An urbane and intelligent improviser, arranger, and composer, jazz pianist Eric Mintel performs in a straight-ahead style often incorporating classical themes into his music. Born in Pennsylvania in 1967, Mintel was a musical child, and by his early teens he had already begun playing jazz. Influenced by such legends as Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, and Duke Ellington, Mintel formed his own group in 1993 and has since performed in a wide array of settings, including concerts at the Kennedy Center and the White House as well as being a featured guest on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on NPR. Mintel has also released a handful of recordings, including Hopscotch in 2002, Dynamo in 2004, and The Eric Mintel Quartet box set in 2005. ~ Matt Collar