Eric Zadan
For over four decades, Eric Zadan has been well known to the region as a pianist, arranger, music director, and jazz educator.
Although known primarily as a jazz pianist who has led several groups and performed with some of the industry’s top names, Eric’s performance credits also include many national tours of Broadway shows, extensive recording work, orchestral work, and performances in a wide variety of other commercial music idioms.
Partial List of Artists and Concerts
With the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Mel Tormé – Dayton Convention Center, Dec. 7 & 8, 1990
Henry Mancini –Dayton Convention Center, 1991
Ken Peplowski – Schuster, Oct. 9 & 10, 2009
Sinatra and Friends with Steve Lippia – Schuster, Nov. 14 & 15, 2008 and Oct. 28 & 29, 2016
Carmen Bradford – Schuster, Feb. 18 & 19, 2022
Ann Hampton Callaway - Schuster, May 3, 2025
The Music of Paul Simon – Schuster, Jun. 10, 2023
The Rat Pack, Symphonic! –Schuster, Oct. 15 & 16, 2021
Swing Is the Thing (feat. David Bennett) – Schuster, Mar. 31 & Apr. 1, 2023
Sophisticated Ladies: The music of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and Billie Holiday – Schuster, Jan. 26 & 27, 2018
Audra McDonald – Schuster, Aug. 1 & 2, 2013 (Schuster Center 10th Anniversary)
Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel – Schuster, Oct. 12, 2013
Music of the Mad Men Era – Schuster, Feb. 18 & 19, 2016
Unforgettable: Nat and Natalie (feat. Denzal Sinclaire and Dee Daniels) – Schuster, Jan. 18, 2020
Queens of Soul: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Alicia Keys, Donna Summer, and others – Schuster, Jan. 4, 2020
Melissa Manchester – Schuster, Dec. 6 & 7, 2013
Byron Stripling: Satchmo, Fats and the Duke - Schuster, May 6 & 7, 2011
Petula Clark – Schuster, Mar. 13, 2009
Jackie Evancho –Schuster, Apr. 27 & 28, 2018
Maude Maggart – Schuster, January 9 & 10, 2009
Country Hits: Songs from Nashville - Schuster, January 25, 2025
Mark O’Connor – Fraze Pavilion, 1997
Marvin Hamlisch – Fraze Pavilion, Sept. 14, 1991 (Fraze Pavilion Grand Opening)
Roy Clark – Dayton Convention Center, circa 1990
Several Bogie Busters Galas: Multiple Headliners – various venues, circa 1980's thru 1990's
Tchaikovsky and Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite – Dayton Convention Center, Dec. 17 & 18, 1999
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony) – Memorial Hall, Sep. 16 & 17, 1992
With the Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Monica Mancini – Kuss Auditorium, Mar. 24 & 25, 2000
Respighi: The Fountains of Rome – Kuss Auditorium
Other Artists and Productions
Three Dog Night – Schuster, Nov. 12, 2011
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas with special guests The Miracles – Schuster, Jan. 10, 2010
Moody Blues – Ervin J. Nutter Center, Mar. 20, 1994
Tommy Tune – Kuss Auditorium, circa 1990's
The Rat Pack Tribute Show (Las Vegas Show) – Kuss Auditorium, Nov. 17, 2012
The Rat Pack Tribute Show (Las Vegas Show) – Miami Valley Gaming, Feb. 14, 2018
Hilary Kole – Gilly’s, Sept. 26, 2010
Opened for Jane Monheit – Gilly's, October 2, 2004
Opened for Diane Schuur – Gilly's, April 29, 2006
Prelude to a Kiss (Improvised Underscoring) (Human Race Theatre) – Loft Theater, 1992
Partial List of Performances as a Leader
Eric Zadan (Many dates Leading Quartets, Quintets and Big Bands) – Gilly’s, 1979 thru 2017
Zadan, Saxa, Freelove & Wolf – Pacchia, Every Saturday, October 9, 1999 thru July 29, 2000
Eric Zadan Trio/Quartet, often with Vocalist – Countless events, public & private, 1980 to present
Extended Runs – Trio with a Vocalist:
Jimmy Aracri at Carvers, every Saturday, circa 1996
Darren Noble at Lincoln Park Grille, every Friday, circa 1999
Partial List of Broadway Shows
Evita (National Tour) – Victoria Theatre, Nov. 10 thru Nov. 22, 1992
The Producers (National Tour starring Nathan Lane) – Schuster, April 19 thru May 1, 2005
The Little Mermaid (National Tour) – Schuster. Aug. 8 thru Aug. 13, 2017
White Christmas (National Tour) – Schuster, Nov. 27 thru Dec. 2, 2012
A Chorus Line (National Tour) – Victoria Theatre. Oct. 18 thru Oct. 27, 1991
