Album Notes

A native of San Diego, Randy was musically influenced early on by classical guitar played by his older brother and cousin. Formal music education started in high school for Randy before going on to Humboldt State University and New England Conservatory, where he studied with Jaki Baird and Fred Hersch. Upon his return to the West Coast, Randy married & settled for a time in the San Diego area where he became house pianist at the main jazz venue in town, backing up many notable headliners such as Anita O'Day, Art Farmer, Harold Land, and Clifford Jordan. In 1990, Randy journeyed to the Pacific Northwest along with his wife Cindy to live in Portland, OR and raise a family. Over the years, Randy has established himself as one of the most respected jazzmen on the West Coast. He has won numerous awards, played on dozens of recordings with jazz luminaries, and toured nationally and internationally with the likes of Charles McPherson, Dianne Shuur, & Freddie Hubbard. Randy has been a successful teacher as well, (his students include Downbeat Magazine's Best High School Jazz instrumentalist and Oregon's All-State classical piano competition winner). Randy also owns and operates a recording studio as well as co-founding HeavyWood Music.