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I am a modern accordionist and recording artist who plays pop, rock, zydeco, country, jazz, blues and various ethnic styles on piano accordion. My versatility has led me to be in demand as a freelance artist in numerous bands and studio work for Muzak, TV and radio commercials as well as sideman work on many CD projects in the Pacific Northwest. I also lead my own band, do solo work, compose, teach and arrange music, sing, play piano, harmonica, Hammond B-3 and electronic keyboards. I have worked with such diverse national artists as Chuck Berry, Etta James, Leslie Gore, Peter Duchin, Theodore Bikel and a host of regional luminaries including Michael Tomlinson, Papaya, Kelly Harland, Nadine Shanti, Michael Powers, Jim Valley, Susan Pascal, Danny Deardorff, Tickle Tune Typhoon, Magical Strings, Renee Redeker and Leon Lishner among others.
My latest recording is "Can You Dance To It" featuring my accordion and original tunes in a lively danceable mix of styles I've been calling "zyfusico" including pop, zydeco, rock, country and blues influences. I have a unique, readily indentifiable style on accordion that sets me apart from all other modern players currently working.
My earliest accordion influence was Stan Boreson, a local children's television personality, accordionist and comedian in the late 50's and early 60's still working in Seattle who inspired hundreds of kids to play accordion. The Lawrence Welk show also imprinted accordion music in my brain at an early age (some may be unwilling to admit this, Myron Floren was my hero when I was six). Aside from my first basics instructor, Leo Furman, I had only one truly influential accordion teacher, Doug Middendorf in Seattle. However, my musical education has included (and still includes) many wonderful and inspirational teachers: John Wittwer, Jerome Gray, George Peckham, Terry Moore, Dave Peck and Barbara Lundquist most noteably. I have a B.A. in music education from the University of Washington.
My other important early influences were Brazilian accordionist, Sivuca, jazz accordionists Art Van Damme, Leon Sash and Tommy Gumina. Many of my musical influences are not accordionists, most notably pianists Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, organists Billy Preston, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Mcgriff, Richard "Groove" Holmes and Jack McDuff, saxophonists John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and many others, guitarists B.B. King, Freddy King, and Eric Clapton. The list goes on... Other important accordion influences through the years are Astor Piazzola, the Argentine bandoneon player, Ken Olendorf, a local jazz player, zydeco/cajun players like Clifton Chenier and Bruce Daigrepont, celtic and European players like Maria Kaliniemi, Joe Derrane, Ivo Papasov's band, Phil Cunningham, various Brazilian and African accordionists, Los Lobos, Flaco Jiminez and Klezmer music all have played a role in expanding my accordion consciousness and style. My friend and colleague Frank Marocco is the best jazz accordionist alive and a big influence on me. I definitely have eclectic tastes and it has allowed me to play in many different situations. Aside from my own tunes I prefer to play in settings that allow me to play blues and zydeco, rock, contemporary country, folk and jazz. If Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Faith Hill, David Sanborn, Airto, Anita Baker, James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Robert Cray, Wilco, Dave Mathews, the Chieftains or any of the modern Celtic, Country, fusion, smooth or mainstream jazz artists call, I'm ready.
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