1990's to Present
Soon thereafter I returned to Sacramento and was asked to join a band being put together by vocalist Anna G. It featured Rick Lotter
on drums, Daryl Anders on bass, Joe Gilman (or Roger Smith) and me on keyboards and a full horn section and background
singers. We had a great time and played several high profile gigs around town. We opened for Jonathon Butler and the
Rippingtons. After a couple of months though Anna decided to disband the group.
Throughout the late 1990’s and through today I’ve been focusing on playing in a jazz trio setting and working in my home studio. In
1998 I released a straight ahead jazz CD with Rick Lotter on drums and Bootza Necak on bass.
Soon thereafter I returned to Sacramento and was asked to join a band being put together by vocalist Anna G. It featured Rick Lotter
on drums, Daryl Anders on bass, Joe Gilman (or Roger Smith) and me on keyboards and a full horn section and background
singers. We had a great time and played several high profile gigs around town. We opened for Jonathon Butler and the
Rippingtons. After a couple of months though Anna decided to disband the group.
Throughout the late 1990’s and through today I’ve been focusing on playing in a jazz trio setting and working in my home studio. In
1998 I released a straight ahead jazz CD with Rick Lotter on drums and Bootza Necak on bass.
1960's
I started playing the piano when I was 8 years old and studied classical piano for 10 years. In the late 60’s when I was about 12 years
old my older brother started bringing home jazz records. Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane. One record in particular that
captured my attention was "Cold Duck Time" by Les McCann and Eddie Harris. I started picking out notes from the piano solo and
began to understand the concept of improvisation.
I started playing the piano when I was 8 years old and studied classical piano for 10 years. In the late 60’s when I was about 12 years
old my older brother started bringing home jazz records. Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane. One record in particular that
captured my attention was "Cold Duck Time" by Les McCann and Eddie Harris. I started picking out notes from the piano solo and
began to understand the concept of improvisation.
1970's
In 9th grade I played in my first band with Erik Rinchak on reeds, Keith Bales on drums, Richard Cable on bass, and Phil Simpson on
guitar. We played mostly jazz tunes. I remember that we played "Take Five" and "Blue Rhondo a la Turk" by Dave Brubeck.
In high school I played in the school jazz band. Roger Voudouris, a guitar player who later went on to some success as a pop singer
played in the band. In my junior year I purchased a Fender Rhodes piano with the intent of finding a band to play with. During my
senior year I began playing with a band called Surge with Doug Meredith on guitar, Ray Newsome on bass, and Terry Swarn on
drums. We played high school dances all year and had a great time.
In 9th grade I played in my first band with Erik Rinchak on reeds, Keith Bales on drums, Richard Cable on bass, and Phil Simpson on
guitar. We played mostly jazz tunes. I remember that we played "Take Five" and "Blue Rhondo a la Turk" by Dave Brubeck.
In high school I played in the school jazz band. Roger Voudouris, a guitar player who later went on to some success as a pop singer
played in the band. In my junior year I purchased a Fender Rhodes piano with the intent of finding a band to play with. During my
senior year I began playing with a band called Surge with Doug Meredith on guitar, Ray Newsome on bass, and Terry Swarn on
drums. We played high school dances all year and had a great time.
Surge
In late 1978 I got a call from Roger Voudouris. He wanted me to play in his road band on the tour to support his second album “Radio
Dream.” He put a band together with Dwight Martinia on bass and Pete Pfiefer on drums. I remember that Roger wanted me to
upgrade my equipment so he bought me all new gear for the tour. I thought that was pretty cool. We rehearsed for several weeks but
right before we were to leave on tour Roger found a keyboard player that could kick bass so Dwight and I didn’t make the tour. At least I
got the keep the new equipment!
In the fall of 1979 my friend and bass player Rick Shaw and I decided to visit several recording studios around Sacramento to see if we
could start doing some studio work. We visited David Houston’s Moon Studio and learned that they we going to have Song-a-Thon
where people could call in and have a song written and recorded for them on the spot for a donation to a charity. Most of the musicians
working at the studio showed up and we stayed up all night writing and recording music. It was a great way to meet musicians. After
that I started getting calls for sessions mostly commercials and song writer demos. Rick and I also went to Heavenly Recording
Studios and started doing sessions there as well. I worked on a number of jingles, song writer demos, and several full albums.
As a result of my work as Moon Studios I got involved in a band called Crayon. Two young singer/songwriters Caron Vikre and Wayne
Huners had recorded an entire album of music with David.Houston I added a few piano tracks late in the recording process. A couple
of songs immediately started getting airplay on some local stations and a decision was made to put a band together with Jim Caselli
on drums, Vince Bilbro on bass, and Jim Beeler and Gary Imboden on guitars. This was a great band and the songs were really good.
We played a few gigs but unfortunely we had to break up when we couldn’t agree on how to form the band as a legal entity.
Dream.” He put a band together with Dwight Martinia on bass and Pete Pfiefer on drums. I remember that Roger wanted me to
upgrade my equipment so he bought me all new gear for the tour. I thought that was pretty cool. We rehearsed for several weeks but
right before we were to leave on tour Roger found a keyboard player that could kick bass so Dwight and I didn’t make the tour. At least I
got the keep the new equipment!
