| Earl Zindars | |
| Birth Date: | September 25, 1927 |
| Death Place: | San Francisco, California |
| Origin: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genre: | Jazz, classical |
| Occupation: | Composer |
Earl Zindars (September 25, 1927 – August 15, 2005) was an American composer of jazz and classical music.
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, including "Elsa" (1961), "How My Heart Sings" (1962), "Mother of Earl" (1968), "Sareen Jurer" (1974), and "Quiet Light" (1977). Evans and Zindars had met while both of them were serving in the military during the Korean War and playing in military bands.[1]
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.[2]
Zindars appeared on KCSM's Desert Island Jazz program in 2003.[3]
He released two Compact Discs with his compositions: The Return and And Then Some. They were limited releases and 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."[4]
He died of cancer in San Francisco at the age of 77.[5]