Steve Rice

Steve Rice is a versatile, talented, professional and personable accordionist/pianist available for a wide variety of events. Steve is a perfect choice to add an elegant international atmosphere to your event. What flavor are you looking to add to your party? -- French Cafe' Accordion? -- Romantic Italian Background? -- German Biergarden Polkas? -- Swinging Gypsy Jazz? -- Klezmer, Horas and Israeli Dances? -- Latin American Bossa Nova and Tango? - Steve has recording and performance experience in all of these and more.

Steve is rated Gigmasters #1 accordionist in North America for the fourth year in a row! Please check his client feedback to see referrals from many satisfied gigmasters customers.

Do you need a bigger band? Steve works regularly with top instrumentalists and vocalists in the Northwest, and can readily expand his group to a duo, trio or nearly any size or instrumentation that your event requires.

Steve is also an award winning Jazz Pianist with many years of wedding and background experience. He is available to play your piano on-site, or provide his own high quality electric keyboard. Or consider expanding to a jazz duo, trio, quartet or more. Do you want to mix and match styles or instruments? No Problem! Different is good! Call to discuss your special needs!

Credits:

---PIANO:---
SOLO PIANO - Solo Pianist for 4 years at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel. Hundreds of satisfied clients at Weddings and Corporate events. Steve tours internationally part time as Pianist with the famous "Harry James Orchestra" under the direction of Fred Radke. Steve was winner of the "Oscar Peterson Award" at Berklee College of Music.

PIANO/GROUP - Steve leads several groups from the piano/keyboard including: THE STEVE RICE TRIO, a trio dedicated to the art of piano jazz, a popular choice for corporate receptions and private parties. RITMO SOL, a salsa/latin small combo. THE STEVE RICE SWINGTETTE, a versatile and creative swing/ballroom dance ensemble.

SINATRA STYLE SWING -
Steve is a key member of 2 Sinatra style swing bands in the Pacific NW: Half-Pack Live, a high energy Rat-pack revue, and Tony LaStella and the Goombas, a versatile, touring Italian-American show band. Please check related GigMasters press kits.

---ACCORDION:---
STROLLING ACCORDION AND VIOLIN - Steve's strolling duo "The Neapolitones" is perfect for indoor and outdoor events. The duo draws on the wide variety of styles and material below:

FRENCH - Steve is currently a member of the popular Seattle based French Cabaret Ensemble "ROUGE". He also appears as a solo accordionist at fine French Restaurants in the Seattle area including "Maximilien" and "XO Bistro". Steve has appeared in concert and on record with notable French performers including Patrick Desaunay and Jean Jacques Perrey.

ITALIAN - Steve is touring pianist/accordionist with "Tony LaStella and the Goombas" and is featured accordionist on the "Italian in 10 Minutes a Day" audio CD set.

JEWISH/KLEZMER - Former touring member of "The Mazeltones", Currently recording and performing with "Shawn's Kugel" and the "Od Yishama Orchestra". Keyboard accompanist for Cantor Frank Varon. Steve is pianist and co-producer of Hazzan Ike Azose 2010 double CD release "Ladino Reflections".

GERMAN/POLKA - Solo accordion, or as a band "Polka Madness". Numerous performances including "Prost", "Irish Oktoberfest" at Fado', corporate Oktoberfest performances for Microsoft, Virginia Mason and many retirement home dates throughout the year.

MEXICAN/LATIN - Steve appears with the "Bolero Brothers" every 2nd and 4th Monday at "Mr. Villa's" Seattle with music including Mexican Polkas, Tangos, Romantic Boleros. Steve co-leads "Los Todos", a duo with Juan Barco, a nationally renowned Tejano guitarist, vocalist and Bajo Sexto master.

SALSA - Steve is currently pianist with RITMO SOL, specializing in Salsa, Cuban and Latin music. Vocalist Elsie Cortes specializes in Cuban and Puerto Rican social club music and classic ballads and boleros. Steve was a touring pianist with the hit latin ensemble "Bochinche".

SWING - Steve has toured as pianist with the HARRY JAMES ORCHESTRA and the JIMMY DORSEY BAND, Steve fronts a versatile swing dance group, THE STEVE RICE SWINGTETTE

ZYDECO/CAJUN - Steve is front man for "Big Squeezy", an energetic and fun-loving Zydeco/Rockin' Accordion Band - featured at the 2006 "Taste of Edmonds", 2007 "Louiefest" 2008 "Louisianathon", 2009 "Westport Blues Festival" and zydeco dances throughout the Northwest.

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Events, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Our event was a wine dinner. Steve was perfect and made the event! As requested, he played French and other folk songs on the accordion and inspired our French winemaker to sing along. It was exactly the ambiance we wanted. He came early and hardly took a break. During our main course, Steve sat down at the piano and played a fabulous jazz piano set. He is very musical and very talented; really a top-notch jazz pianist. Steve was a big hit with our crowd and music always makes a party memorable. -- Faith R, Woodinville, WA, 5/18/2007
• Steve was fantastic! He really went the extra mile to make my wedding extra special. I would recommend him to everyone! -- Laura H, Preston, WA, 9/2/2007
• I booked Steve Rice for a Birthday party. He arrived early, and was very flexible. The experience was better than I could have hoped for and Steve did a great job selecting tunes and entertaining the guests. He is a very talented musician! I had many positive comments about the music! The Gigmasters sight made booking the event easy -- Rich W, Seattle, WA, 9/8/2007
• Steve was extremely friendly with our guests, in fact during his 15 minute break he sat and chatted with folks who were intereseted in learning more about him. He called the day before the event to make sure there were no last minute requests we had. I will definately be recommending him to other professionals in my field for events and I'm sure we will use him again in the future. -- Jennifer R, Kent, WA, 10/8/2011
• He did a great job at our Oktoberfest Celebration. Our residents enjoyed his show. -- Marlene F, Bellevue, WA, 10/5/2011
• Steve was perfect for our Oktoberfest themed event. He is a very talented accordianist, and was thoroughly enjoyed by our guests. Thanks Steve, if we do another Oktoberfest party, we'll definitely be calling you! -- Amanda H, Seattle, WA, 10/13/2011
• Steve, sorry I meant to send this to you earlier. The whole funeral thing was kind of a daze. I've never done that before and don't look forward to doing it again. But I really appreciated your willingness to play for us. I thought the timing of Amazing Grace at the end of the service was perfect, the accordion blended in wonderfully with the mood, and it was very sensitively but professionally done. Thank you very much, Chuck -- Chuck M, Kent, WA, 10/21/2011
• Everything was fantastic. Everybody enjoyed it. Thank you very much! -- Irina M, Bellevue, WA, 3/3/2012

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