Cocktail & Restaurant Piano

Endorsements

"Jonathan has been my first call pianist for over 10 years. He knows how to read a room and create a musical atmosphere that is perfectly tuned to my customers".
Karen Mannarelli, Banquet Director and General Manager
F.illi Ponte Restaurant

"Jonathan and his bands are a must-have for many of our private events. He is the consummate entertainment professional.
Mike Clifford, President
Clifford Public Relations

"Jonathan makes elegant, festive music that is the Essence of New York".
Rachael Dworski, President
Connections Unlimited

Audio Clips

You need the latest Flash player to listen to these audio clips.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Bio and Clients

Jonathan began playing piano at the age of 6 and played his first professional gig at the age of 16. While still in high school, Jonathan was making a living as a pianist playing 5 nights a week in local jazz and society bands. He attended the Eastman School of Music Summer Jazz Studies programs where he met many of the musicians he still plays with today. While attending Cornell, Jonathan led a student initiative to revitalize the Cornell Jazz Ensemble recruiting legendary John La Barbera (Buddy Rich composer/arranger) as conductor. Since moving to New York City in 1994, Jonathan and his bands have played hundreds of long-term engagements and special events for some of the world's most discriminating clients. These include:

  • American Express
  • Crate and Barrel
  • Clifford Public Relations
  • Senator Al D'Amato
  • Fendi
  • Steve Forbes
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Four Seasons Hotel
  • Tavern on the Green
  • J.P. Morgan
  • King Hussein I of Jordan
  • Pino Luongo
  • Martha Stewart
  • Mayor Mike Bloomberg
  • The Metropolitan Opera
  • New York Design Center
  • The New Yorker
  • Oracle Corporation
  • Philip Morris
  • Plaza Hotel
  • Plaza Athenee
  • Priscilla Presley
  • Prudential Financial
  • Windows on the World
  • Volkswagen

Bands of All Sizes

Jonathan Pytell maintains a pool of top jazz talent from which he can put together many different band configurations including:

  • Cocktail solo piano
  • Duo
  • Trio with drums
  • Trio no drums
  • Horn quartet
  • Mini bigband w/ singer