A Brief Musical Biography

Piano Studies

Schools

B.A. Music from the University of Delaware and attended West Chester University

Musicians

I've played with or worked with: Roger Adler, Mike Byrne, Don Mikkelsen, Ross Patterson, Roger Morgan, Brent Shallcross, Glenn Ferracone, Al Moretti, Mike Falcone, Johnny DeFrancesco, Joey DeFrancesco, Spike Coleman, Russ Johnson, Mark DeCozio, Rich Kelley, Ted Baker, Kristin Garson, David Liebman, Phil Markowitz, Steve Gilmore, Bill Goodwin, Nancy Reed, Marty Mellinger. Peter Paulsen, Paul Klinefelter, Ray Ferretti, Ellen Lebowitz, Bill Zinno, Chico Huff, Ron Thomas, Donny Syracuse, James McLaughlin, Seth Mellon, Mark Rosen, Cliff Kellum, Robert Campbell, John McCullough, Matt Davis, Rich Carley, Bill Stump, Jeff Aarons, Larry Davidson, Rachel Marzella, Marc Moss, Clay Lunsford, Dale Dallabrida, Dave Schaeffer, Bob Sabellico, Fred Biondi, John Hays, Lee Southall, Jim Zoller, Liz Morgan, Ed Boyer, Vince Zinno, Steve Zinno, Paul Colombo, Javier O'Keefe, Mike Palmer, Bruce Walkley, Robert Obst, Dwight Fenderson, Al Chambers, Jay Julian, Reese Williams, Tony Ross, Rick Rossi, John Natalie, Nick Felice, Mark Jones, Glenn Bottje, John Zolecki, Rudy Rubini, Bill Grabowski, Don Grabowski, Kevin McConnell, Tom Cohen, Steve Beskrone, Melissa Newman, Tom Stevenson, Steve Carl, John Lilley, Billy Brown, Larry Martin, Joe Kearney, Sean Townsend, Galen Haines, Bill Archibald, Al Lunsford, J.P. VanHoy, Brenda Evans, Chuck Wine, Ron Oester, Larry Toth, Bob Sudar, Dale Devoe, John Swana, Tony Marino, Joe Mullen, Michelle Leigh, Justin SekeleBill Fay, Ross Patterson, Don Mikkelsen, mid-1980swski, Carl Kingery, Lynn Coleman, Paul Biondi, Hank Carter, Cook Harvey, Neal Tillotson, Samantha Neilson, Marc Gerstine, Bob Jones, Doug Wilfert, Lenny Pierro, Bobby Rose, Rob Mastripolito, Norm Manno, Brian Fitzy, Courtney Colletti, Jason Matthews, Matt Block, Luke Ferracone.

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Bands

Bands I’ve played with: The Gross National Product, Mahogany, Orion, Life, Circuit, Omnistoke, Eklipse, Con Brio, Mike Falcone Quartet, Burton/Ferretti Project, Burton/Garson Duo, Falcone/Burton Duo, Moretti/Burton Duo, Johnny DeFrancesco and Soul Patch, Burton/Kearney Duo, Burton/Shallcross Duo, Kennett Flash Jazz Workshop House Band, and the Richard Burton Electric Trio.

Solo Work

I’ve worked as a solo pianist since 1981 in the Philadelphia area, playing at restaurants, bars and private parties. My solo playing has been heavily influenced by Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Ron Thomas, Ross Patterson, Joanne Brackeen, Frederic Chopin, and Michael Steinberg. I play traditional jazz standards, show tunes, rock ballads, and original tunes. Currently I am working at the Mendenhall Inn, the Hotel DuPont, and the Concordville Inn.

John Hays and Richard Burton, 1973

 

Composing & Recording

Composing and recording my own music has been a real passion of mine. Simple Major Simple Minor is the first recording of my compositions released under my own name. Kristin Garson’s Music Under the Influence was the first collection of music that I wrote that was commercially available. Fat Samba was my 2011 offering.

Producing

Producing my own music has been extremely rewarding. I am interested in music that will be worth listening to for years to come: Scenes from a Voyage To Arcturus, 17 Piano Improvisations, Wings of the Morning, the House of Counted Days, Cycles, Elysium, and Two Lonely People by Ron Thomas. Also: Music Under The Influence by Kristin Garson, Leaf Juice and Nice View by Ray Ferretti, Fat Samba and Simple Major Simple Minor by Richard Burton, Night Mood by Paul Klinefelter, Galaxy by Ron Thomas and Bobby Rose, The DeFrancesco Brothers Band by Johnny and Joey DeFrancesco, and Glenn Ferracone, Lost World Tango by The Joe Mullen Quartet, Neighbors by David Liebman and Nancy Reed.

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