Profile

Born in Tarlac (Philippines) to an Irish-American mother Margaret O’Dwyer and a Filipino father Urbano Pineda, Gerry moved to the United States at eighteen months of age. His father was an aero-space engineer whose job required that he relocate often. As a result, Gerry grew up living in several states.

Gerry began his musical journey at the age of nine with piano lessons. A year later he had switched to guitar lessons and eventually to the electric and double bass. After discovering jazz at fifteen years old, Gerry became interested and influenced by such bassists as: Jimmy Blanton, Slam Stewart, Milt Hinton, Paul Chambers, Charles Mingus, Ray Brown, Scot Lafaro and Eddie Gomez.

Initially self-taught, Gerry began his formal double bass studies in high school while living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied with Barry Green and Richard Topper at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Upon graduating high school Gerry moved to Southern California to atte,nd Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. After two years, Gerry transferred to California State University Sacramento where he received a BM in Jazz Studies and an MM in Double Bass Performance.

Gerry has been a professor of Jazz Studies at California State University Sacramento, since 2005 teaching applied jazz bass, jazz improvisation/ theory and directing various jazz combos. Along with his teaching duties at California State University Sacramento, Gerry maintains a private studio, busy gig schedule and serves as a clinician and adjudicator at regional jazz workshops and festivals. Gerry has performed with these artists: Nick Fryer, Joe Gilman, Eddie Harris, Brian Kendrick, Patrick Langham, Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Mazzaferro, Tim Reis, Greg Tardy and Ernie Watts.