I play solo jazz piano 2-3 hours for corporate or charitable events and parties, if you have a piano available at your venue. I am experienced and professional, and your guests will feel relaxed listening to jazzy tunes and ballads while eating dinner, having drinks, bidding on auction items, etc.
Also, with my husband we are Cheek to Cheek, an Accordion/Guitar/Vocal duo or band playing Italian, French, Irish, World music and Gypsy Jazz. Gaili is the accordion wiz and dashing Michael sings and plays guitar beautifully. We can also expand to a full band.
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Write a reviewPrice range: $275 and up
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Gig length: 60 - 180 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - We have our own liability umbrella policy
We can assure you that we will arrive on time with everything we need. With 30+ years of experience playing gigs, we are highly professional and adaptable. We can play in a wide variety of styles, and promise that our music will make people smile, tap their toes and dance! Our duo can fit in a small space, Michael can sing and play through his amplifier, and Gaili's accordion is loud enough to hear acoustically. If you are looking for a bigger sound we have many singers and musicians we play with regularly.
People respond to the accordion very positively! When we play The Godfather themes at Cantalini's, every man in the house turns their head and suddenly everyone is videoing us on their phones! People love the novelty, and when they see how much fun WE are having, they can't help but have fun themselves!
Cheek to Cheek is the husband and wife duo Gaili Schoen and Michael Monagan. Gaili has been playing jazz piano since early childhood, and Michael started playing rock and roll guitar in high school. They met at a wedding that Gaili was attending. When she saw and heard Michael singing jazz standards she fell instantly in love, and approached him immediately after the reception. They have been making beautiful music together ever since!
Gaili has composed music for film and Michael has written for and played on multiple recordings. Gaili plays jazz piano at corporate events (wherever there is a piano!) and Michael sings and plays rock and roll guitar and standards at private parties and clubs, including Downtown Disney, Hotel del Coronado, events in Catalina, and tour dates across America. During Covid Gaili started shifting her focus to world music on accordion, and Gaili and Michael play Italian and French music, and jazz standards and love songs monthly at Cantalini's Salerno Beach restaurant in Playa del Rey, CA, and they play Irish music in pubs, clubs and festivals. Gaili and Michael also play in a band called The Front Yard where they are joined by a percussionist, drummer, bassist and two female vocalists. The band sings and plays and eclectic mix of oldies and contemporary songs.
Contact Gaili with whatever music you desire and she will let you know if it's possible!
We need power for amp guitar and mic. For a full band we need to plug in several instruments. We can bring our own PA for a band, or use a simple amp for a duo. Michael uses an iPad for charts, and Gaili doesn't usually need to use any sheet music, but if she does she will bring a music stand with a mini light.
Here is a sampling:
Italian - Tarantella, Volare, That's Amore, Godfather Themes, O Solo Mio
Gypsy Jazz - Swing Gitan, Tico Tico, Bossa Dorado, Dark Eyes, Minor Swing
Irish - Irish Washerwoman, Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, lots of jigs and reels
Standards - Cheek to Cheek (obviously!) They Way You Look Tonight, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, and many songs by Gershwin, Rogers and Hart, Harry Warren, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser, Rogers and Hammerstein, Broadway show tunes, etc.
Children's - Songs from the Disney movies such as Encanto, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Soul, etc.
Django Reinhardt, Dean Martin, Italian, Irish and French traditional musicians, and so many folk, rock, and jazz musicians!
Power - we can bring extension cords. For the duo we bring an amp, guitar, mic and mic stand, and need 2 chairs.
Jazz Pianist