A Chorus Line (National Tour) – Ervin J. Nutter Center, Feb. 17, 1993
Will Roger’s Follies (National Tour starring Mac Davis – Memorial Hall, May 24 thru May 29, 1994
Crazy for You (National Tour) – Victoria Theatre, Jan. 17 thru Jan. 29, 1995
Fiddler on the Roof (National Tour starring Topol) – Victoria Theatre, Jan. 16 thru Jan. 28, 1996
Peter Pan (National Tour starring Cathy Rigby) – Kuss Auditorium, Date unknown
South Pacific (Kenley Players Production starring Robert Goulet) – Memorial Hall, 1995
West Side Story (Human Race Theatre feat. the Dayton Ballet) – Victoria Theatre, March 27 thru April 8, 2001
Partial List of Presented Clinics/Performances
Wright State University
Sinclair Community College
University of Dayton
Northmont High School
Lebanon High School
Carroll High School
Chaminade-Julienne High School
Beavercreek High School
Meadowdale High School
Middletown High School
Adjunct Faculty
University of Dayton – Jazz Piano, Piano Performance (as needed since 1981)
Sinclair Community College – Jazz Piano (as needed since 1981)
Biography
Eric began musical studies in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1963 at the age of four. After relocating to Dayton, Ohio, he became a piano student of Audley Wasson, a preeminent pianist, teacher and former student of Swiss concert pianist and composer Rudolph Ganz, a student of Ferruccio Busoni. (Ravel dedicated the famously difficult Scarbo from Gaspard de la nuit to Ganz.)
After performing twice as a concerto soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra while in high school, Eric entered the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in 1977 on a classical piano scholarship to study with concert pianist Richard Morris, head of the piano performance division.
After switching to the jazz and studio music program in his sophomore year, his studies were directed by Frank Brown (founder and head of CCM’s jazz and studio music program and director of ensembles) and Frank Vincent (jazz piano).
Audley Wasson
Frank Brown
Frank Vincent
Richard Morris
In 1977, Eric formed and led the 17-piece Dynasty Big Band which recorded Statement in Time in 1979. This band performed weekly at Gilly's, an iconic 300-seat jazz club in Dayton, Ohio, in 1980 and 1981.
While still a junior at CCM, Eric devised a 5-week summer jazz program for Dayton area high school students and, along with eight other jazz educators, presented it in 1979 and again in 1980. Frank Brown appeared as a guest clinician both years. As many of the students in these programs were motivated to continue after the 5-week period, Eric began a second big band, Dynasty Jr., as a year-round educational vehicle for high school and college students.
Eric began his professional career in 1977 as a freelance pianist with numerous and varied jazz and commercial groups in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. In 1980, Eric became a full-time musician and continued to expand the scope and depth of his musical and professional skills. In the early years, notable engagements included:
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Pianist (1980-1981) with the house band at the Colony Club, a 350-seat nightclub/restaurant in Dayton, Ohio.
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Music director (1981-1982) for Suttmiller's, a 500+-seat showroom/restaurant in Dayton, Ohio. Responsibilities included backing a different name act each week as pianist, conductor and music contractor. Performed as the leader of the Eric Zadan Trio with a featured vocalist subsequent to the termination of Suttmiller's policy of presenting name acts.
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Music director (1982-1984) for Bud Matton Productions at the internationally renowned Innisbrook Resort, a 1,000-acre blue-chip complex in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Responsibilities included the handling of all musical requirements in the various clubs and convention facilities at Innisbrook as directed by Bud Matton. This required working with both "in-house" talent as well as name artists alternately in the capacity of a pianist, arranger, conductor and music contractor.