In the fall of 1979 my friend and bass player Rick Shaw and I decided to visit several recording studios around Sacramento to see if we
could start doing some studio work. We visited David Houston’s Moon Studio and learned that they we going to have Song-a-Thon
where people could call in and have a song written and recorded for them on the spot for a donation to a charity. Most of the musicians
working at the studio showed up and we stayed up all night writing and recording music. It was a great way to meet musicians. After
that I started getting calls for sessions mostly commercials and song writer demos. Rick and I also went to Heavenly Recording
Studios and started doing sessions there as well. I worked on a number of jingles, song writer demos, and several full albums.
As a result of my work as Moon Studios I got involved in a band called Crayon. Two young singer/songwriters Caron Vikre and Wayne
Huners had recorded an entire album of music with David.Houston I added a few piano tracks late in the recording process. A couple
of songs immediately started getting airplay on some local stations and a decision was made to put a band together with Jim Caselli
on drums, Vince Bilbro on bass, and Jim Beeler and Gary Imboden on guitars. This was a great band and the songs were really good.
We played a few gigs but unfortunely we had to break up when we couldn’t agree on how to form the band as a legal entity.
Around this time I was playing casual gigs with singer/songwriter Phil Sillas. Phil decided put together a band to showcase his
songwriting with me on piano, JIm Caselli on drums, Vince Bilbro on bass, and Jim Beeler on guitar. We played at the Sacramento
Writers Showcase and a live radio broadcast from one of the local rock stations.
songwriting with me on piano, JIm Caselli on drums, Vince Bilbro on bass, and Jim Beeler on guitar. We played at the Sacramento
Writers Showcase and a live radio broadcast from one of the local rock stations.
1980's
In early 1980 I began studying with Mike Garson in Los Angeles. Mike has been David Bowie's keyboard player for many years and is a
fantastic jazz player and teacher. Studying with him really improved my playing. In March of 1980 Phil Sillas called to see if I could play
in a backup band for Eddie Harris who was opening up for Ronnie Laws. We quickly put a band together with Phil on guitar, Peter
Pfiefer on drums, and a bass player who I had never played with and whose name I forget. We had about a 1/2 hour rehearsal with
Eddie then went on stage. it was great to play with Eddie since he was once of my early influences.
Soon after in 1981 I decided to leave Sacramento and moved to Bay Area. I put together a small studio and began producing
songwriter demos and some commerical music. In the mid-80’s I got a call from Henry Robinett in Sacramento. He called to see if I
wanted to play in the new band he was forming, The Henry Robinett Group. The band included Henry on guitar, Erik Klevin on bass,
Rick Lotter on drums, and me on keyboards. This was a great band and really nice tunes by Henry. I played in the band a year or so
playing mostly gigs around Sacramento.
In early 1980 I began studying with Mike Garson in Los Angeles. Mike has been David Bowie's keyboard player for many years and is a
fantastic jazz player and teacher. Studying with him really improved my playing. In March of 1980 Phil Sillas called to see if I could play
in a backup band for Eddie Harris who was opening up for Ronnie Laws. We quickly put a band together with Phil on guitar, Peter
Pfiefer on drums, and a bass player who I had never played with and whose name I forget. We had about a 1/2 hour rehearsal with
Eddie then went on stage. it was great to play with Eddie since he was once of my early influences.
Soon after in 1981 I decided to leave Sacramento and moved to Bay Area. I put together a small studio and began producing
songwriter demos and some commerical music. In the mid-80’s I got a call from Henry Robinett in Sacramento. He called to see if I
wanted to play in the new band he was forming, The Henry Robinett Group. The band included Henry on guitar, Erik Klevin on bass,
Rick Lotter on drums, and me on keyboards. This was a great band and really nice tunes by Henry. I played in the band a year or so
playing mostly gigs around Sacramento.
The Henry Robinett Group
The Phil Sillas Band
In the mid 80's I recorded some song writers demos for a group of four vocalists: Judy Mailings, Cheri Wells, Mark Weiss, and Frank
Cefalu. After working with them for several months we decided to put a band together called Shake City. I was the music director
and wrote up all of the charts. We had a rotating rosters of players that could play the charts and we played various clubs around the
Bay Area. I recall that the band broke up when Mark moved to Europe.
Soon thereafter I put together a band with some of the Shake City players to play my original compositions. The band was Curt
Moore on drums, Rick Giovinazzo on bass, and Jean Michel Hure on guitar. Hit the Video tab to see some songs from a TV show we
performed on.
Cefalu. After working with them for several months we decided to put a band together called Shake City. I was the music director
and wrote up all of the charts. We had a rotating rosters of players that could play the charts and we played various clubs around the
Bay Area. I recall that the band broke up when Mark moved to Europe.
Soon thereafter I put together a band with some of the Shake City players to play my original compositions. The band was Curt
Moore on drums, Rick Giovinazzo on bass, and Jean Michel Hure on guitar. Hit the Video tab to see some songs from a TV show we
performed on.
In early 2009 I completed a new home studio. It’s a great project studio setup that is acoustically treated with a isolated vocal booth.
I’m looking forward to doing a lot of new music here. Here's at YouTube video that I put together to show some of the acoustical
treatments that I put together. Click here.
In May 2010 I joined Steelin' Dan, the Northern California Steely Dan tribute band. More details about Steelin' Dan here.
I’m looking forward to doing a lot of new music here. Here's at YouTube video that I put together to show some of the acoustical
treatments that I put together. Click here.
In May 2010 I joined Steelin' Dan, the Northern California Steely Dan tribute band. More details about Steelin' Dan here.
| Bootza Necak, Rick Lotter, Dave Buehler |
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