Peter Dembski

About the Artist

I am a pianist, composer, and music educator who specializes in jazz music and teaching improvisational music technique. The Pandea Group is the band that I have put together to perform my original music. The seeds of the Pandea Group were formed a number of years ago when I brought the different members of the group to the Maine coast to perform. There I was able to work the ensemble frequently and in different configurations, using the isolated atmosphere of coastal Maine to his creative advantage, away from the pressures of the New York music scene. The Pandea Group has a varying roster of musicians from the world class jazz scene. They include Ron McClure, Cameron Brown, Aaron Heick, Bob Devos and Grisha Alexiev. I don't try for alot of unneeded complexity in my compositions; instead I look to rhythms and grooves to create texture and drama. I like to take advantage of each player's strengths and make music through the personality of the players and the variety of the ensemble sound. My hope is that the sound is contemporary and, at the same time, true to the spirit of jazz.

I have also developed methods especially geared to people who have had difficulty finding a way to begin improvising music, for example, classically trained musicians who have no experience improvising. In Maine I teach privately and have mentored High School music students through the Maine Arts Alliance for Education in Hancock county. I offer workshops in this technique to groups as well.