Multi – Instrumentalist
All Clarinets: Eb Soprano through Bass
Flute: C Silver, Japanese Bamboo & Irish
All Saxophones: Bb Soprano / Saxello through Bb Bass & Eb Contrabass Sarrusophone
Taiko: Japanese Drums
Biography
Lance has been a part of the local Denver jazz scene since the early 1980s. He currently leads the Acker Jazztet and plays reeds with the Bagalusa Strutters, lead by Brad Pregeant. Lance has been a member of several New Orleans jazz and swing bands including the Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra, The Sterling Ensemble and Queen City Jazz Band, of which he was a member for 21 years, and Alan Frederickson Jazz Ensemble.
He has participated in numerous jazz festivals, workshops, and concerts across the USA, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Lance has worked with Andy Stein, Max Morath, Henry Cuesta, Dick Hyman, George Segal, Debbie Reynolds, and other national performers. He has also been a guest soloist with the Colorado Wind Ensemble and the Jefferson County Symphony.
Lance currently leads The Acker Jazztet while working with various local Denver bands.
Educational Background
Lance received his Bachelor Degree in Music Education and Master Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. During his university years, he worked with Clark Terry, Lou Soloff, Eddie Daniels, and Denis DiBlasio. Lance’s post-graduate studies included a year with the Denver University Lamont Jazz Ensemble.
Musical Endeavors
Besides playing jazz, Lance was a reedman in the Denver Center Theatre pit orchestras for 12 years, the Arvada Center Theatre, the Bonfils Theatre, and the principal clarinetist for the Arvada Chamber Orchestra. His recent stage orchestra performances included playing alto sax, tenor sax, and flute during an eight week run in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Stage Theatre production of “Three Mo’ Divas”, which PBS produced a DVD of during the Denver run. Lance also played flute with the Arvada Center Orchestra for their Debbie Reynolds performance.
For several years, Lance was also a member of the Coors Light Silver Bullet Band, which performed for many of the professional sports teams in Denver.
Since 1995, he has been a member of Taiko with Toni – a troupe that offers traditional and contemporary performances on Japanese instruments. Taiko with Toni has performed not only in the US, but also England, central Europe, Japan, and Russia.
Lance is a member of the Denver Musicians Association.
Private Lessons
Lance has offered private lessons in his Denver teaching studio for over 30 years. He teaches clarinet, saxophone, and flute. For more information about private lessons, please contact Lance here.