Here's an article written up on Tony when he was in Tree On Ik:

www.jazzconnect.com/competit.../tony.htm

Tony "Tree On Ik" Kieraldo, Pianist and keyboard player
Tony Kieraldo

Tony "Tree On Ik" Kieraldo grew up in a Wisconsin musical family. In 1999 he won the Downbeat Magazine jazz competition in instrumental performance and composition in his age category and was quoted as being one of the most promising young jazz pianists. Since studying at the New England Conservatory in Boston he worked with Fred Hersch, Uri Caine, Bob Moses, Jerry Bergonzi and Danilo Perez.

His main performances are with his group Tree On Ik and include concerts at Jordan Hall and Keller Jazz Series (Boston); the Catholic University of Lima, the Goethe Institute in Arequipa and the Pisco Social Club (Perú); week-end club performances in Lima's most renown jazz club "Jazz Zone" accompanied by the afro-peruvian percussionist Julio "Çhocolate" Algendones; as well as funky club concerts in "The Dragon", Barranco, Perú; the Executive Development Program at Harvard University (Cambridge), gigs at the Howard Johnson Hotel, and the World Bank (Washington DC). His individual performances include sessions at the Knitting Factory, New York.

He is leader of Tree On Ik, a piano - acoustic bass - drums trio performing its own jazz, funky and latin compositions, as well as jazz and pop standards in a playful and interactive style. The two other Tree On Ik members are Arie "Fantastique" Brooks (bass) and Joe Dematteo (drums) also study at the New England Conservatory with great names in contemporary jazz. Tony "Tree On Ik" Kieraldo entertains audiences with a blend of musical styles and interactive communication. His style merges swing, latin, african, afro-peruvian, rock and avant-garde into bursting rhythms and harmonies. His music is creative, surprising and the improvisations stretch the borders of jazz and improvised music.

treeonik.awsam.com/awsam1.htm

TREE ON IK
Boston´s Most Kreative Jazz Trio

Tony Kieraldo: piano-keyboards
Arie "Fantastique" Werbrouck: acoustic bass
Joe De Matteo: drums

Tree On Ik performs original music merging swing, latin, hip-hop, and avant-garde in bursting rhythms and harmonies. The music is energetic, intense, creative, interactive, surprising, playful and tremendously inspiring. Its improvisations stretch the borders of jazz and improvised music.
The trio was formed in 2000 while studying at Boston’s New England Conservatory.

The trio entertains audiences with a blend of musical styles in concerts, clubs and social events in Boston (Club 608, Common Ground, The Good Life, Jordan Hall, Harvard Business School, Coolidge Corner), New York (The Lion’s Den, Ithaca University), the Newport Jazz Festival, and Washington DC (World Bank/IFC, Twins Jazz Lounge, Bohemian Caverns).

Tree On Ik has carried out two tours of South America (2000-2001). Primarily in Peru, they performed for large audiences in Lima, Arequipa, and Cuzco, accompanied by Julio “Chocolate Algendones”, master Afro-Peruvian percussionist.

In 2002, the trio has released their first album of original music: “You Choose”.

Tree On Ik’s members won several musical awards and have played in concerts with David Liebman and Bob Moses. They studied and worked with Jerry Bergonzi, Danilo Perez, Cecil McBee, Fred Hersch, Steve Lacy and George Garzone. As individuals they have performed at the Knitting Factory (New York), Paradise, House of Blues (Boston), Tulagis (Boulder, Colorado), Jazz at the Lincoln Center (New York) and Jazz Zone (Peru).