geoffrey sonnen

SEEKING

Accordion, Acoustic Guitar, Background Singer, Bagpipes, Banjo, Bass Guitar, Cello, Clarinet, DJ, Dobro, Drums, Electronic Music, Fiddle, Flute, Harmonica, Harp, Keyboard, Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Other, Other Percussion, Piano, Rhythm Guitar, Saxophone, Steel guitar, Trombone, Trumpet, Ukulele, Upright bass, Violin, Vocalist, Vocalist - Alto, Vocalist - Baritone, Vocalist - Bass, Vocalist - Soprano, Vocalist - Tenor.

ABOUT

Being i've played cocktail piano since late 1979, i'd hit on at least 3/4 of the genres on the previous page, so it took me a long while to pick just 4 of them! i played nearly every joint that had a piano in and around Reading, PA. i was house keyboardist at Longlott's, the Glass Door, Abe's Saloon, all for one season, The Scarab for 3 seasons, The 124 Club/MaryLou's Ristorante for 2 seasons, and the Bowers Hotel and Yellowhouse Hotel, both for 5 years every weekend.
i played the Trenton War Memorial in 1986, and was brought out, all-expenses-paid, to play one of my compositions for an AIDS benefit in Washington State, in 1991. My chances and connections? Seriously, if you're interested, i'll fill you in on the epic story of these, celebrities and blood on the floor galore...

In the meantime, i lost 13 years of programmed/arranged originals in 2014. i had much restored and nearly all are on disk in 3 formats. The genres i touch upon for the most part are Adult Contemporary, Classic Rock, Electronica, Progressive, "New Age", Christian Contemporary, Mellow Jazz, and at least 4 to 5 Contemporary Country-style songs that were, for the most part, all arranged.

i have yet to connect with a sensitive and professional studio. i can easily detect when $ is more important than the project, and when promises are more easily broken than blades of grass. i've a good amount of money saved up here for the right connection. This goal has taken far longer than can be adequately described, and am hoping for my stars to finally align...

Screen name:: geoffrey sonnen
Member since:: Apr 04 2021; Active over 1 month ago
Level of commitment:: Very Committed
Years playing music:: 55
Gigs played:: Over 100

Influences

Barbra Streisand, Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, Donna Summer, Bee Gees, The Carpenters, The Eagles, Barry Manilow, Paul Davis, Kenny Loggins, The Captain & Tennille, Anita Baker, Doobie Brothers, Michael Sembello, Phil Keaggy, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Bread, Gordon Lightfoot, 2nd Chapter of Acts, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Laura Nyro, Christopher Cross, Fleetwood Mac, Diane Warren, America, Stevie Wonder, Bread, Jim Croce, Hall & Oates, Dan Hartman, Bob Esty, Jim Steinman, George Winston, Alan Parsons, Yes, Genesis, Andreas Vollenweider, The Beatles, Train, Matchbox 20, Jimmy Wayne... all noted for their songwriting, btw!

Other bands (especially those with great harmonies!): The Four Seasons, Chicago, The Hollies, Ambrosia, Little River Band, Player, Spinners, Boston, Jackson 5, Kansas, Styx, The Whispers, etc.

And then there are the Divas: Cher, Aretha, Olivia, Celine, Whitney, Diana, Bette, Dionne, etc...

Instrument experience:

Vocalist - Bass:: Expert
Piano:: Expert
Keyboard:: Advanced
Other Percussion:: Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Kurzweil Mark 150 ebony digital grand signed and played by Billy Joel, and that's about it! Looking for a keyboard at the moment that suits my needs. Any suggestions? My last two were Roland Va-7s, and they were so well-loved they died on me!

In the past, i'd worked with Fender Rhodes, ARP Odyssey, Hammond B-3 and X-77. two Yamaha CP series of electric pianos, another rinky dink Yamaha that's wasting away in the music room, and a Kurzweil K2500-XS 20 years ago that would have confounded Einstein if he were still living, This comes by-way of someone who worked at Keyboard World for a few years, so take my word, some keyboards can be monsters to learn!