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The Late jazz critic, Leonard Feather of the Los Angeles Times, said that,
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Cleveland has an engaging eclectic in Habian, everything switches around from
cut to cut: the size of the band, the genre of the music, the source of Habian's inspiration.
That was seventeen years ago, and since then, Cliff has remained true to those words.
He began piano lessons at the age of nine and was composing music just a few years later with both classical and jazz music being strong influences, he decided early on to integrate the two genres into his own unique style. Eventually, after attending the Cleveland Institute of Music, as a composition major, he accepted a position as Director of American Music and Department Head of Keyboard Studies at the Cleveland Music School Settlement, where he taught for 13 years. He has worked with such greats as Joe Lovano, Freddie Cole, Frank Morgan and many others in addition to appearing on Good Morning America, and opened for such jazz legends as Mel Lewis and Dave Brubeck. He has performed for many a celebrity ranging from Wilt Chamberlain to Paul Newman. His international reputation began with a recording debut for Milestone/Fantasy Records. Two landmark recordings were produced, consisting primarily of original compositions, Tonal Paintings" and "Manhattan Bridge". His concert appearances have been global, including Russia, Thailand, and Panama, in addition to appearing in jazz festivals and educational clinics in the United States. Locally, Cliff has played for seven years at Nordstrom in Beachwood, Nightown in Cleveland Heights as well as Johnny's Bistro and Johnny's Downtown in Cleveland. Cliff continues to educate in music and teaches at the Great Lakes School of Music. Recently he became piano "coach to the stars" when he was asked to coach child actress Yara Shahidi on the piano for a part in the new "I, Alex Cross" film (due out in 2012). |