Lance Acker, bio | Jazz Woodwind Instrumentalist

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Lance B. Acker
Multi - Instrumentalist

Clarinet: Bb/A soprano, Eb soprano, Eb alto, Bb bass
Flute: C silver, piccolo, Japanese bamboo, 6-key Irish
Saxophone: Bb soprano/saxello, Eb alto, Bb tenor,
Eb baritone, Bb bass, Eb contrabass sarrusophone
Taiko: Japanese drums and hand percussion

Lance’s professional career includes many New Orleans jazz and swing bands in the Denver area, including the Queen City Jazz Band (twenty-one years), the “Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra”, “The Sterling Ensemble”. This has allowed him to participate in jazz festivals, workshops, and concerts across the USA, Canada, Mexico and Europe. He has had the pleasure of working with Andy Stein, Max Morath, Henry Cuesta, Dick Hyman, George Segal, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds, and other national performers; as well as the privilege of being a guest soloist with the Colorado Wind Ensemble and the Jefferson County Symphony. Currently, he enjoys leading “The Acker Jazztet”, as well as working with various local Denver bands.

Besides playing jazz, Lance was a reed man in the pit orchestras for the Denver Center Theatre (12 years), the Arvada Center Theatre, and Bonfils Theatre; as well as the principal clarinetist for the Arvada Chamber Orchestra. His recent stage orchestra performances included an eight week run playing alto sax, tenor sax, and flute in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Stage Theatre production of “Three Mo’ Divas” (PBS produced a DVD of “Three Mo’ Divas” during the Denver run); and playing flute with the Arvada Center Orchestra for their Debbie Reynolds performance. 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. Besides performing in many states in the US, performances have also taken them to England, central Europe, Japan and Russia.

Lance received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Master's in Clarinet Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Post-graduate study included a year with the Denver University Lamont Jazz Ensemble. During his university years, Lance had the opportunity to work with Clark Terry, Lou Soloff, Eddie Daniels, and Aaron Copland.

He has maintained a private teaching studio for over 30 years (clarinet, saxophone, and flute) in the Denver area. Lance is a member of the Denver Musicians Association.

Contact Information:
   Mail:   PO Box 102514
                Denver, CO 80250
   Tele/fax:   303/756-2133
   Email:       acker.jazz@yahoo.com