BRAD ALEXANDER, Owner/NY office
When young Brad was supposed to be practicing Mozart, he was instead teaching himself to play Billy Joel and Elton John songs by ear. Not much has changed, except now he’s armed with thousands of pop/rock songs from the 60s through today. He created the first-ever rock and roll dueling piano show in New York City in 2001 and has performed in venues throughout the northeast including legendary NYC piano bars The Duplex, Brandy’s and Don’t Tell Mama. Brad also writes music for TV (CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, PEG + CAT) and theater (DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL, CAT KID COMIC CLUB: THE MUSICAL, SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS).
212.661.0785 Ext 2
JAMES BARR, Owner/NY office
James was born in a crossfire hurricane in London, England and has been entertaining audiences worldwide since 2001. Flying solo, he has played in piano bars and on cruise ships in Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Russia, the Mediterranean and Bermuda. He spent over a decade at sea working with Seabourn Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International. He has also performed at some of London's top venues including the American Bar at the Savoy, and the Promenade at the Dorchester. In 2011, he moved to New York where he met Brad and discovered dueling pianos. He now regularly plays shows all over the country and is one of only three Englishmen in the dueling world, bringing a touch of class, a British accent and the occasional cup of tea to the performance.
212.661.0785 Ext 1
RICKY LAURIA, Boston office
There’s nothing Ricky Lauria can’t do. Ok, he can’t build a car from scratch. But let’s focus on the positive: He’s a killer pianist, a soulful, dynamic vocalist and one of the most likeable entertainers on the east coast. Ricky started tickling the ivories at age six in his hometown of Nashua, New Hampshire and eventually tickled his way into some of New England’s hottest bands, including Downtown Rhythm, Roundabout, Soulphonic, Honey Train and Guilty Pleasure. Oh, and he also runs The Flying Ivories Boston office. Dude gets around!
617.207.4031
ADAM KNAUSS, Philadelphia office
Working as a dueling pianist and entertainer for over a decade, Adam brings his unique brand of interactive, request-driven piano show wherever duty calls, from corporate events to bars and restaurants to weddings. Adam’s repertoire consists of literally thousands of songs suited to all tastes. The odds are pretty good that if you’ve heard it on the radio, Adam can play it. He performs at venues across the country and heads up Flying Ivories Philly.
215.853.3773
DAVID MORRIS, Austin office
David attributes his musical talent to good genes - his grandmother played piano for silent movies and his grandfather was in the U.S. Navy band. Fair enough, but he’s also put in his 10,000 hours at some of Texas’s legendary dueling piano venues, including City Streets in Houston and Pete’s in Austin. He’s also blown the roof off of Howl At The Moon, Rum Runners, Hippodrome, Rockeys, Mesquite Creek, Moonshine & Ale, House Of ‘Que, and private events throughout the U.S. He’s now back home in the great state of Texas raising seven kids and running our Austin office. Did we mention that he plays entirely by ear? He plays entirely by ear.
512.464.1200
BRIAN WILK, Fort Lauderdale office
Brian began playing songs from memory at a very young age to the delight of his family and friends but the chagrin of his piano teachers. With a keen ear for music, he began dueling pianos in the mid-90s and built a repertoire of songs so massive that on the rare occasion he's stumped by a request, he'll simply make one up on the spot. Brian's high-octane, seat-of-his-pants show has knocked the socks off audiences throughout Florida, across the USA, on countless cruise ships, and on YouTube during lockdown. Toss in drums, bass, and guitar to this guy's skillset and you get an unstoppable entertainer who's ready to rock your next event.
ROB CARROLL
Rob is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Long Island, New York. He’s been rocking stages around the tri-state area since high school and earned a degree in vocal performance, piano, and composition along the way. Rob’s built a loyal following online with his music content and original songs. With a brain full of tunes from almost every genre—and always adding more—he’s ready to light up your next event.
CAROL–ANNE DRESCHER
Carol-Anne is a multi-instrumentalist and dueling pianist from Annapolis, MD. As a young girl, her favorite pastime was writing her own sequels to musicals that no one asked for (Rent 2 anyone?). After receiving her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and music theatre from James Madison University, she spent her first few years of dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon Baltimore before heading up to the Big Apple. Since then Carol-Anne has been performing NYC bar shows, corporate events, weddings and livestream shows with The Flying Ivories.
MATTHEW FRIEDMAN
Matthew is a singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist/super-nice-dude from New York City. He was "The Piano Man" for the first, second and third National Tours of Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony Award-winning musical, MOVIN' OUT, performing across the United States, Canada and Japan. And, true fact: He was one of only 11 people to hold this position, dating back to the show's premiere in 2002. Matthew currently plays keyboards for JERSEY BOYS on Broadway, as well as in his own band, Stiletto, which covers the music of Billy Joel and Elton John. Is this guy perfect for dueling pianos, or what?
JOEL GERLACH
Joel is a born and bred Baltimore boy turned Philadelphian. He began his piano career at the ripe age of 5 where he learned, as all young Baltimore pianists do, how to flow his Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, Elton John, and Sondheim flawlessly. After completing his time at James Madison University and Dell’Arte International respectively, Joel took his talents to the Midwest as Entertainment Director of Howl at the Moon. After a decade of playing for the wolf, Joel made his way back to the east coast to Fly with the Ivories!
KATHRYN KRULL
New York native Kathryn Krull woke up one day and realized that her piano, vocal and clowning skills might be a perfect match for dueling pianos. She was right. Kathryn explodes onto the stage like a volcanic blast of merriment that doesn’t let up until the audience is dancing on the ceiling. She’s also a conductor and music director and regularly performs with bands and circuses across the Northeast. She literally ran away with the circus and toured the U.S. with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Big Apple Circus and Circus Smirkus. After dueling and soloing on Carnival, Norwegian and Holland America cruises to Finland, Russia, Bermuda, and Curacao, Kathryn landed on the APOCA-LIPS SHADOWCAST and frequently appears in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. She continues to rock out on the keys with us and we're extremely happy about it.
