and Carmel Jazz Festivals; the Jazz Kitchen, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (Detroit), the Chatterbox, Penrod Art Fair, Concerts on the Canal (Indianapolis) and many more.