Published May 30, 2025

Bill Hecht with Love

by Chuck Reider

Last month the Reno music community lost a vibrant, inventive, and personable member. Bill Hecht gave us memorable piano performances either solo or as part of an ensemble. He was a keyboardist, composer, arranger, and technical music wizard. But most importantly, Bill was a pleasure to work with both on and off the stage. 

I first worked with him in the 1980s as he helped me produce some of my original compositions. His career was diverse performing with the Harrah’s Reno orchestra, touring with Englebert Humperdinck, countless jazz combos, and singing with both the Reno Phil and Nevada Opera choruses. He joined the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) in 2006 and was a valued musician. His ears helped guide many of our recordings. I will miss his wit, his talents, and his comradeship. I could continue with his bio but I prefer to share memories from some other of his musical comrades:

Tony Savage, Co-founder of the Reno Jazz Orchestra
There are times in the life of a musician when you get to perform with truly great players. And more rarely, there are one or two moments when you play with someone with whom you become one. Your minds and hearts join, and you spontaneously create together—as if you’re speaking the same language without saying a word. For Bill and me, that was who we were. Not just on one song, or a few songs, a few times. I mean every song, every time we played together. And it had been that way since the very first time we played together, back in 1978. He was the funkiest, most lyrical, most rhythmical, most creative, and most sensitive piano and keyboard player I’ve ever had the pleasure to make music with. His musicality was unmatched, and his soul shone through every note. Losing Bill wasn’t just losing a dear friend and musical partner—it was losing a very deep part of myself. There’s a huge void in my heart now. But maybe I’ll leave that void untouched. Because written on the walls of that emptiness is: “Bill was here.” Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Hans Halt, Bassist
I am really fortunate to have known and played with Bill since the late 1980s. He was an amazing and versatile musician, capable of playing any style, but with his own unique approach to the music, which to me is a sign of a true artist. My favorite moments playing with Bill were at our long-standing engagement at Famous Murphy’s Restaurant. For four nights a week, Bill’s trio with Eric Middleton on drums and myself on bass played some amazing creative music ranging from straight ahead jazz, fusion, funk and Latin-inspired grooves. He was one of a kind and will be sorely missed in our music community.

Jim Garaventa, Saxophonist
Bill was always a great guy to be around. We had great conversations and a lot of laughs. He jumped into computer programming before I did and was always a good source of advice. I was fortunate to know him. He was a friend, and I’ll miss him.

Steve Self, Drummer
Bill and I knew each other for over 45 years. We played a thousand casuals and were in several bands together, but the most notable band was the Leoni Hecht trio – fondly known to many as “The World Famous Wet Spots.”  In that band we played for about 2.5 years steadily for 6 nights a week - 6 hours a night. Leoni Hecht consisted of Danny Leoni, myself, and Bill. In short order we added guitarist Mark Speights and became a quartet. What a great band! We were fearless. We stretched a lot and got the most out of all our abilities. When you play that much together, you really get to know people well – musically and personally. Another notable band was “FastTrack.” Again, with Danny Leoni, myself, Bill, and trumpeter John Gronberg. In both of those bands we were fortunate enough to play music we loved – not just music we had to play to make a living. Bill brought much of that music to the band. The music we loved was from artists like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Airto, David Sanborn, Lee Ritenour, Tower of Power, Boz Scaggs, Freddie Hubbard, as well as other popular bands from the day – too many to remember. We could play anything and we often did. With Danny Leoni as the front man, we also went off on many tangents. You want the theme from the “Love Boat” – no problem. Green Acres, Flintstones, Jetsons? Of course. We couldn’t have done it without Bill.  Having the skill, creativity, sense of humor and willingness to pull everything off was one of Bill’s great talents – no matter the genre.   

Bill was always about getting a great sound while playing with creativity, a great feel, and great time. He could solo for days and keep it interesting with great ideas, feel, groove, and sound. Although I’m sure he didn't know it, he helped me understand how to take my time and build a solo – at which he was a master. We would create great arrangements – with Bill’s guidance – on the fly during gigs (on a six-hour gig at three o'clock in the morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday, there’s plenty of time for stuff like that). Bill got a sound on the Fender Rhodes that rivaled Herbie, Chick or Jan Hammer. He was definitely the smartest guy in every band we played in. We all just clicked musically and loved playing together. To say he’ll be missed is such an understatement and I know I'm not alone in feeling that way.

Ce Ce Gable, Vocalist
A few words about Bill… it’s difficult to only say a few words about someone you’ve known for 40 years. Our friendship and working relationship grew gradually from the time of my Reno arrival in the 1980s when I would catch Bill’s gigs with Hans Halt and Tony Savage at Cheers to our February 2025 FTLOJ Concert at Reno Little Theater – our last forever – when Bill and Tony pulled an old tune out of the hat “Creek” by Airto which they nailed not having played it in 43 years! It was definitely the highlight and everyone in the audience was blown away!

We have spent countless hours rehearsing together for gigs – whether we had them or not – just to be prepared and because it was fun and always a creative time. Bill was always open to trying out new material, arranging intros and endings, discussing music and lyrics, and having ham sandwiches in the garden. There were so many fun gigs: snow-catting the band and all our gear to a mountain top gig in the middle of winter, playing Akron, Ohio or Yerington, Nevada. Bill was always up for an adventure and it wasn’t always about the money but the camaraderie and musicianship. I will always treasure his playing and arrangements on my most recent CD “Love on the Tyrrhenian.”

My memories are all wonderful… like the many times he would subtly signal me that he wanted to play another solo… and another… and another… with a crescendo of applause cascading from the audience. I will never lose sight of him sitting at my piano, with an upturned smile of a Cheshire Cat playing his own special brand of Beautiful Jazz. And now I have the great pleasure of working with Bill’s grandson, Will, who seems to have that very same grin.

From the RJO YouTube channel

Bill with the RJO Live at the Nugget 2012 and Lake Tahoe 2019
https://youtu.be/_Sv3EX4Ucaw?si=-th10nYumSOPg6D_

Fantasy Concerto for Four Prepared Slot Machines
https://youtu.be/B_XJq2Dd_Ts?si=gDmqreFlIfn4_XdV

Hecht Leoni Lucille
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fODOKDZ-ZM

Audio (with photos)
Bill with the RJO Hangup Your Hangups
https://youtu.be/67myAghIUHo 

Samba de Sausalito
https://youtu.be/NV1loe9rP7A

Hecht Leoni Self Gronberg “Little Sunflower and Witch Hunt”
https://youtu.be/aTGtRl73NKQ

Hecht Leoni Self Gronberg “The Whisperer”
https://youtu.be/lGSdb9XRlFU

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