pianist and composer
Lisa Swerdlow
Lisa Swerdlow is a pianist and composer of classical crossover, neo-classical, and new age music. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she grew up surrounded by music thanks to her father’s love for playing piano, accordion, and mandolin. She began studying classical piano at six and was writing and performing by sixteen. After studying music theory and composition at Humboldt State University and College of the Redwoods, Lisa drew inspiration from composers such as Laura Nyro, Carole King, Keith Jarrett, and George Winston, shaping her unique and expressive style.
Her career began in the 1970s performing in Los Angeles coffee houses, later joining a San Francisco rock band and touring Northern California with the all-women salsa group Las Malandras. Over the years, she has released several albums and singles, including Equus Rising (2017), Voyager (2018), Lasting Impressions (2020), and the orchestral Coming to America Concerto (2021). Her album Through It All (2023) was inspired by her late wife’s courageous battle with cancer and reflects their 27-year love story. Lisa’s more recent works—Dancing Between Worlds and Book of Life Concerto—capture themes of grief, healing, resilience, and the shared human journey.
NEW ALBUM RELEASE BOOK OF LIFE CONCERTO
Latest Interview by David Fogel
Composers
Lisa Swerdlow & Doug Hammer.
Songbook
Albums Available
Available Now to Sample, Stream or Download
CONCERT EVENTS
COMING TO AMERICA CONCERTO
Received a Grammy® certificates for🌟 BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO PERFORMANCE
The first movement – the Russian klezmer-themed “Home of My Ancestors” – tells the tale of life in the Jewish ghettos and villages of late 19th and early 20th century Russia in a global music style.
EP RELEASE - 2021
The Concerto progresses to the second movement – “The Crossing” – evoking the transition and anticipation of what lies ahead. The ocean’s horizon is infinite, the future is unknown and the past is already far behind them.
In the final movement – “Arrival” – reality dawns. A new life awaits them, in a country where they don’t speak the language, don’t understand its culture, and don’t have any friends or relatives waiting for them. And yet, as their ship passes the Statue of Liberty, they understand her welcoming message and feel grateful for their new homeland. “Arrival” weaves calm melodies of sorrow and builds into an exhilarating message of hope.
Coming to America Concerto
NEWS & REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS
Contemporary Instrumental Review & Interview: Lisa Swerdlow-Book of Life Concerto
Lisa Swerdlow is one of those artists whose work I have cherished over the years. The arrival of her latest masterpiece, the Book of Life Concerto, filled me with a profound emotional anticipation. Read Review
Composer Lisa Swerdlow released a homage to her Jewish ancestors entitled “Coming to America” which she hopes will inspire immigrants. She has also recently been nominated for the Hollywood music in media awards for her contemporary classical piece, “All is not lost.” Read Interview
Composer-Pianist Lisa Swerdlow’s New Music Shares the Journey of Her Ancestors in the “Coming to America Concerto”. An homage to her Jewish ancestors, who fled the Russian pogroms, Swerdlow hopes the music offers solace for anyone trying to build a better life in America. Read Interview
Composer Lisa Swerdlow has released the second movement of the Coming To America Concerto entitled The Crossing. As the second movement begins, listeners are enveloped in a desolate cloud of arpeggios from the piano. Read Interview
Lisa’s inspiration for composing her new concerto came during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she reflected deeply on the courage it took her grandparents to depart Ukraine for America… the first movement, “Home of My Ancestors“.. Read Interview
Lisa Swerdlow’s Coming To America Concerto is another brilliant musical creation composed during the long Covid-19 quarantine. During her time spent at home, Lisa started researching her grandparents’ immigration to the US from Russia… Read Interview
Lisa Swerdlow, an accomplished pianist and composer of classical crossover and contemporary instrumental music, announces the debut of her Coming to America Concerto, a dynamic and cinematic exploration of a journey of Russian immigrants, told in three movements… Read Interview
Classical-New Age Review: Lisa Swerdlow-Coming To America (EP)
The sound of music brings us many gifts. Lisa Swerdlow is an interpreter of those gifts via the piano. She has overcome obstacles that got in the way of her life and music, which includes cancer… Read Interview
Lisa’s latest single is All Is Not Lost and we discuss that, together with her Coming to America concerto, which is also available now. Lisa is a beautiful pianist and these compositions have a great deal to offer, both musically and philosophically…. Read Interview
There cannot be a more emotive subject these days than refugees fleeing from persecution, to hopefully a better life in another country, whilst I have not suffered persecution, I am an immigrant in another country myself, so with regards to the aspect of leaving all that you have ever known behind…. Read Interview
Local pianist, composer to perform at Ten Hands 88 Keys concert
Lisa Swerdlow, a pianist and composer of classical crossover instrumental music, has released “Coming to America Concerto,” a dynamic and cinematic exploration of a journey of Russian immigrants,…. Read Interview
(Global Heart | Esther Haasnoot) Coming to America Concerto: a homage to Lisa Swerdlow’s Jewish ancestors, who fled the Russian pogroms. An Interview with Lisa Swerdlow about her new album. She hopes the music offers solace for anyone trying to build a better life….. Read Interview
