Allan Slutsky
“Doctor Licks” is not the typical sort of alias you’d expect to be associated with a classical mandolinist specializing in the violin compositions of Fritz Kreisler. But Allan Slutsky’s long and diverse musical career has been anything but typical. Originally a funk and rock guitar player, he delved into traditional folk, blues, and bluegrass music while attending Temple University in the early ‘70s. A two year stint on the road during which he had to turn down an offer from Southern Soul icon Wayne Cochrane convinced him he needed more musical training. Graduating from Berklee College of Music several years later with a degree in guitar performance and arranging, Allan soon became a pioneer in the guitar-tab publishing industry with his “Doctor Licks” transcription series.
His long interest in the Motown scene led to his revival of the Funk Brothers with subsequent touring, and production of a Grammy-winning movie, “Standing In the Shadows of Motown”. His arranging skills are renowned throughout the Philadelphia area and there’s hardly a musician there who hasn’t read one of his charts at some time. He’s a pit musician, music producer, film producer, and author. And he plays mandolin…
Dave Hartl
Dave Hartl has lived his life in Philadelphia and South New Jersey, working as a pianist, synthesist, and teacher. A faculty member of The University Of The Arts in Philadelphia who taught piano, electronic music applications, & music theory as well as mentored student groups covering the music of Charles Mingus and Electric Miles Davis for 21 years, Dave nevertheless found time in his career to play on over 60 theatrical shows including Wicked, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia, and Evita, and to play piano and synthesizer with acts such as Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Andrea Bocelli, Bo Diddley, Mary Wilson & the Supremes, Phil Woods, Joanne Brackeen, Bill Watrous, Anthony Newley, The Three Degrees, LaToya Jackson, Ben Vereen, and Annie Haslam’s Renaissance.
He has produced five CDs comprised of his original instrumental compositions, a CD of solo piano versions of Frank Zappa music, and has appeared on numerous recordings, including the Concord Jazz release “Midnight Blue” by celebrated virtuoso jazz guitarist Jimmy Bruno. He currently also plays with the Ronstadt Revue, Musical Collusion, The Divine Hand Ensemble, and the Paula Johns Quartet. And he plays the Roland V-Accordion…