Blues pianist and singer, Ron Tanski, has just been inducted into the Mason & Hamlin Artist Roster.  A fast-rising new voice in the Blues scene, Ron pays homage to the past but is forging a unique new direction in the Blues, with soulful tunes, lightning-fast piano riffs and astounding vocals.  Ron’s Debut CD “Dragged You Down” made it to #3 on the RMR Blues Radio charts and was also in the Top 100 Most Played in 2011 on Blues stations worldwide.

With intensity normally only seen in guitarists, Ron’s live performances leave crowds breathless and his music covers the whole Blues spectrum from Boogie to Deep Blues, Gospel to Swing---music that can be heard in seedy bars as well as places of redemption. Ron’s emotionally charged, ragged but sensitive voice has been described as a combination of Louis Armstrong and Tom Waits, and his piano playing as a brand new, old-fashioned style all his own. Ron's isn’t Blues as usual, but a whole new kind of Piano Blues.

Mason & Hamlin is proud to welcome Ron to our Artist Roster, and Ron says, "I am beyond excited to be a Mason & Hamlin Artist.  These have been my favorite pianos since the first time I ever played one.  In college, I was told I was only allowed to play the Mason because it was the only piano that could handle me! That’s a true story I’m proud of,” Ron laughs, “I kept knocking the other pianos out of tune!”

Ron is currently recording his follow-up CD and loves that the classic Mason & Hamlin sound will be the piano his fans will be hearing. 

For more information about Ron, see his website www.rontanski.com

The article begins with an overview of the 300-year history of the piano and the traditional use of wood in the manufacture of piano action parts despite wood’s acknowledged shortcomings in durability and uniformity.  Then the article states that the wood tradition is being challenged by new materials and technology developed by the Wessell, Nickel & Gross company.  The article says that as no two trees are alike, no two wood hammer shanks or repetition parts are either.  Composite parts on the other hand---made of mostly carbon fiber and nylon---are not only consistent in manufacture, but also afford 10 times the strength of wood and are impervious to moisture and atmospheric changes that are wood’s worst enemies.

Wessell, Nickel & Gross Executive Vice President, Tom Lagomarsino, cited the benefits of composite actions---low maintenance and longer instrument life---to pianos in schools and institutions, as well as those in the home.

For more information about Wessell, Nickel & Gross see its website. To order a copy of International Piano see its website here.

On July 20, 2010, chart-topping, award-winning smooth jazz star, Mason & Hamlin Artist Brian Culbertson,released the twelfth album of his multi-faceted career.  Called XII (GRP Records) it commemorates his twelfth release with 12 new songs that continue to reflect his broad-ranging musicality and mastery of intimate moods. The CD’s first release is the fabulous love ballad “Skies Wide Open”, featuring R&B singing star Avant.  The two musicians (shown above) appear in the song's music video, which can be viewed here.

The album's first hit, "It's Time" can be seen on YouTube now.

Brian is shown playing a Mason & Hamlin Model BB in the new videos and he recorded the whole CD using it.

Other tracks on the CD are “I Wanna Love You” (featuring Ray Parker Jr.), “Another Love” (featuring Kenny Lattimore), “Out On the Floor” (featuring Brian McKnight), “Don’t U Know Me By Now” (featuring Faith Evans), “That’s Life” (featuring Earl Klugh, who co-wrote it along with Parker and Culbertson), “I Don’t Know” (featuring Natalie Stewart), and an all-out Go-Go party jam titled “Feelin’ It” (featuring Chuck Brown).

More information about Brian and the new CD can be found on his website.

Piano World announced the upcoming visit in an article on its website  that also featured photographs of the factory taken during a tour in 2007.

“As an International Artist I have had the privilege to perform on
the finest pianos in the world.

   I have chosen the Mason & Hamlin among all other pianos
because of the incomparable clarity of sound, it's richness of tone,
and the level of expression this piano affords me.

   In truth, the Mason & Hamlin piano speaks in my heart as no other
piano I have played before.”
                                                                ---Elida Dakoli
Concert pianist Elida Dakoli is the latest classical artist to endorse the Mason & Hamlin piano.

Born in Albania, Ms. Dakoli began piano lessons at the age of 6, had her first solo recital at the age of 12, and at 16 years of age she began winning numerous international awards and competitions.  At age 22, this young virtuoso launched her career with multi-national tour of Europe, captivating audiences wherever she played with her passionate interpretations.

Soon thereafter Ms. Dakoli was awarded the prestigious “Artiste e Talentuar” grant from the Albanian Ministry of Culture.  Ms. Dakoli followed with master classes at the Concert Performance Department of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria, with Professors Wolfgang Watzinger and Krassimira Jordan. Professor Jordan recognized Ms. Dakoli’s exceptional talent and invited her to pursue studies at Baylor University, Waco, Texas. In 2005, Ms. Dakoli graduated from Baylor University with a Master of Music in Piano Performance.

"Elida Dakoli is an elegant pianist, whose musical gifts have her poised on the edge of a brilliant career.  We're proud and honored that this exceptional young artist has joined our roster," commented Mason & Hamlin's director of Artist Relations, Jan Glazier.