New York Electric Piano
New York Electric Piano is an American jazz band from New York City. It was formed in 2003 by keyboardist Pat Daugherty. The group began as a trio with Daugherty, Aaron Comess on drums, and Tim Givens on bass, and it focused on the sound of a Fender Rhodes. Over time they grew to six and then eight musicians. Their sixth album, Keys to the City, spent a month in the top ten of CMJ’s Jazz Chart. Their first album, New York Electric Piano, also did well on the CMJ Jazz Charts.
In 2010 the band added a guitarist and a saxophonist and started playing regularly at the Zinc Bar in New York City. The 2011 album Keys to the City again reached the CMJ top ten. In 2014 they returned to a trio with Richard Hammond on bass. Their song “Party On” from the album Black Hole in One was adopted by the New Zealand rugby team All Blacks. In January 2018 their eighth album, State of the Art, was released by Fervor, featuring eight instrumentalists with Daugherty playing two keyboards at once.
Key members and contributors include:
- Pat Daugherty — leader, composer, piano/keyboard. He has worked with Blue Man Group, toured ten years as pianist for the Martha Graham Dance Company, and recorded with Snoop Dogg and Princess Superstar.
- Aaron Comess — drums. Founding member of the Spin Doctors; has released solo work and performed with Joan Osborne, James Maddock, Roswell Rudd, and Marius Müller-Westernhagen.
- Tim Givens — bass. Toured with Lou Donaldson and Curtis Fuller; worked with Chris Barron and recorded with Ray Bryant, HBO, and Nickelodeon.
- Erik Lawrence — saxophones, flute. Founding member of the Levon Helm Band; contributed to a multi-platinum Spin Doctors project.
- Leon Gruenbaum — keyboard. A multi-instrumentalist who created the Samchillian keyboard.
- Richard Hammond — bass. Has toured with Joan Osborne, Patti Austin, and Tired Pony; performed with Bono and The Edge, Carlos Santana, and Levon Helm; played on the Hamilton Broadway cast recording and in the Hamilton orchestra.
- Deanna Kirk — vocals. A singer-songwriter who has performed at Lincoln Center and Birdland.
- Till Behler — saxophones, flute. Has recorded with Brazilian Girls, Arnie Laurence, and Sly and the Family Stone.
- Teddy Kumpel — guitar. Has worked with Joe Jackson.
- Stephen Perkins — drums. Has played with Jane’s Addiction.
- Ava Farber — vocalist.
- Jennifer Conley — vocalist.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:47 (CET).