Bio
Suffice it to say that my piano and keyboard work have taken me across the country to California, all through the midwest and back again.
In California I had a very brief stint with a production company that had me contracted to do a national tour with the Rascals. I wrote 2 musical plays that earned critical acclaim.
For LOST IN THE CITY I got the honors of "People to Watch " by San Diego Magazine. One critic said of my show, A FEW HOURS IN HELL, that it was one of the best plays to hit a San Diego stage and called me a San Diego "treasure", and something like "Every musical number is a triumph". Now if that isn't cheek-pinching material, I don't know what is.
At UCSD, I performed in 2 Spring jazz festivals with a huge menu of heavy hitters in the jazz community.
I was one of the first jazz pianists to perform regularly at Croce's in San Diego's famous Gaslamp District. Croce's was created by Jim Croce's wife, Ingrid, and her son, AJ (a talented recording artist in his own right) played there as well. It was a great hangout for jazz musicians and jazz fans.
Actually, my greatest honor was auditioning for the legendary jazz drummer Max Roach when he wrote and composed a jazz version of A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM. Although I never got to work for him, I cherished the short time he spent with me.
I studied jazz with the enormously talented DAVE MACKAY in the home of equally talented LORI BELL, the Grammy award nominated jazz flutist. It was through my association and friendship with them that I changed my piano style forever.
Back in Philly, I hooked up with the infamous, high-energy piano act, The Original Dueling PIanos, and I am still with them, performing our own special pianistic debauchery. Check my Schedule for venues. Check us out every Summer when we play the Bethlehem Musikfest.
Back in November of 2002, I and longtime friend, Dena Marchiony, created the PHILADELPHIA SONGWRITERS PROJECT. Our organization was conceived to support and promote area songwriters through monthly "Second Sunday" performances at the Playground at the Adrienne Theatre at 2030 Sansom Street where we became the city's first ASCAP showcase.During the run of our Sunday shows we presented such talented local-turned nation perfomers such as AMOS LEE, MUTLU, MIEKA PAULEY & LELIA BROUSSARD.
As a teacher. I worked as an artist in residence with the Lincoln Center Program INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS IN EDUCATION for 13 years from San Diego to Philly. I also taught continuing education classes in songwriting at the UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS and I have been a teacher at the MUSIC TRAINING CENTER since 2003.
That's all for now. Drop me a line if you want to chat about anything. Email me.
