BIOGRAPHY

When he was 12 years old he started playing on a hand-made guitar that belonged to his father. The neck was warped and the strings were half an inch high, but he managed to figure out a few chords. Eventually he was able to play Home on the Range from a Mel Bay book. A year later his father bought a Yamaha guitar.

After learning how to play blues and country styles (mostly through listening to Merle Travis records), Eric drifted towards jazz - in particular, the music of Miles Davis, Barney Kessel and the great Hungarian guitarist, Gabor Szabo. Throughout the 1970s, however, most of his gigs, were with country bands in Greater Vancouver. 

After moving to Prince George in the early 80s, he joined up with drummer/poet Barry McKinnon, trumpeter Terry Kosowick and bassist Bruce Baycroft. Their music has been at the heart of a small but dedicated jazz scene in Prince George. They continue to play modern and cool jazz at weddings, conferences, banquets and restaurants.

In 2004 he recorded a CD titled Fellini’s Hat Band. For the project, he gathered together a fine group of musicians: Colin Mclean on mandolin, Raghu Lokanathan, accordion, and bassist Illya Medlicott. Later he recruited Melody Cooper (the "Florida songbird"), Canadian folk music legend Willie P. Bennett (on electric mandolin), and the wonderfully exciting Persian singers Farnaz and Atoosa.

Since its formation in 2002, the band has performed in and around the Prince George area. In 2004 they played at the Bulkley Valley Music Festival and the Kispiox Music Festival. 

During this time Eric collaborated with poet Michael Armstrong to form Vinyl Groove, an eclectic ensemble featuring poetry and music. The music is a fusion of acid-jazz, funk, rock and ethnic genres.

In 2005, after several appearances with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra (notably, Rhapsody in Blue and the Threepenny Opera Suite), Eric was asked to produce a show. The result was “The Grand Bazaar!” an exotic show featuring many of his original compositions and arrangements. The show featured Fellini’s Hat Band, many local and out of town musicians, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and a 60 piece choir.



A SELECTION OF PAST SHOWS

• 1999: Performed at Galitas Café in Prince George with metal-diva turned jazz singer Lee Aaron

• 2001: Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver BC; Guitarist and arranger on Broadway and Jazz Revue with singer Vera Kare.

• 2003: Performed with Fellini’s Hat Band at the Kispiox Music Festival.

• 2004: With Fellini’s Hat Band, performed at both the Kispiox Music Festival ane the Bulkley Valley Music Festival. 

• 2004: Vanier Hall. Featured playing banjo on Rhapsody in Blue with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.

• 2004: Vanier Hall. Played banjo and guitar on Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.

• 2004: Art Space. Produced and performed in the “Divalicious” cabaret. A showcase of local female talent from the Prince George region.

• 2005: Vanier Hall. Produced, performed in, and composed and arranged the music for “The Grand Bazaar,” a collaboration with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.

• 2006: Art Space. Produced, performed in, composed and arranged the music for “Free Your Soul,” a world music extravaganza with Fellini’s Hat Band and featuring percussionist Mandido Morris.

• 2006: Vanier Hall. Performed a vocal arrangement of Bazaar in a show titled “Amani” with Fellini’s Hat Band, Mandido Morris, and the Bell Canto Singers.