Gig Retrospective

From 1982 to 1987, I was part of Bradley Cunningham’s "stable" of pianists at his club Bradley’s. During this time, I worked with numerous great bassist playing a week at the club at least three times a year. A week at Bradley’s was 6 nights a week, 5 sets a night. You started at 9:30pm and finished at 3:30 am. I had the opportunity to play with the best of the best that were there. Just to mention a few: Red Mitchell, Ron McClure, George Mraz, Michael Moore, and Rufus Reid.

During the late 1980’s I shared a musical partnership with the flutist Jeremy Steig. As a duo, we played small clubs in the city and did some concertizing at Cami Hall. However the bulk of the work that we did were soundtracks for animations of his father’s children’s books. His father is William Steig whose popularity soared with that "little" movie "Shrek".

Also in the late 80’s my association with Eddie Gomez began by recording his album "Power Play" for Columbia which the title tune was co-written by me. This began a long association through the first 4 or so years of the 1990’s of playing with Eddie Gomez;s band. This is where my touring of europe several times a year began. I also got the the opportunity to play with great musicians such as George Adams, Danny Gottlieb, Billy Hart, Steve Grossman and other fine musicians that came through that band. After playing these gigs and tours for several years, I got tired of the lifestyle and needed something else to give me the ability to stay home if I wanted to. That’s when my longest time friend Richie Beirachsuggested that I start teaching at Mannes College of Music’s jazz program. SInce that time, 1994, I have been teaching ever since. In 1999 I was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award for excellence in teaching at the New School Jazz Program.

From 1999 through 2005 I have recorded 5 records for the Steeplechase label. With the exception of one solo record and one trio record with Billy Hart and Ron McClure, the other records I used to give an opportunity to some of the more talented young people that I saw coming through the New School.

Notable gigs from the year 2000 to the present:

My piano trio at the JVC Festival - the Bryant Park venue in New York City.

Piano duo with Richie Beirach in Baden, Switzerland.

Piano Duo with Marian McPartland on her NPR Piano Jazz show.

Piano Trio as the closer for the Lincoln Center Women’s Jazz Festival.

My Piano Trio at Estia Cantina, Amagannsett New York

2004 — 2006 Several Concerts at the Shree Muktananda Ashram South Fallsburg New York

Various small venues in New York city - Example/ Kitano Hotel/ Small’s jazz room.