Eric Susoeff

Eric Susoeff, Guitarist

How many seven-year-olds know exactly what they want to be when they grow up? Well, Eric Susoeff knew he wanted to be a musician from the moment he held his first guitar at that tender age. To be honest, music ran neck-and-neck with surfing while he was growing up in Los Angeles.
Now, thirty-two years later, his accomplishments bear testimony to his true first love. His musical career has had many high points, but the founding of the latin-jazz group SALSAMBA in 1984 must be mentioned first.
The Pittsburgh-based quintet plays Eric's infectious compositions for enthusiastic audiences at colleges, festivals and clubs throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. With one critically acclaimed album already under their belt (titled MAMBO IN BLUE), the musicians have released a second recording titled MAMBO DEL SOL which by all accounts, captures their best playing to date. Just as jazz has many influences and styles, Eric's musical expression extends well beyond Salsamba. Take for example his work with the John Wilson Band. Since 1983, Eric has played with this thoroughly modern big band led by Pittsburgh's leading jazz arranger and educator, John Wilson. This eleven-piece band has recorded Eric's composition "Mr. Montgomery," on one of its two albums, Empty Ballroom Blues.
Offering as he does a warm, bluesy, full-bodied sound and a sterling competence in jazz improvisation, Eric has played with every notable jazz musician in the City of Pittsburgh, including Eric Kloss, Frank Cunimondo, Gene Ludwig, Pete Henderson, Dave and Maureen Budway, Sandy Staley, Kenia, Roger Humphrys, H.B. Bennett, Harold Betters, Walt Harper, Nathan Davis and many, many others. His sparkling work can be found on the recordings of Standard Care, On Call& Christmas '95 featuring Dr. Howard Gendell. Singing lyrics by Lou Tracy, Opie Bellas featured Eric playing a Susoeff original, "Here I go Again'" on her album Once Upon A Time. Recent CD releases have included February Regrets by saxophonist Don Aliquo Jr. and Missing You by vocalist Donna Peck. Visiting jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, David Amram and Roger Williams have all hired Eric for their appearances in Pittsburgh.

In a profession where versatility is key, Eric has been seen on stage and on TV playing everything from nostalgic rock to show tunes and avant-garde chamber music. Groups as dissimilar as the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and the Marcels have used his talents on guitar. Eric performed in the Civic Light Opera's productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, The Man of LaMancha, and Grease. At Carnegie Mellon University , he performed for Samba and Oh Kay, among other productions. Charo, Frankie Avalon, and Marty Allen have used him in their orchestras while performing in Pittsburgh. Remember when John Wade was host of the Pittsburgh Today Show ? He was a big fan of Eric's and featured his composition , You'll Come back Soon, " on the show. Eric's prominence in the Pittsburgh music scene has led to interviews with the hosts and performances on WQED-TV's studio 13 and WTAE-TV's Pittsburgh's Talking.

Eric's proficiency on his instrument took him on a tour of Spain with Heads Up recording artist and saxophonist Kenny Blake. It's hard to know whether that seven-year-old had any idea where his passion would take him. But judging from recent events, Eric's jazz artistry will take him far beyond the coast of Southern California, where he still gets some surfing in from time to time.