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Arts & Entertainment

Tanski Brings the Blues to Hermosa

Club 705 on Pier Avenue treats music-lovers to the sounds of renowned blues pianist-vocalist Ron Tanski on May 19, May 26, and June 3.

While an occasional bout of the blues may be unavoidable, grabbing a glass of wine and listening to talented musicians banter about their woes can surely lift spirits.

Blues artist Ron Tanski will be performing such shows, with his soothing voice, melodic piano and uplifting tunes, at on Pier Avenue throughout May and June as part of a monthlong residency.

Performances are scheduled for May 19, May 26 and June 3.

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Tanski, who was nominated in this year’s Los Angeles Music Awards in the category of Best Blues, Roots, or Americana, talked to Patch about his journey as a musician, blues festivals and favorite Hermosa Beach hangout spots.

Hermosa Beach Patch: What is your background as an artist?

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Ron Tanski: I started playing piano at age 5 because of a weird coincidence. I got a record player for Christmas and found my parents' old 45s. My mom also bought a piano around the same time. I happened on an old Jerry Lee Lewis original Sun 45 of Whole Lotta Shakin' and was hooked. From that point that's all I wanted to do.

Along the way, I dabbled with drums but piano and singing were where my heart really was. I also had a little transistor AM radio that I used to listen to late at night when I could pick up the blues radio shows from who knows where. I took piano lessons for a number of years, and drove all of my teachers crazy because I never practiced but played what I wanted to play.

My high school jazz band teacher Casey Hulick was also a great influence. He taught me to listen to the band and not just myself. I went on to get my degree in music and nowadays I not only perform but I also teach general music at American Martyrs [Catholic] School in Manhattan Beach for grades K-8. I teach private piano lessons, and I compose for film and animation.

Patch: What inspired you to pursue a career in blues music?

Tanski: It's the music that spoke to me. I related to it for some reason. I grew up poor to lower middle class and didn't have a great home life, so maybe that's why I liked it. The stories in the songs were always escapes for me, and I loved the sound of the piano and rhythm guitars in blues.

Patch: Aside from the piano, do you play any other instruments?

Tanski: I'm a singer. I can mess around on guitar and bass guitar, and that's about it. I do have the weird knack for being able to pick up almost any instrument and play it, but not well enough to perform.

Patch: What can people expect from your performance at your residency at Club 705?

Tanski: A lot of fun. I'm playing a lot of classic blues but I also take other types of music and make it my own. You should hear my cover of Purple Rain. I'm also going to use a band sometimes to mix it up a bit. I like to try to re-create the feel of an old late-night jazz or blues room down some dark alley in some nameless city at 2 a.m.

Patch: Tell us about some of the big blues festivals you have been playing at.

Tanski: Most recently I played the Simi Valley Blues Festival with Randy Scott, the winner of Guitar Center’s King of the Blues competition for 2010. … I was a member of his band for that one. I also just played with local blues hero Barry Levinson [of Canned Heat fame] at his record release last month. I'll be playing at the Real Blues Festival of Orange County this Sunday, May 15, in Santa Ana in the 7 p.m. slot as a featured artist.

Patch: What are most of your lyrics about?

Tanski: My lyrics really vary, but I always try to have some redemption in the story. Only the song Down to the River ends on a dark turn. I love songs that tell stories so I always try to tell one as best as I can. I wish I could just sit down and turn out a catchy hook and say, "I wanna hold your hand," but I have a tendency to ramble. That's why I was so blown away by the reception my CD Dragged You Down" got on blues radio.

Nowadays it seems it's all about guitar and harmonica so when it made it to No. 3 on the national blues radio charts I was on top of the world. I knew I loved it and I thought it was great, but it was awesome to get that validation on a national level. Now it's even getting airplay in Europe as well.

Patch: What do you love most about performing live?

Tanski: When everything is totally locked together and the music is just where it should be. That's when the magic happens. Whether I'm playing solo or with a band there's just a feeling when it's all perfect, and that's when the audience gets it and starts to respond. That's when the communication starts and things happen.

Patch: What else is on the agenda for the summer for you?

Tanski: I'm starting my second CD and hope to have it done by September. Also, piano lessons—lots and lots of piano lessons. I teach the old-fashioned way by going to people's homes so I get a lot of summer students, which is a lot of fun. It keeps me fresh, and always listening to what's new in all genres of music.

Patch: When you're in Hermosa Beach what are some of your favorite things to do and see?

Tanski: I love 705; Xavier runs one of the hippest rooms in town, great food and drinks. I also like place, down by the pier. I love to fish whenever I get a chance, so a lot of times you can find me fishing on the shore late at night from Manhattan Pier down to RAT beach.

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