Joel “Sweet Sauce” Pierson (Piano). Joel Pierson is a composer and jazz pianist whose work straddles the worlds of jazz, pop, and contemporary classical music. He frequently uses humor as a means to engage audiences with new music. He has worked with artists of great repute (the New York Philharmonic, the Kronos Quartet) and artists of even greater ill-repute (Linkin Park, Kesha). Wayne Newton told Joel that he loved him; and Paul McCartney gave him a shoulder massage. He has performed on all seven continents (yes, even Antarctica) and as a songwriter was signed to Warner Brothers Records. His music has been performed by major symphony orchestras, including Atlanta, Houston, Toronto, Cleveland, and The Philly Pops. Joel is the author of numerous music education books, including You Suck at Piano, 20 Piano Pieces for People with Emotional Problems, and The Nutsmacker. He is a Yamaha Artist; he only plays Yamaha pianos and only rides Yamaha jet skis. See and hear more on his website: www.joelpierson.com