Jack Heald

SUMMARY:
You'll get a top-shelf pianist/keyboardist/acoustic guitarist who sings. I play mostly covers and a little bit of original music. Styles range are Rock, Country, Blues, Jazz, Pop Ballads, Broadway, the Great American Songbook and a whole lot of improv in all those styles.

ARTISTS:
I play artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Willie Nelson, The Beatles to the Eagles, the Allman Brothers to the 4 Tops. I play by ear and charts, so if I've heard it, I can probably play it. And I can play in almost any key that works for those who want to sing along.

I'll keep the music going for hours. Just give me piano - or a place for my own equipment - and I'll play hits from the 1940s thru today.

VOCALS:
Pop- & Country-style vocalist with a huge bass range. Think Randy Travis' vocal range with the vocal quality of Larry Gatlin. If you need lead vocals or backups, I can handle it with aplomb. Yes, I sing WHILE I play.

BONUS:
I transpose on the fly.
I play by ear, so I won't need sheet music.
(I *do* like to have charts available though.)
I can improv like crazy.
I can accompany.

GUITAR: I also play acoustic guitar and will occasionally take a break from the keys to do some guitar stuff. Think John Denver / Willie Nelson.

I started playing piano at 5, trombone at 10. Picked up the baritone, the harmonica and the recorder along the way. Added guitar and trumpet when I got to college, where I majored in Music Composition.

My preference has always been for beautiful melodies and catchy harmonies. I fell in love with the Blues after I got divorced. (Go figure!) Later, I got bored with Rock/Pop/Country and added jazz progressions to my repertoire.

Today, I love almost everything. I still improvise like crazy and love to create songs on the spot. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't. But half the thrill is the risk and danger of composing it all in the moment, when the spotlight is shining and the audience is depending on me to pull it out.

The least expensive way to hire me is to provide the room, the instrument and the sound amplification equipment. The more instrument(s) and sound amplification I have to bring, the more I will charge.

I have several hundred pounds of equipment I prefer NOT to schlep around. If you don't have a suitable piano, I can bring equipment. Prepare to pay more.

If you want me to provide vocals, then I will require a P/A. (Unless it's a small house-party. My voice is plenty loud enough for a small room.) Or, if I need to provide the P/A, prepare to pay more.

My acoustic guitar has a pickup, so I can plug directly into your P/A.

One important note: the bigger the room, the more important sound amplification and "running sound" becomes. I need monitors in larger rooms. I do *not* provide monitors in that case. If you have a large space, I expect you to provide the appropriate sound amplification for both audience and performer. If I need to provide the equipment, (and someone to run it), expect to pay more.