Dave at the 2012 La Honda Fair
by craig eddy
Dave Bartz and family moved to La Honda in 1998 when they decided Menlo Park wasn't country enough. This month's Face of Local Music victim, Dave was gracious enough to let me interview him as I once again put it off till the last moment. Dave started piano lessons in the 4th grade and never stopped studying keyboard and music. Mostly classical in the early stages but by high school and college the bands he played with were into Yes, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa. Prog before Prog was cool. Dave took a break from college for a bit and toured as the piano player for the Young Americans. He would play piano to a recorded background track. He got me laughing when he told of the gig where the recorded track quit working and he had to finish out West Side Story with piano, drums, and one trumpet player. After his touring he returned to school and got a degree in Computer Science. Maggie his wife was also finishing a PHD in computer science and a Master's in Musicology. Once in La Honda it was just a matter of time before Dave hooked up with some of the local jammers. He has been a regular at my jams and has joined Jack and the Hitchhikers. Dave has played many times at various local events most notably the La Honda Fair with Jam group Delta Vee and Jack and the Hitchhikers. I asked Dave if he preferredacoustic piano to digital keyboard and he says it is a toss up. It always depends on the situation, "It's hard to make a grand piano sound like an accordion". There are guitar players aplenty in La Honda and just a few keyboard players. Dave has been a great addition to the local music scene. Catch Dave with Jack and the Hitchhikers Sunday June 16th at 1pm at the La Honda Country Fair.