Talented Pianist/Woodwind Specialist and Group Play Jazz From The Great American Songbook.

Tom Ranier Quartet
Tom Ranier – Piano/Claranet
Trey Henry – Bass
Larry Koonse – Guitar
Ralph Humphrey – Drums

4 world class musicians showcasing their multi-talented abilities as soloists and a tight knit quartet, who musically exchange with each other wonderful interplay with spontaneity and new discoveries that are a listening delight for all to enjoy. All season veterans of the LA music scene for many years, Tom Ranier, Trey Henry, Larry Koonse, and Ralph Humhprey will explore in depth favorite jazz tunes, standards, and music from the Great American Song Book.

The talented Tom Ranier Quartet includes Tom Ranier on piano and clarinet, Larry Koonse on guitar, Trey Henry on bass, and Ralph Humphrey on drums. These 4 very talented musicians will showcase their abilities, playing a wide range of jazz favorites, standards, originals, and music from the Great American Songbook. Tom Ranier has had a long career as a studio player, live performer, arranger, and composer since the 1970’s, and has played with many jazz greats, toured with top vocalists, and is a talented photographer. Originally from Chicago, Tom was influenced by Charlie Parker and Benny Goodman, and his dad, Lou, who was a clarinetist, saxophonist, and photographer. Tom’s family moved west to Orange county when he was 6, began the piano at 10, and the clarinet at 12. Tom won numerous classical piano competitions including the The Young Artists Guild, and studied jazz and commercial music with his dad. Tom performed in high school, studied at Cal State University, Fullerton, performed at Disneyland, graduated college, and first recorded with Dave Pike and Rod McKuen. Tom next toured with Carmen McRae, Joey Bishop, Helen Reddy, and Donna Summer. Tom resumed working at Disneyland, and made a landmark recording with jazz greats Milt Jackson and Ray Brown. Tom then began working in the L.A. studios as a keyboardist, made a recording with John Heard and Sherman Ferguson, two more recordings(one with jazz great Frank Rosolino), worked on several T.V. and Film projects, and toured and recorded with Barbra Streisand. Tom is a member of the Academy Awards Orchestra, has recorded 2 more albums, has been the keyboardist and arranger for “Dancing With The Stars”, and is a full time orchestra member on “The Simpsons”. Tom has played and written for the Grammys, Emmys, Golden Globes, and winning artists like Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Michael Feinstein, Christine Aguilera, Joe Pass, Placido Domingo, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, and others.

Tom’s personal piano playing approach is a mix of Bud Powell’s complexities, Oscar Peterson’s ardent swing, and Bill Evans’ exploratory harmonies. Tom has also worked with Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, George Coleman, Lew Tabackin, Eddie Daniels, Lanny Morgan, Pete Christlieb, and has taught jazz composition and arranging at Fullerton College, with Kenny Burrell at U.C.L.A., and has authored the book, “Piano In The Rhythm Section”.

Guitarist Larry Koonse began playing at the age of 7, and studied with guitar master, Jimmy Wible. At 15, Larry recorded a duet album with his dad Dave Koonse, and was the first recipient of a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies at U.S.C. in 1984. Larry has worked with John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Billy Childs, Luciana Souza, Mel Torme, Bob Brookmeyer, John Patitucci, David Friesen, Karin Allyson, Natalie Cole, Bob Mintzer, Tierney Sutton, Peter Erskine, Hubert Laws, Warne Marsh, The Percy Faith Orchestra, with Steve Houghton for Nelson Mandela and UNICEF in South Africa, with Gary Willis for a Government sponsored event in Sao Paulo, played at Carnegie Hall, The Academy of Music, The Disney Hall, The Sydney Opera House, The L.A. Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and orchestras around the world. Larry has recorded 9 albums as a leader/co-leader, and appeared on over 300 recordings with Al Hirt, Jimmy Rowles, Lee Konitz, Larry Goldings, Alan Broadbent, Ray Brown, Bill Perkins, Toots Thielemans, Seth McFarlane, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Sheppard, Charlie Haden, Joe LaBarbera, Hank Jones, and many others. Larry has co-led The L.A.Jazz Quartet with Darek Oles, has written the guitar curriculum for “The Players School”, and has taught at The Cal Institute Of The Arts for 30 years.

Bassist Trey Henry has performed with The L.A. Philharmonic, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the big bands of Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Gerald Wilson, The Academy and Emmy Award shows, and has worked with everyone from Henry Mancini to Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt to Quincy Jones, Ray Charles to Maynard Ferguson, Natalie Cole to Michel Legrand, ands Flora and Airto Purim. Trey has played on over 200 recordings, commercials, and T.V. and motion picture soundtracks. Trey has been an original member of The Tierney Sutton Group for over 20 years with Christian Jacob, Ray Brinker, and Kevin Axt, recording 8 cd’s together.

Drummer Ralph Humphrey has performed and taught in the L.A. area for over 40 years, has been active in motion picture, T.V. and recording projects, on “American Idol”, The Emmy Award shows, on “Star Trek”, “The Simpsons”, “Charmed”, “Family Guy”, “American Dad”, and others. Ralph has performed with Don Ellis, Frank Zappa, Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabackin, Manhattan Transfer, Natalie Cole, Free Flight, Pete Christlieb, Joe Farrell, Tierney Sutton, Alphonso Johnson, Antii Suzuki, Victor Wooten, Michel Leviev, Alan Pasqua, Seals and Crofts, Barbra Streisand, Jose Feliciano, Bette Midler, Captain and Tennille, Richard Carpenter, Rita Coolidge, and others. Ralph heads the drum department at The L.A. Music Academy with Joe Porcaro, and taught for 17 years at The Percussion Institute of Technology(part of The Musicians Institute) in Hollywood. Ralph has authored the drum book “Even in The Odds”, contributes articles to Modern Drummer magazine, and gives drum clinics sharing his vast experiences and knowledge about rhythm, technique styles, and creativity. Ralph Humphrey is on the world’s top 500 drummers list.