Sheldon Zandboer...
…is one of Calgary's best kept secrets!
He's a native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and began studying classical piano at the age of 4 for 16 years with Gloria Saarinen, Charles Foreman, and Marilyn Engles. He was awarded 1st Prize, 3 years in a row in the ‘Open Jazz’ category at the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival.
Sheldon first established his musical reputation as an ‘up and coming’ musical talent in Calgary by working on TV specials with the CBC and CFCN, leading a jazz trio, also as a multi-keyboardist, accompanist with the Calgary Stampede "Young Canadians” while still in his teens.
Sheldon studied Music Performance/Composition at the University of Calgary before moving to Toronto to study at the highly acclaimed Humber College of the Applied Arts jazz program. The city of Toronto allowed his capricious musical talent to flourish and expand. All kinds of performing opportunities were taken advantage of. Playing in the studios, casinos, a circus, jazz clubs and festivals, the theatre, dance clubs, cruise-ships, the National Ballet, and freelancing as a professional. Performing in cities such as: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Atlantic City, London (UK), Paris, Athens, Amsterdam, Brussels, and many other venues throughout the continent of Europe. Playing for: Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family in London a handful of times; every prime minister since Pierre Elliott Trudeau; Rudy Giuliani, the ex-mayor of New York City; the past three governor generals of Canada; NATO delegates in Brussels; economist-Alan Greenspan.
Sheldon returned to Calgary in 1988 to arrange, compose, perform, and assume position of Music Director for the first Decidedly Jazz Production of “Dancers & Other Musical Instruments”. Sheldon formed the band “the Soul Providers” that performed as a house band at the Cannery Row nightclub for 5 years. In 1989, he took an 8-year contract with the Department of National Defense to provide his musical expertise as staff arranger, keyboardist, and singer. He was also one of 3 keyboard players to tour with the Canadian Mirvish Production of the Who’s “Tommy” in 1996.
1998 was the year he co-created and directed the band- “YoMoZo”. The band provided the music for the “Eddies” award show less than 3 months after it was formed. Also in 1998, Dewi Wood and Sheldon composed the music for the movie “Bellyboat Hustle”. The movie debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and it is a frequently aired film on BRAVO Channel. The movie was then forwarded over to the “Dance on Camera Festival 1998” at the Lincoln Center, NY. The movie was such a hit that it became the flagship Dance/Art movie for the festival. The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan has been showing the movie as an art exhibit film in their permanent collection ever since.
In 1999 Sheldon was music director for the “Women of Distinction” award show as well as accepting the coveted position of jazz piano/arranging instructor on the faculty of jazz at Mount Royal College. He still holds the position today.
In the summer of 2002 Sheldon worked with the well known web design company “Critical Mass” as audio designer and music programmer/composer for clients such as: Mercedes Benz, Dell, Disney Resorts, NASA, Kaiser Permanente, Albertsons, Las Vegas tourist bureau.
In 2004 Tim Tamashiro and Sheldon hooked up to form “PianoVox” - a music/improv/comedy act that performed across Canada, from Vancouver Island to Toronto.
In May 2005/2006, “One Yellow Rabbit” theatre co. hired Sheldon as music director for their uber-successful Big Rock Eddies production.
IIn the spring of 2006, Johanna Sillanpaa released her pop album “Good Life”. Sheldon co-wrote half the material, and their songs still get airplay to this day. Another local singer/song writer - Willow Brocke, is releasing an album late 2008. She and Sheldon wrote every song together, and he co-produced the album.
When “name” acts come through Calgary Sheldon is consistently called upon to perform with them. He has played with jazz artists such as: Holly Cole, Sam Noto, Guido Basso, PJ Perry, Campbell Ryga, Kirk McDonald, Del Dako, Bobby Shew, Lee Konitz, Ian McDougall, Hugh Fraser, Ralph Bowen, Adi Braun, and Phil Nimmons. As well as pop artists: Michael Burgess (Le Miserables, Phantom of the Opera), music director for Bob Newhart show at the Jubilee Auditorium.
Sheldon is currently working as a professional freelance musician; bandleader; arranger; composer; audio-designer; as well as a faculty member of the Jazz Program at Mt. Royal College.His latest project - his instructional book the “Tao of Improvisation” has just been completed. It is a groundbreaking practice/learning method for aspiring jazz students and professionals.
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