I started playing the accordion in 1958, jazz piano and organ in the late 60's, had my own trio, quartet, quintet. There have been several bands both on the road and off the road that I played with. I began teaching music in a music store back in the mid 60's to beginner students and later to the intermediate and advanced. I got a degree in music education in 1973, became a band and orchestra director and taught music in different schools. A few years later I found myself doing other things other than teaching. But once a teacher, always a teacher!
I've played venues in other countries such as Canada, Brazil, Japan and Australia, sat in with Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman's "Thundering Herd" bands.
Today I write and record from 30 and 45 tunes a year and can also play several instruments such as drums, bass guitar, guitar, and keys. I mainly concentrate on guitar or keys these days.
Whether I'm playing the piano, organ or the guitar, it really doesn't matter who I'm playing with or what instrument, as long as I can be creating some form of jazz.
I have played in several other bands, some known while others perhaps not: 2 faced, 2nd Exit, Aimless Sessions, Aksess, Cross Relation, Jazz Enigma, Mark Hammond Trio, Markku, Oasis, Oasis in Space, Paradox Jazz Trio, Smooth n' Saxy, Tempos, Windy City Ryde.
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