The TROPICAL JAZZ GROUP features Steve Uscher on guitar and consists of 1 (small group ,eh?) to 5 musicians. The instrumentation often includes guitar,latin percussion, flute, latin/Brazilian vocals. The repertoire includes latin jazz, Cuban mambo and cha cha ,Brazilian bossa and samba, Caribbean Calypso and Reggae, Nuevo Flamenco, Straight ahead jazz and Pop Tunes.****** STEVE USCHER/ BIO:
Education: Bachelor of Music - Hartt College of Music, Master Classes with Oscar Ghilia, Rey de la Torre, Carlos Barbosa- Lima Jazz Studies with Gene Bertoncini, Joe Pass, Jackie Mclean.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 11 years in New York City with a variety of work which included Broadway shows (Evita, Cats, Big River), film soundtracks (Reds, Kramer vs Kramer), tv and radio jingles, concerts with Liza Minelli, Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis, Kool Jazz Festival with Nina Simone, performances with New Jersey Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and nightclubs too numerous to mention.INTERLUDE: 5 years living in St John in the Virgin Islands playing jazz, calypso, reggae music at various hotels and clubs.LOCALLY: a resident of S.W. Florida for about 13 years, local concerts have included performances with Naples Philharmonic, featured soloist with Philadelphia Piano Quartet, many jazz society concerts and festivals (Jazz at the Harbour, Sounds of Jazz), performances with Ira Sullivan, Othello Molineaux, and Richie Cole, has been playing fridays and saturdays at Flaco's Mexican Restaurant in Naples for 8 years.
* Currently working at Naples Grande Hotel and Ritz Carlton Golf Resort
In addition to performing, Steve has been a Professor of Guitar at Edison College for the last 9 years.