In 1985, Eric purchased a 3-story 28,000 square foot building in Dayton's Oregon Historic District and after extensive renovations on the first floor, opened 5th Avenue, one of the largest and most ambitious night clubs in Dayton’s history. This 385-seat restaurant and showroom featured performances by many national artists and hosted a nightly 8-piece house band.
A New Orleans chef was imported to present Cajun and Creole cuisine as well as traditional American steakhouse fare. A 300-seat banquet center was later added on the second floor.
Throughout its history, Eric supervised a food and beverage staff of approximately 60-100 people and planned and implemented all methods of operation to address the many facets of a 685-seat food and beverage operation.
Additionally, Eric devised creative advertising campaigns for both print and broadcast media to promote 5th Avenue's top name entertainment, the 5th Avenue house band, the restaurant/nightclub and the banquet center.
Partial List of Artists Featured at 5th Avenue
B.B. King
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Doc Severinson
Buddy Rich
Woody Herman
Lionel Hampton
Joe Williams
Carmen McRae
Betty Carter
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Steps Ahead
Lyle Mays
The 5th Dimension
The Association
The O'Jays
The Manhattans
Emo Phillips
Pete Barbutti
Harry Blackstone Jr.
Lee Greenwood
Although a prolific jazz educator dating back to 1979, Eric set aside teaching both privately and in the local colleges in 1982 when he relocated to Clearwater, Florida. He returned to Dayton in 1984 to set the groundwork to open 5th Avenue in 1985. He resumed teaching after his four-year ownership of the restaurant/nightclub.
In 1990, he offered an "Advanced Musical Studies Program" in the Steinway room at Hauer Music in downtown Dayton.
In 1995, Eric opened the Zadan Piano and Jazz Improvisation Studio on W Dorothy Lane in Kettering (350 sq ft).
In 1996, Eric moved the studio to the 9th floor of the Fidelity Building in downtown Dayton at 211 S. Main St. (832 sq ft) and renamed it "Jazz Arts Studio." He added 257 sq ft of space on the 7th floor for a trio of students to offer instruction at the newly formed "Dayton Music Studio."
In 2004, Eric again moved the studio to 17 S Saint Clair St (1,835 sq ft) with a 907 sq ft main studio room.
In 2024, Eric moved the studio to its current (and final) location on the 16th floor of the Liberty Tower at 120 W. 2nd St. (1,457 sq ft) with a larger 1,136 sq ft main studio room and renamed it "Zadan Jazz Studio."
While primarily known for working with advanced jazz students, Eric has also enjoyed working with jazz students representing a wide variety of skill levels. Through the development and continued growth of the Zadan Jazz Studio, Eric has been able to enjoy his lifelong love of jazz education on a daily basis, while still performing and recording.
Along the way, he has provided many gigs to his professional level students by booking jazz duos at the Racquet Club (2 years), jazz trios at Therapy Café (2½ years) and hundreds of other engagements at regional venues for jazz trios and quartets.
Eric Zadan History
Eric Zadan History
Eric Zadan
Zadan Jazz Studio
March 28, 2024
Eric Zadan, piano
Vinnie Marshall, bass
Mike Minarcek, drums
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Eric Zadan
Zadan Jazz Studio
Fall, 2003
Eric Zadan, piano
Lars Miller, bass
Mike Minarcek, drums
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Dynasty Big Band
Statement In Time
QCA Studios (Studio A)
December 18 & 19, 1979
Eric Zadan, piano, leader, producer
Eric Zadan
Mershon Auditorium
Televised Concert
February 27, 1977 (age 17)
Eric Zadan, piano
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Eric Zadan
WGUC Corbett Studio
August 8 & 15, 2000
Eric Zadan, piano
Michael Sharfe, bass
Josiah Wolf, drums
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Symphony Jazz Quartet
Patterson Homestead
January 20, 1991
Eric Zadan, piano
Tim Berens, guitar
Don Crompton, bass
Jim Varley, drums
Zadan, Saxa, Freelove & Wolf
The Jazz Room at Pacchia
Every Saturday, October 9, 1999 - July 29, 2000
Videos: July 22 & 29, 2000
Eric Zadan, piano
Jim Saxa, guitar
Ben Freelove, bass
Josiah Wolf, drums
Gallery
Locations
5th Avenue
Philharmonic
Dynasty
Suttmiller's
Clinics
Youth
Gallery
Locations
5th Avenue
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Dynasty