We are excited to announce another accomplished performer to entertain us at our Gala by playing for our silent auction/cocktail hour. This first class pianist will serenade our guests with music to take us to “A Midnight at the Oasis”. Come early to enjoy his beautiful music and bid on our many must-have silent auction items.
Pianist and composer, Uli Geissendoerfer, is a versatile and remarkable musician exploring rhythms and melodies across many styles of music, with a special emphasis on World, Jazz and improvisation.
Originally from Munich, Germany, he now holds dual residency with the US and worked with among others William Cepeda (awarded a Grammy nomination), Groove Collective, Giovanni Hidalgo, Blood Sweat & Tears, Tito Puente, Leslie Uggams, Cirque du Soleil, Kofo the Wonderman, Ute Lemper, David Cassidy and many more.
Two albums, The Extension and Transformation were released on the Caramella d’Oro label. Three more, “Colors”, Bangalore Breakdown’s “Diary” and “Passport to Happyness” were released independently.
Uli, together with Emmy nominated composer Steve Sandberg won the NYU film festival 2002 for Climbing Miss Sophie. He also lauded at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. Bill Plympton’s new cartoon “Idiots and Angels” features three works of his and Nicole Renaud’s. He was awarded best sound design together with Matt Smith at the 2011 48 hour film festival. One of his and Nicole’s songs, Red, made it to short list for the last year’s Oscars and he just finished working on the follow up “Cheatin”.
In 2009, he moved to Las Vegas where he was the conductor, pianist and bandleader with the Cirque du Soleil production “Viva Elvis”. He resurrected the Latin Jazz Ensemble at UNLV. The Ensemble won the downbeat awards in 2013 & 2014 and placed 2nd & 3rd in the Monterey Jazz Festival competition. Aside from initiating a lecture series at the university, serving as artistic director for a the Spring Mountain Festival.
His song “3-41” just won top honors at the 13th Independent Music Awards Funk/Fusion/ Jam category.