Good Vibes by Eric

With my services, you expect a performer who is early, easy to get along with, and most of all, prepared to perform, whether it be percussion or keyboards. As someone with the mindset of early is on time, I like to think that I eliminate just about all of the stress from the logistics, and let the music speak!

Eric is a jazz-focused multi-instrumentalist from Spokane, Washington, currently residing in St Petersburg, FL. While his main instrument is vibraphone, he is also proficient in keyboards, general percussion, and bass guitar.

Eric has been very fortunate to study with masters of the vibraphone, both via in-person and online masterclasses. His mallet-playing journey first seriously began through classical music in college, where he worked with Seattle-based mallet virtuosos Dr. Miho Takekawa and Dr. Ben Thomas. Eric then attended the 2020 and 2021 Steve Weiss Online Mallet Festivals where he studied with Tony Miceli, David Friedman, Joe Locke, Stefon Harris, and Warren Wolf, where topics ranged from ear training to professional development as a vibraphone artist. The similarity of vibraphone and piano led Eric to also begin both performance and teaching in keyboards, utilizing the same jazz-rooted harmony and voicings.

Eric is also fortunate to have an amplification system and pedalboard for his instrument to fit any scenario, whether big stage or acoustic.

Eric attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA where he graduated summa cum laude in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Percussion Performance under Dr. Miho Takekawa. He flourished as an orchestral percussionist, winning the Student Soloist competition as a sophomore and the PASIC Ludwig Industries Scholarship the same year (See the video below for a clip from this performance!). During this time he also began private jazz study with renowned pianist and composer Dr Cassio Vianna, where he honed in on jazz harmony and literature.

Since moving to St Petersburg, Florida in summer 2021, Eric has found various ways to continue his passion for performance on various instruments. He is currently the vibraphonist/keyboardist for the Sarasota-based fusion outfit The Barker Project, led by Sarasota bassist Johnnie Barker. He also plays keys and vibes with former NYC-based Lee Farber in a duo setting, along with vibes in Paul Gormley and Friends, a straight-ahead jazz outfit led by former LA bassist Paul Gormley. He also is vibraphonist and keyboardist of the Tampa-based Rod Alnord Quartet and mallet percussionist of the Ross Strauser Jazz Orchestra. He has also been fortunate to share the stage on keys with singer/songwriter Brett Wiscons. Lastly, Eric records and posts regularly on YouTube and Instagram, where he not only plays vibraphone but keyboards, bass, and drums, often creating his own backing tracks.

Beyond performance, Eric is fortunate to have an extensive background in music education. He currently maintains a studio ranging from in-person drum lessons to online guitar lessons. Eric also teaches piano and percussion at Berretta Music Academy in Clearwater, FL. During college, Eric was also the acting beginning band teacher at Visitation STEM Academy and a substitute Percussion Teaching Artist for the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia the same year.

I have my own speaker for both keyboards and vibraphone, though if a more full system is requested (such as a PA system), that will have to be provided. Power should also be provided, along with a space of at least 8-10 feet in length.