The Wade Preston Band (Trio)
Wade Preston from Billy Joel’s Broadway hit Movin’ Out delivers an impeccable show with time-honored favorites and original compositions. It’s not often a man can sit in front of a piano and command full attention, but Mr. Preston can drop a stadium full of jaws, keeping his audiences engaged and participating.
Wade played the “Piano Man” role in Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Broadway hit Movin’ Out for its entire 3 1⁄2 year run, and starred off and on in the national tours for the next few years. Billy Joel was so impressed by Wade’s performances that he asked him to do virtually all the rehearsals and sound checks for Joel’s historic Last Play at Shea concerts; job description: “Stunt Billy.”
Prior to Movin’ Out, Wade was well known on the west coast as the preeminent boogie pianist, revered for his rollicking performances, stunning technical abilities, spirited versatile singing and sense of humor. Wade is still considered one of the finest boogie piano players alive today, and certainly proves it with every show.
Wade’s latest CD of original songs Lost In the Noise came out in 2020 and is available on iTunes and all digital formats. His classic 1995 CD No Present Like the Time has been digitally remixed and remastered and is also available everywhere. It includes two bonus tracks that were not on the original pressing.
Steve Kurilla (drummer) is a graduate of Marywood University, where he studied music education and classical percussion. He has over 20 years of experience playing drum set and percussion in regional concert halls, jazz clubs, casinos and universities. Steve also performs with many other regional artists including Marko Marcinko: Director of Jazz Studies at Penn State University and Dave Jumper and the Voodoo Barbeque Brass Band, recently headlining at the Scranton Jazz Festival.
Steve is involved in many regional summer music camps and is an adjunct professor at Marywood University where he teaches jazz percussion and is a classroom music teacher at Howard Gardner Charter School located in Scranton, PA.
Jon Ventre (electric/acoustic bass) is a native of the NEPA area. Known locally for performing with area artists/bands such as Clarence Spady, A Proud Monkey, and Nate Hosie, as well as with several wedding/corporate bands out of the New England Area. Jon has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with (Broadway vocalist) Debbie Gravitte, (Late Smooth Jazz Guitarist) Nick Colionne, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Marc Cohn, and many more. In addition to being a musician, Jon holds a private pilot license and is working towards a commercial pilot license.
Tickets may still be available at the door after online ticket sales close. Call (570) 588-8077 for questions.