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JENNIE LUHMANN
We’re pretty sure the Big Bang Dueling Pianos company was named after Jennie’s first appearance at their Columbus, OH location in 2009. As their universe expanded, Jennie joined the team at their St. Louis venue before heading north of the Mason-Dixon line to check out Providence, Rhode Island. There she was snapped up by Point Street Dueling Pianos where she rocked the house for five straight years. And then she became a nurse. Obviously. Board certified and 18 months later, Jennie once again felt the gravitational pull of performing and now brings her 90s music obsession, boss voice and hangover IV bag to all Flying Ivories shows.
KAITLYN PINKOS
As a high school senior, Kaitlyn couldn’t decide between music and chemistry, so she left the quiet suburbs of Philadelphia and headed for New York City where she graduated from Wagner College with a double major in both. There she studied classical voice, joined choirs, and branched out to jazz and a cappella groups. With a pitch pipe in one hand and a Bunsen burner in the other, Kaitlyn blazed a trail from Baltimore to Chicago, performing at Bobby McKeys, Sluggers, BangBang and Howl At The Moon while getting board certified in cardiology pharmacy. Now Dr. Kaitlyn Pinkos, PharmD, BCCP works in the intensive care unit at New York Presbyterian and not only plays multiple musical instruments but can also identify their unique molecular structure.
SAMANTHA SAYAH
Let’s just say that Samantha is no stranger to a stage. The NYC-based dueler is also a professional theater artist who’s performed across the globe at Tokyo Disney Resort and Disney Cruise Line. Her numerous theater credits include Once, Sister Act, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Joey and Ron, and Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide. She was also featured in the film My Sister’s Wedding. Whether slaying a role or playing with soul, Samantha captivates an audience like it’s her job. Which is great because…that’s her job!
JIM HITTE
If we’re measuring success by the number of piano bars, corporate events and private parties played over a twenty-year period, then Jim Hitte is the most successful piano player in New England. As a solo entertainer, dueler and band member, Jim has been lighting up the stage with his high-octane show for audiences from Boston, where he regularly played the legendary Jake Ivory’s, to Providence, where he was lead pianist and musical director at Slick Willie’s, one of the first dueling piano bars in the country. If Jim is playing your event, it will not be boring.
BEN STAHL
Growing up in Baltimore, Ben’s musical journey started in middle school after seeing the film THAT THING YOU DO. Starting out of the gate as a self taught drummer, he quickly started picking up guitar, bass, piano, and pretty much anything that made sound. While playing in numerous cover and original bands throughout high school and college, he pursued his bachelor's degree in Music Education from Towson University with a focus on Classical Guitar. After spending five years teaching the youth of America to ROCK, Ben shifted his focus to performing full time and hasn’t looked back since. He plays upwards of 150 shows a year for the Flying Ivories, taking his high energy rock and roll piano show up and down the east coast.
DEBBIE TJONG
If you performed for Andrew Lloyd Webber at the SCHOOL OF ROCK Tony Awards after party, then you’re probably Debbie Tjong. Graduate of Berklee College of Music, player of piano/drums/guitar/bass and singer of all the songs, Debbie has performed from sea to shining sea, appearing on Telemundo, LATV and in Billboard Magazine. Back in her home country of Singapore she got her acting on in numerous stage productions, including the original musical A LABOUR OF LOVE, attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long. Recently she was cast in the Off-Broadway show MISSED CONNECTIONS. Soon she will be Ruler Of The World. #skills
NINA ZEITLIN
Time Out New York described Nina as a "first-rate vocalist.” We agree. There isn’t a style of music Nina can’t nail and she’s nailed it at renowned NYC venues The Bowery Ballroom, Brooklyn Bowl, and B.B. Kings. She had a top 10 album on NPR, her band won the WNYC Brooklyn Battle of the Boroughs, and she's lent her crazy-good vocals to CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND on The CW as well as to Kohl’s, Drambuie and Pepsi.
KEITH DROZ, drums
Keith brings his New Jersey rock roots to whatever state he’s in. With over 30 years of performing under his belt in venues both large and larger he can raise the roof at the drop of a drumstick. Keith currently provides the beats for numerous Jersey-based tribute acts including The Royal Scam (Steely Dan) and 52nd Street (Billy Joel) and regularly drums for Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Keith has been known to sporadically show up on James Barr's lawn with a six pack of PBR and an armful of 80s rom-coms on VHS. We'd issue a restraining order but he's a REALLY good drummer.
ANDREW HARTS, drums
Andrew has been commanding the groove in NYC since age 16. You can catch him laying down beats at Flying Ivories shows year-round, as well as on songs for country music artist Jessica Lynn and live performances from Sweetwater Studios and the iconic Surf Ballroom. He’s also jammed at the Billboard Hot 100 Fest, Billboard Live sessions, and Sofar Sounds gigs with electronic artist Ben Alessi.
DAN WEINER, drums
In addition to keeping the beat steady for us, Dan has performed in the Off-Broadway show STOMP both as a performer and rehearsal director and has played drums for several Broadway shows including WICKED and HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME. He’s also been the house drummer for NBC's AMERICA’S GOT TALENT since 2012 and has worked with Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Talib Kweli, Rza (Wu Tang Clan) and Bobby McFerrin, among many others. Recently Dan produced an album featuring Neil Sedaka for LML Records as well as a track for Coca-Cola's 125th Anniversary Celebration.