BIOGRAPHY
Bay Area native Rich Kuhns has been a part of the music scene for more than twenty-five years. His versatility on piano, accordion and electric keyboards has led to collaborations with Nelson Riddle, touring with Harry Belafonte, recording with Richie Cole and accompanying impressionist Frank Gorshin and Brazilian diva Elza Soares. His work has appeared in films, including Henry and June and the DVD release of Ratatouille, PBS programs including American Masters and numerous commercial spots including Burton Snowboards, Chevron and Hunt’s Tomato Sauce.
He currently performs with original jazz, blues, latin and folk ensembles throughout the Bay Area. He teaches jazz theory classes and provides instruction for piano and accordion privately and through the Community School Of Music And Art.
CURRENT PERFORMING GROUPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Hornblower Dining Yachts. House band for dinner/dancing cruise around San Francisco Bay.
Soul Sauce. Latin jazz quintet performing the music of Cal Tjader plus original compositions and Afro-Cuban arrangements.
Klezmania. Folk ensemble performing Klezmer, Jewish and Israeli music.
Bellow And Pluck. Duo of accordion and bass/guitar plays original compositions and reworked pop and jazz standards.
Trio Paradiso. A jazz trio performing original compositions and works by Piazzolla and Egberto Gismonti at various Bay Area festivals and concert settings including the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival..
Claudia Villela/Ricardo Peixoto Group. Brazilian/jazz ensemble whose performances of original compositions include the 2000 Monterey Jazz Festival.
Maria Fernanda Marquez Ensemble. Accordionist/Keyboards for this Venezuelan singer whose most recent recording is “Princesa de la Naturaleza.”
Professor Terry’s Circus Band Extraordinaire. Contorted pop and jazz standards.
Pit of Fashion Orchestra. Quartet performing original jazz compositions and arrangements of the music of Thelonious Monk.
Joe Craven and Friends. Touring ensemble performing jazz arrangements of folk music.
Amy Foster Productions. Dance band.
Bread and Roses. Volunteer service organization
RECORDINGS/FILMS
Ian Dogole Unit, “Along The Route”, 1983
Ian Dogole, “Dangerous Ground”, 1987
Todd Boekelheide, “The Blood of Heroes”, 1989
Richie Cole, “Profile,” 1993
Adlai Alexander, “Adlai Alexander”, 1994
Harvey Wainapel “Ambrosia,” 1996
Sylvia Herold, “A Bowl of Crystal Tears,” 1997
Glen McNulty, “Raw Silk,” 1998
Maria Fernanda Marquez, “Once Cuentos de Amor,” 1999
Irene Farrera, “Soy De Ti”, 1999
Betty Roi, “Enchanté”, 1999
Michael McNevin, “Songs of the Oregon Trail”, 2000
Bermudez Triangle, “Are The Women Dancing?”, 2000
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 3”, 2001
Claudia Villela & Ricardo Peixoto, “Inverse Universe”, 2001
Celia Malheiros, “Sempre Crescendo”, 2001
Kitty Margolis, “Left Coast Life”, 2001
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 4”, 2002
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 5”, 2002
Victor Fields, “52nd Street”, 2002
Jennifer Lee, “J-Walkin”, 2003
Homero Oyarce, “Nosotros Los Inmigrantes”, 2003
Professor Terry's Circus Band Extroadinaire, "Live",2004
Maria Fernanda Marquez, “Princesa de la Naturaleza”, 2004
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 6”, 2004
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 7”, 2004
Laura Sullivan, “Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America”, 2004
Consuelo Luz, “ Yo Sé Que Yo Amo”, 2004
Bossa Deep Groove, “Swingão”, 2005
Daria, "Feel the Rhythm", 2005
Tim Solook, "Ability", 2005
Juanita Ulloa, "Paz y Alegria”, 2005
Patty & Abigail, “Here We Go Again”, 2005
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “The Best Of Ukulele Summit ”, 2006
Drew James and the Parafinaliens, “The Last Second Chance”, 2006
Masha Campagne, “Caminhos Cruzados”, 2007
Ana Nitmar, “Forest In Spring”, 2007
Latin Soul Syndicate, “The Adventures of Johnny Loco”, 2007
Mike Renwick, “Mr. Mike’s Salon”, 2007
Wendy Waller, “Traces of Grace”, 2009
Laura LaRue, “French 75”, 2009
Renata Bratt, “A Slice of Summer”, 2010
Mike Renwick, “Mike Renwick & His Big Ass Horn Band Live”, 2011
Accordion work on the short animated film “You’re Friend The Rat” from Ratatouille
Accordion work on the soundtrack of the documentary “The Future of Food”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of the documentary “Inhaling the Spore: A Journey Through the Museum of Jurassic Technology”
Accordion work/composer credit on the soundtrack of PBS American Masters series: “Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of feature film “Masked And Anonymous”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of feature film “The Mystic Masseur”
Accordion/piano work on the soundtrack of short film “Crank Calls”
Piano with the Black Tie Jazz Orchestra on the soundtrack of feature film “Swing”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of the PBS series “The DiMedici Kitchen”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of feature film “Henry and June”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of feature film “The Blood of Heroes”
Accordion work on the soundtrack of feature film “China Lake”
Television /Radio commercials, Computer Content include:
• Chevron
• Borland International
• Templeton Mutual Funds
• Burton Snowboards
• Hunt’s Tomato Sauce
• Silicon Gaming
• Washington Mutual
• ¡Yo Puedo! Publishing
• Keyfax Software
Composer Credits
Ian Dogole Unit, “Along The Route”, 1983
Score for children’s story “El Gallo De Bodas”, Vamos A Leer Computer Curriculum Corp., 1997
Score for children’s story “Rosaura En Bicicleta”, Vamos A Leer-Computer Curriculum Corp., 1997
Ten full-length midi compositions and five commercial edits entitled “The Latin/Brazilian Collection”, Head Space Sound Library-Beatnik.com, 2000
Live Performance of original score to the silent film "Nosferatu," on solo accordion-October, 2002
Contributing Composer to PBS American Masters series: “Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution”, 2003
Ana Nitmar, “Forest In Spring”, 2007
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Community School Of Music And Art
Mountain View, Calif.
2004 - present
Private instruction in jazz piano and accordion. Instructor: Play And Apply Jazz Theory class and Jazz Combo classes.
College of San Mateo Jazz Department
2003 - present
Periodic advisor to CSM Big Band rhythm section coaching ensemble consistency and fluency in interpretation of swing and Latin styles.
Stanford University Jazz Department
2002 - present
Periodic advisor to student jazz combos providing coaching in ensemble cohesion and interaction/ interpretation of jazz styles and group arranging.
California Arts Council Artist In Residence
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, Calif.
2001 academic year
Development of weekly lecture demonstrations to combined music classes covering wide-ranging aspects of the music profession and of music appreciation. Coaching of four jazz combos.
Private instructor. Menlo Park, Calif.
1986 - present
Beginning through advanced jazz keyboard performance, composition, theory and arranging instruction to private students.
Willow Oaks School. Menlo Park, Calif.
1998 academic year
Volunteer teacher’s aide in a second grade class.
