Si was born July 25, 1937, in St. Louis, MO. At the age of seven he started classical piano lessons (1944-51),
and then studied keyboard harmony (jazz) with Hall Overton 1957-58.

Since the early 1960s he has been a performing pianist (jazz and related styles of music) on the Bay Area Jazz scene, beginning with two years as house pianist at the legendary Bop City. Through the years he has been a leader of combos featuring many of the finest local musicians (Paul Breslin, Frank Passantino, Puzz Firth, Vince Lateano, Tony Johnson, Steve Mitchell, George Marsh, Mel Martin, Gerry Gilmore, Al Molino, Noel Jewkes) as well as sideman in groups including national stars of Jazz music (Art Pepper, Buddy Collette, Pepper Adams, Frank Rehak, Julien Priester, Harry Sweets Edison).

Throughout his performing years he has taught his course in Jazz Piano Theory and Technique to private students. He has, also,
instructed the Jazz Theory class at Family Light Music School (1974-77) and the Jazz Piano class at Sonoma State University (1983-87).

In 1995 he published Sis Tunes, containing all of his original compositions up to that time.

Recordings include the following:

LPs

Evil Eyes with the Mike Vax Big Band 1973 (with Art Pepper).
Live with the Mike Vax Big Band 1974.
Poets Journey Si Perkoff Trio 1979.

CDs

Sax Serenade with the King Perkoff Band 1995.
Let’s Stay Together with the King Perkoff Band 1998.
Big Band Bash with the Chicago Six 1998.
Fun Jazz with Mal Sharpe’s Big Money In Jazz Band 1999.
Alternate Route with the New Oakland Jazz Orchestra 1999.
Jazz At Home Solo Piano by Si Perkoff 1999.
21rst Century Unlimited with the Chicago Six 2000.
Off The Ground with the Max Perkoff Quartet 2000.
HARD TIMES ON PLANET EARTH - Poetry & Jazz
with Norman Woods, aka N-Side, 2000.
Hear Again! The re-release of Poet’s Journey and Jazz Mix 2001.
Si Sings! With the Si Perkoff Trio 2002.
BIGBANDJAZZ.NET with the Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra 2002.
Wanda Stafford Duo with Wanda Stafford 2002.
Tin Roof Blues with Mal Sharpe’s Big Money In Jazz Band 2002.
Crystal Creampuff The ’70s Music Of Jane Perkoff 2002.
Harmony Of Odd Numbers with the Monk¹s Music Trio 2003.
Hello Sisters with The Chicago Six 2003.
Wanda Stafford...Live At Pearl¹s with Wanda Stafford,
vocalist and the Vince Lateano Trio 2003
Think Of One with the Monk¹s Music Trio 2004.
Amazing Space with Max Perkoff, trombone 2005.
Monks Bones featuring Roswell Rudd and Max Perkoff, trombonists,
with the Monk¹s Music Trio 2007.
Firecracker Baby with the Mal Sharpe Big Money In Jazz Band 2008.

CASSETTES

Mellow Love King Perkoff Band 1988.
King Perkoff Live King Perkoff Band 1989.
King Perkoff Live Part II King Perkoff Band 1990.
One Whole Step Max Perkoff Jazz Ensemble 1990.
Live At Yoshi’s Max Perkoff Jazz Ensemble 1991.
Live at the Claremont with the Rex Allen Swing Express 1991.
Jazz Mix Si Perkoff (combos and solo) 1992.
Headin’ South with the Mike Vax Great American Jazz Band 1992.
Live at UOP with the Mike Vax Great American Jazz Band 1993.

Si currently plays many festivals with a group based in Southern California called The Chicago Six. It is a Swing combo with a broad stylistic spread, from light Dixieland through pre-Bop. He also does festivals, as well as local gigs, with the Pat Yankee Gentlemen Of Jazz and Mal Sharpes Big Money In Jazz Band, both traditional Dixieland groups, and Mike Vaxs Great American Jazz Band, also Dixieland but with modern styles mixed in.

He is the pianist with the Mike Vax Big Band, a Modern Jazz big band, and performed with them at the 1996 Monterey Jazz Festival.

He is the pianist with and musical director of the Monks Music Trio, led by drummer Chuck Bernstein, devoted exclusively to the music of Thelonious Monk.

He leads his own trio, playing what Si calls no holds barred Modern Be-bop, featuring many of his own compositions, as well as contemporary classics by the great artists of Jazz. His vocal repertoire consists mostly of standard tunes, so that is also featured in his trio performances.

Si often plays with his sons quartet, the Max Perkoff Jazz Ensemble.

Sis style of playing is rooted in Bebop and the Blues. His influences span the history and breadth of Jazz: Jelly Roll Morton, Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Louis, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Red Garland, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock. Over the years he has participated in most jazz styles, Dixieland to Contemporary, R&B to Salsa, but he states, Bebop remains my primary mode of expression.

Some more examples of his work as a Jazz pianist in the San Francisco Bay Area:

*Leading small jazz combos at Bop City, Soulville, Sugar Hill, Gatsbys, The Trident, Davoods, Lascaux, Cafe Claude and Fairfax Coffee Roasters. These groups have featured such musicians as Mel Graves, Bob Maize, Paul Breslin, Frank Passantino, Puzz Firth, Cash Killiam, Vince Lateano, Tony Johnson, Steven Mitchell, George Marsh, Dave Rokeach, Dave Black, Harold Jones, Mel Martin, Gerry Gilmore, Al Molino, and Noel Jewkes.

*Sideman in numerous bands, at jazz clubs, hotels, and concerts. These groups featured such musicians as Art Pepper, Buddy Collette, Pepper Adams, Bishop Norman Williams, Frank Rehak, Jules Broussard, Vince Catalica, Vince Wallace, Julien Priester, Carlos Barreda, Ron Stallings, and Jim Rothermel.

*Playing jazz festivals in Eureka, Mammoth Lakes, Monterey, Palm Springs, Pismo Beach, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, San Mateo, Stockton, Three Rivers, Victorville, Lake Havasu AZ, Victoria BC, Sun Valley ID, Chicago IL, Davenport IA, Moodus CT, Reno NV, Seaside OR, St. Louis MO, and Medford OR.

*Playing with big bands led by Mike Vax, Cuz Cousineaux, Rudy Salvini, Frederico Cervantes, Don Piestrup, Dick Bright, and Rex Allen.

*Playing with blues artists T-Bone Walker, Big Mama Thornton, Nick Gravinitas, and Lisa Kindred.

*Accompanying vocalists Doug Arrington, Les Bailey, Margie Baker, Yve Evans, Fran Fosten, Robin Gregory, Ruth Keady, Barbara Lashley, Kitty Margolis, Daria Niles, Cami Thompson, Wanda Stafford and Debbie Vultura.

*Touring as the keyboardist with the musical Hair (1971).