Biography

Peter is an accomplished pianist, singer, arranger, and songwriter, and his career has flourished on both coasts.  Originally a New Yorker, Peter has lived in Los Angeles since 2005.  He is especially in demand as an arranger and musical director for singers, in various musical genres.  Currently, Peter is traveling the world as Molly Ringwald's pianist/MD, and served as co-producer and arranger on her Concord Records release: "Except Sometimes."  Peter is also the MD/arranger/pianist for Mark Arthur Miller, whose EP "Soul Searching" is getting a lot of attention, and Peter will soon be touring this project with Mark. The stylistic differences between these two projects is a testament to Peter's versatility and the breadth of his skills.  He has played on major stages large and small: Iridium (NYC), Jazz Alley (Seattle), Yoshi's (SF), Blues Alley (DC), Montreal Jazz festival, Vector Arena (NZ), Melbourne Recital Centre (AUS), and many, many more. 

Peter was the associate Musical Director on DUETS, the hit singing competition show on ABC.  As associate musical director, Peter worked directly with Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Robin Thicke and John Legend, not only accompanying them and their contestants in rehearsal, but collaborating with them on the musical arrangements for the show.

Peter's composing career is merging with the Industry in Los Angeles, and his compositions can be heard on numerous TV shows as well as in the films HOTEL NOIR, MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS, and BLEACHED. He has a growing repertoire of original pop/soul music, which is finding it's way in the singer/songwriter rooms of Los Angeles as well as the hands of some major artists.

In 2009, Peter released his debut jazz album: HERE IT COMES, which featured a mix of original material and standard repertoire. This album was well received, and he followed it up the following year with an ambitious live project: BLUES AT ALVAS.  This recording branched out into some different repertoire (Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen) as well as familiar standard material and Jazz originals. 

Peter attended Columbia University, majoring in literature but studying classical piano with Michael Skelly and entering an extended mentorship with Jazz great, pianist Mike LeDonne.  Peter also was a DJ at the acclaimed radio station at Columbia, WKCR, where he interviewed many of the great pianists in New York and attended the "Jazz University" of historian Phil Schaap.

A short list of additional musicians/vocalists with whom Peter has played, performed and/or recorded includes: Roy McCurdy, John B. Williams, Anthony Wilson, Stephon Harris, Patrice Quinn, Gary Wang, Stevie Wonder, Brenna Whitaker, Laura Mace, Maiya Sykes, Gilbert Castellanos, Melissa Morgan, Janis Mann, Ben Harper, John Beasley, James Tormé, Terron Brooks, Kenny Burrell, Bobby Watson, Dwight Trible, Keith David, Alexys Schwartz, Michael Beardon, and many of the best sidemen in Los Angeles. 

An accomplished actor as well, Peter's career has brought him many roles on the small screen in shows like "Law and Order," "24," "Scandal," "Weeds," "CSI," and many more.  Peter has also performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Regional stages.  Combining his experiences in acting and music, Peter has written a screenplay about jazz pianist Bill Evans during his time with Miles Davis.  The script, "Blue in Green," has received much acclaim in the industry and is slowly inching it's way towards production.