Hello! I'm available to perform at your venue, event, or function as a solo pianist, a duo, a trio, or a larger acoustic or electric ensemble.
As a solo pianist, I perform a wide range of material including (but not limited to) jazz standards, pop, Broadway/showtunes, soft rock, R&B, oldies, blues, smooth jazz, and various other forms of ambient background music.
My duos usually consist of piano & bass, piano & horn, piano & guitar, or piano & vocalist. The instrumentation for my "acoustic" trio is drums, bass and piano. If your event calls for a larger ensemble, a vocalist (or two) and/or additional instrumentation (i.e. guitar, horns, percussion) can be added.
My "electric" band, Modern Session, is also available to perform at your event or special occasion. Comprised of friends who are stellar, seasoned, and degreed musicians, we customize every performance to meet and surpass each client's specific needs. Although Modern Session also performs the same material as some of my acoustic ensembles (but with electric instruments), we are definitely more geared towards the high-energy crowd. We cover material of all genres and will work with you to insure that you actually get the music you need to make your event both a successful and memorable one.
References and demos gladly provided upon request.
Jazz artist Billy Townes has been shaping the musical landscape of the Southwest for over fifteen years. An accomplished pianist, producer and songwriter, Townes has earned a reputation for melding fearsome chops with nuanced arrangements and technological wizardry. His latest release, Everyday Life (Shade Records '04) continues a long journey towards contemporary jazz perfection. Like the six records before it, Everyday Life elevates the listener to a higher plateau of personal musical satisfaction.
Townes' initial exposure to jazz as a teenager transformed his life instantly, as "the improvisational aspect of the music made me gravitate towards it, as opposed to straight R&B or rock," he says. "It challenged me, and listening to Miles, Dizzy and Art Blakey fascinated me. That's why, even though my sets now lean towards contemporary jazz, every now and then, I'll throw in a standard." Other influences that played a part in his development include Joe Sample, Bob James, Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson.
As Townes' healed over the next year, his desire to re-enter the studio grew stronger with each passing day. He kept busy with his studio work and production company, but nothing would be as satisfying as producing his own material. Slowly, the pieces of his next record fell into place. With the support of his close friends in Modern Session, Everyday Life was born. The new disc is an emotional ride through the healing process, and the result is Townes' most personal and accessible work to date. With guest appearances from the Southwest's top jazz musicians and NYC sax great Dave Pietro, the disc twists and turns throughout a maze of musical intricacy and nuance. Townes mastery of technology shines on every track, as Everyday Life is an immaculately produced soundscape.
