Bio
My first instrument was accordion and I started lessons when I was seven years old. I became a full-time professional musician in 1982.
I play piano, electric keyboards, accordion, percussion, drumset and sing.
The San Francisco Bay Area was a great place to develop as a young musician. Gigs were plentiful and there was an opportunity to work with lots of different bands. Connecting with a large, talented community of musicians was critical to my maturity as a player. Good paying casuals were a reliable constant and a thriving jazz and Latin music club scene offered even more exposure. Recording work was also abundant. For a dedicated musician, there was a legitimate living to be made!
I grew up with an appreciation for all kinds of music and discovered that when I turned professional I needed all the stylistic versatility that I could possibly muster. I wanted to work and it didn’t matter whether I played country, folk, blues, rock and roll, funk, jazz or Latin- I took the gig!
Along with many Bay Area ensembles, I have been fortunate enough along the way to work with Nelson Riddle, Harry Belafonte, Richie Cole, The San Jose Symphony, The Modernaires, Elsa Soares, Holly Near and Impressionist Frank Gorshin.
Teaching
I began to explore teaching in 1986. Over the years I have refined my skills and developed an abiding fascination for the teaching process. It brings joy and satisfaction to assist others in determining their unique musical path. When I first started out I received instruction from teachers who loved the music and helped me to find my musical center of gravity.
I see my teaching as a gentle revealing of possibilities and the creation of a safe welcoming space to explore sound. In such an environment the experience of making music blends with the understanding of the work involved.
Along with private instruction on piano and accordion I have taught jazz theory and directed multiple jazz combos through Stanford University, College of San Mateo, the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View and Gelb Teaching Institute in Redwood City, CA.
Music Lessons
I had never heard of "Zoom" before March 16, 2020. Suddenly, everything changed. I discovered an alternative to conventional teaching which I believe is quite effective.
My view is that online lessons, while different from in-person learning are nevertheless comparable and in some ways unique.
One example would be my last student piano recital:
"Zoomboree" in June of 2022
The family and friends who attended online represented three continents:
Europe-Munich/Prague
South America-Barquisimeto, Venezuela
North America: Albuquerque, NM/Los Angeles, CA
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In the three years since I began teaching exclusively on zoom I have given lessons to students in Japan, British Columbia, Texas, Washington D.C. and Maine all from my Bay Area studio.
Recording & Film credits
RECORDINGS
Danny Caron, “Make Beauty”, 2019
Victor Krummenacher, “Blue Pacific”, 2019
Drew James, “Beside Myself”, 2019
Holly Near, “2018”, 2018
Jennifer Lee, “My Shining Hour”, 2018
Mona Dena, Running Home, 2016
Victor Krummenacher, “Hard to See Trouble Coming”, 2014
Tom Graf, “Smokin’”, 2014
Bruce Kaphan, “Quartet”, 2012
Nancy L. McGinnis, “#12”, 2012
Denny Brown, “Coming On Home” 2012
Joe Craven Trio, “All Four One”, 2011
Mike Renwick, “Mike Renwick Live & His Big Ass Horn Band”, 2011
Nancy L. McGinnis, “Seek to Follow”, 2008
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
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “The Best Of Ukulele Summit ”, 2006
Drew James and the Parafinaliens, “The Last Second Chance”, 2006
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
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
Jennifer Lee, “J-Walkin”, 2003
Homero Oyarce, “Nosotros Los Inmigrantes”, 2003
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 4”, 2002
Mark Cass and UkeTopia, “Ukulele Summit 5”, 2002
Victor Fields, “52nd Street”, 2002
Scott Fuller & Friends, "Christmas Children", 2001
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
Michael McNevin, “Songs of the Oregon Trail”, 2000
Bermudez Triangle, “Are The Women Dancing?”, 2000
Maria Fernanda Marquez, “Once Cuentos de Amor,” 1999
Irene Farrera, “Soy De Ti”, 1999
Betty Roi, “Enchanté”, 1999
Glen McNulty, “Raw Silk,” 1998
Sylvia Herold, “A Bowl of Crystal Tears,” 1997
Harvey Wainapel “Ambrosia,” 1996
Adlai Alexander, “Adlai Alexander”, 1994
Richie Cole, “Profile,” 1993
Todd Boekelheide, “The Blood of Heroes”, 1989
Ian Dogole, “Dangerous Ground”, 1987
Clowns of Fear, "Clowns Of Fear", 1987
Ian Dogole Unit, “Along The Route”, 1983
FILMS
Accordion: Documentary film “Cold Refuge”
Accordion: Animated short film “You’re Friend The Rat” from Ratatouille
Accordion: Soundtrack of the documentary “The Future of Food”
Accordion: Soundtrack of documentary “Inhaling the Spore: A Journey Through the Museum of Jurassic Technology”
Accordion/Composer credit: soundtrack of PBS American Masters series: “Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution”
Accordion: Soundtrack of feature film “Masked And Anonymous”
Accordion: Soundtrack of feature film “The Mystic Masseur”
Accordion/Piano: Soundtrack of short film “Crank Calls”
Piano with the Black Tie Jazz Orchestra on the soundtrack of feature film “Swing”
Accordion: Soundtrack of the PBS series “The DiMedici Kitchen”
Accordion: Soundtrack of feature film “Henry and June”
Accordion: Soundtrack of feature film “The Blood of Heroes”
TELEVISION /RADIO COMMERCIALS, COMPUTER CONTENT
-Chevron
-Borland International
-Templeton Mutual Funds
-Burton Snowboards
-Hunt’s Tomato Sauce
-Silicon Gaming
-Washington Mutual
-Yo Soy Artista
COMPOSER CREDITS
-Joe Craven Trio, “All Four One”, 2010
-Ana Nitmar, “Forest In Spring”, 2007
-Live Performance of original score to the silent film "Nosferatu," on solo accordion-October, 2002
-Ten full-length midi compositions and five commercial edits entitled
“The Latin/Brazilian Collection”, Head Space Sound Library-Beatnik.com, 2000
-Score for children’s story “Rosaura En Bicicleta”, Vamos A Leer-Computer Curriculum Corp., 1997
-Score for children’s story “El Gallo De Bodas”, Vamos A Leer Computer Curriculum Corp., 1997
-Ian Dogole Unit, “Along The Route”, 1983
Past Performing Groups and Affiliations
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 Isreali music.
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.
Voz do Samba: Brazilian dance band active from the late 1980s
Bread and Roses. Nonprofit arts organization bringing live music to children, adults and seniors who are disadvantaged, marginalized or otherwise isolated in diverse institutional settings.
Breaking the accordion barrier
- The only known occurrence of an accordionist taking the stage at venerated SF jazz club: Jazz at Pearl's