Pianist | Accompanist
Growing up as a Baptist preacher’s son in the Bible Belt, I often accompanied church services. Each Sunday someone I didn’t know would introduce herself (it was usually a woman) as the soloist for the “special music.” Then, if I was lucky, she would hand me some printed music. “I want to sing this – but not in that key.” It was the best vocational training an accompanist can get.
As a “collaborative pianist” I have worked with many soloists and ensembles over the years.
My specialty is accompaniment – classical or pop, musical or chanson, gospel or jazz – but of course I also perform alone. What would you like to hear – some Mozart or Debussey? Or some light “music to ignore” during dinner or drinks?
When I came to Germany, the country’s first gay men’s choir heard about me, and I became the pianist of the Triviatas. Those performances were seen by many performers and directors, and before long I had a reputation as a quick study with a good stage appearance. Then I signed on for what would become ten years of touring Germany with Springmaus improvisational theater.
In 1992 I had the honor of playing the pianist Manny Weinstock in Volker Schmaloehr’s production of Master Class at the National Theater in Mannheim, with Gabriele Badura in the role of Maria Callas.
In 2000 Wanda Rumor and I performed 50 evening shows at the EXPO World’s Fair in Hanover.
Photo by Susanne Horn
Current projects include:
Charlotte Rettig
“Cologne’s answer to Liza Minnelli”
Local Cologne flair with irresistible charm. We take turns accompanying each other.
Click to hear Charlotte Rettig singing one of her own compositions.
Agnes Erkens, mezzo soprano
Meditative Hebrew music
The Agnes Erkens Trio (with Alessandro Palmitessa on clarinet) interprets ancient lyrics and melodies. This is a Ladino lullaby from Spain’s Siglo de Oro.
Click to hear Agnes Erkens singing “Durme,” arranged by Steve Nobles.
Beate Kuczera
Consolation in song
Musikalische Begleitung für den letzten Weg.
Click to hear Beate Kuczera singing Psalm 73 by Steve Nobles.
Unterwasser Ball, Cologne Karneval costume ball (1995)
In the 1980s and 90s, Hubert Copei hired me as pianist and arranger for his annual costume balls. Several of the cast went on to major careers in TV and opera, including my friends Dirk Bach, Hella von Sinnen, Ulf Paulsen, Bernd von Fehrn, Frank Gerlich, Georg Roth, Wernher Meuter…
This recording is of Dirk Bach, as the King of the Underwater World, singing an old German hit song that translates as “It hurts the first time it happens, but after a while you get used to it.”
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List of artists I have professionally accompanied:
Dirk Bach, Hella von Sinnen, Betty LaMinga, Carolyn James, Dennis Legree, Helena Marion Scholz, Steve Shivers, Mauricio Virgens, Die Triviatas, Die Zauberflöten, Kölner Frauenchor von 1931 e.V., Georgette Dee, Beate Rademacher, Hannelore Kaub, Gayle Tufts, Samy Orfgen, Ralph Morgenstern, Georg Roth, Bernd von Fehrn (Wanda Rumor), Andreas Zaron, Buenaventura Braunstein, Ulf Paulsen, Elena Knapp, Bill Mockridge, The Homonics, Lucia Mense,
Sia Korthaus, Ilja Richter, Stephan Runge, Charlotte Rettig, Alexandra Gauger, Cora Frost, Edda Schnittgard (Queen B), Duotica (Marion Scholz und Holger Edmaier), Pe Werner, Agnes Erkens, Corinna May, Valerie Scott, Herb McCoy, Enrique Sanchez-Lansch, Gabriela Gzella, Manuela Kunze, Tanja Haller, Die Kutschallas, Kerstin Kilman Kallewegge, Improvisationstheater Springmaus, Die Frizzles, Die Königs, Wolfgang Lüchtrath, Beate Kuczera, Birgit Schlenther and many more