Welcome To CounterParts: A Whole New Song To Sing
Jack Hegyi. We are instant friends and kindred spirits. Although he has performed with many of the greats in the music business, he remains one of the humblest masters I know. For over two decades, Jack performed as the Showroom Bassist at Harrah’s, The Tropicana, the Golden Nugget, and Atlantis (I’m sure there are others) in Atlantic City NJ. That experience put him on stage with one amazing performer after another. I heard him playing with Dave Mohn live with the extraordinary pianist, Eric Mintel, and was blown away by how he could jump from swing to rock, Latin styles to a funky hook seamlessly, without hesitation. All I could offer him was the atmosphere where he could reach deep into his toolbelt and find just what I needed for my compositions. You get to hear this magician tonight!
Dave Mohn impressed me from the first days I moved to the Philadelphia area. We often ran into each other as we were leaving or arriving on site at shows and festivals. The Mohnster boasts an impressive list of recordings and tours. I started sending Dave rough copies of tunes as I recorded my albums, Bakers Dozen and About Time For Love. He always gave me great feedback on the grooves and the occasional, “When are you going to get a real drummer?” when I was utilizing computers and sequences. When I called him to join me in CounterParts, he was quick to say, “Of course, Man!” Tonight, you will see why he is such a powerful creative force in the CounterParts debut!
Dave Renz has an impressive reputation in the U.S. and Europe! Dave and I have played together with a few of the great artists in Philadelphia. But the real story lies in Dave’s ability to choose the right combination of terrific players, sometimes even his own music students, to create some great bands and record his own compositions. We have influenced each others’ writing styles so much that I should give him credit for several songs I’ve written! He has called me on several occasions just to say, “This new song sounds like you, man!” Dave and I coined the name CounterParts on one of the many gigs we’ve played as a Duo. You will witness the evening that CounterParts becomes a Quartet!
Walter Runge. I began my performance career at the age of 14 with a band called, I admit this with a laugh, Visions. Long story short, after having the good fortune to perform virtually every style of music, my compositions emerge as a blend of Funk, Rock, Classical, Gospel, Smooth Jazz, and any other genre I can imagine. They arrive here by the Grace of God, with a will of their own, and by writing from the heart with no boundaries. Putting a frame around a picture gives the beholder a place to start; a familiar reference from which an explorer can begin. I enjoy composing songs, suggesting a story. I can then provide opportunities within that story for players to express themselves. I can allow the listener to imagine their own chapter in the tune, and paint their own picture in their mind. Music stirs emotion in the heart of the listener and the soul of the performer. The notes and rhythms take us on a journey, and make the performance memorable. Live Music is the Sounds and Visions that it creates, where Everyone in the room contributes to its conception!
“It is my goal to not just fit into a Genre of Music, but to create a whole New Genre of Music. Perhaps we will.” Walter Runge
