Cynthia Nan Sayer (born May 20, 1962) is an American jazz banjoist, singer and a founding member of

Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...

's New Orleans Jazz Band.

Career

A native of

Waltham, Massachusetts Waltham ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the Technological and industrial history of the United States, American Industrial Revoluti ...

, Sayer spent her early childhood in Wayland, Massachusetts and the remainder of her youth in

Scotch Plains, New Jersey Scotch Plains is a Township (New Jersey), township in Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is located on a ridge in North Jersey, northern-central Jersey, central New Jersey, within the Raritan R ...

. She played piano from the age of six through her college years and also studied viola, drums, guitar, and banjo. She graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2016. She sang in school and community theater and graduated Magna Cum Laude from

Ithaca College Ithaca College is a private college in Ithaca (town), New York, Ithaca, New York. It was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a Music school, conservatory of music. Ithaca College is known for its media-related programs and entertainment program ...

with a degree in English. Sayer has worked with

Milt Hinton Milton John Hinton (June 23, 1910 – December 19, 2000) was an American double bassist and photographer. Regarded as the Dean of American jazz bass players, his nicknames included "Sporty" from his years in Chicago, "Fump" from his time on the ...

Dick Hyman Richard Hyman (born March 8, 1927) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Over a 70-year career, he has worked as a pianist, organist, arranger, music director, electronic musician, and composer. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts ...

, Bucky Pizzarelli,

George Segal George Segal Jr. (February 13, 1934 – March 23, 2021) was an American actor. He became popular in the 1960s and 1970s for playing both dramatic and comedic roles. After first rising to prominence with roles in acclaimed films such as '' Ship o ...

, Dick Wellstood, the New York Philharmonic, and The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Teaching

Along with her performing, Cynthia has been a music educator for over 30 years. She has self-published two educational books for traditional jazz, teaches private and group lessons, and is a rotating faculty member of the New York Hot Jazz Camp.

Award and honors

* National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, 2006 * Steve Martin Banjo Prize, 2023

Discography

* ''The Jazz Banjo of Cynthia Sayer Vol. 1'' (New York Jazz, 1987) * ''More Jazz Banjo Vol. 2'' (New York Jazz, 1989) * ''Forward Moves'' (Yerba Buena, 1992) * ''Jazz at Home'' (Jazzology, 1997) * ''String Swing'' (Jazzology, 2000) * ''Souvenirs'' (Plunk, 2002) * ''Attractions'' with Bucky Pizzarelli (Plunk, 2007) * ''Joyride'' (Plunk, 2013) With the New York Banjo Ensemble * ''Plays Gershwin'' (Kicking Mule, 1982)

As guest

* Woody Allen, ''Wild Man Blues'' (RCA Victor, 1998) * Peter Ecklund, ''Strings Attached'' (Arbors, 1996) *

Tony Trischka Anthony Cattell Trischka (born January 16, 1949) is an American five-string banjo player. Sandra Brennan wrote of him in 2020: "One of the most influential modern banjoists, both in several forms of bluegrass music and occasionally in jazz and ...

, ''World Turning'' (Rounder, 1995) * Terry Waldo, ''Let It Shine'' (Stomp Off, 2003)

Books

* ''You're IN The Band (Cynthia Sayer Music, 2016) * ''The Swinging Solos Of Elmer Snowden (Cynthia Sayer Music, 2021)

References

Sources

* '' The Mississippi Rag'', "Cynthia Sayer, Banjoist from the Big Apple", by George A. Borgman, June 1994.

External links

Official site

Woody Allen & His New Orleans Jazz Band
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sayer, Cynthia Living people 1962 births Jazz musicians from Massachusetts Jazz musicians from New Jersey People from Scotch Plains, New Jersey People from Waltham, Massachusetts American jazz banjoists American women jazz musicians American women jazz singers American jazz singers Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School alumni 21st-century American women