On December 30. 2004 Murl was the featured Artist with the Everett Symphony in Everett, WA.

His previous recording from 2000 is an accordion CD called “CAN YOU DANCE TO IT?” featuring all original songs and his band. “CAN YOU DANCE TO IT?” is a lively, danceable mix of styles Murl has been calling “Zyfusico” including pop, zydeco, rock, country, jazz and blues influences. He has a unique, readily identifiable style on accordion that sets him apart from all other modern players currently working. He has two other CD’s out: “NEW ROMANCE AND DOIN’ ALL RIGHT,” a solo piano recording from 1996 that still receives airplay on KPLU-FM and KING-FM in Seattle, and “SOON” from 1991, featuring original compositions and his piano and accordion playing with his nine-piece band, “Going Overboard.”

He has worked with such diverse national artists as Chuck Berry, Theodore Bikel, Peter Duchin, Leslie Gore, the Von Trapp Children, Etta James, harmonica virtuoso Lee Oskar and a host of regional luminaries including Ken Boynton, Danny Deardorff, Kelly Harland, Barbara Lamb, Leon Lishner, Magical Strings, Tim Noah, Papaya, Susan Pascal, Michael Powers, Renee Redeker, Nadine Shanti, Tickle Tune Typhoon, Michael Tomlinson and Jim Valley among others. Murl’s versatility has led him to be in demand as a freelance artist in numerous bands and studio work for MUZAK, television and radio commercials as well as sideman work on many CD projects in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. He also leads his own band, does solo work, composes and arranges music, sings, plays piano, harmonica, Hammond B-3 organ, electronic keyboards and teaches.

In 2004 and 2003, Murl was a featured artist at the Leavenworth Accordion Festival, the Chemainus British Columbia Accordion Festival, and appeared at accordion clubs in Milwaukee and Chicago. In September 2002, Murl’s group played for the opening night gala for the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall. Murl was a featured artist at the First and Second Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Conventions in 2000 and 2001, performing and teaching workshops. Murl appeared at the Arizona Accordion Club in March 2004, 2003 and 2002 and will return in 2005. Murl is a member of the Northwest Accordion Society and performs regularly at Seattle’s Day of the Accordion and has been featured at the Forest Grove Accordion Club as well. Murl was also a featured artist at the Third Annual Cotati Festival in 1993.

Murl’s earliest accordion influence was Stan Boreson, a local children’s television personality, accordionist and comedian still working in Seattle. Stan inspired hundreds of kids to play the accordion. The Lawrence Welk Show on TV also imprinted accordion music in Murl’s brain and Myron Floren was Murl’s hero when he was age six.

Aside from his first basics instructor, Leo Furman, Murl had only one truly influential accordion teacher, Doug Middendorf in Seattle. However, Murl’s musical education has included many wonderful and inspirational teachers: John Wittwer, Jerome Gray, George Peckham, Dave Peck, Terry Moore and Barbara Lundquist most notably. Murl has a B.A. in music education from the University of Washington and teaches private lessons in accordion, piano and voice for individual adults and children. Murl has also taught choral music at Chinook Middle School in Bellevue, Washington.

His important accordion influences include Brazilian accordionist Sivuca, jazz accordionists Art Van Damme, Leon Sash and Tommy Gumina, Astor Piazzolla, the Argentine bandoneonist, Ken Olendorf, a local jazz accordionist, zydeco/cajun players Clifton Chenier, CJ Chenier and Bruce Daigrepont, celtic and European players Maria Kalaniemi, Joe Derrane, Ivo Papasov’s band, Phil Cunningham, various Brazilian and African accordionists, Los Lobos, Flaco Jimenez and various Klezmer players. Other non-accordion musical influences are pianists Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson, organists Billy Preston, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Richard “Groove” Holmes and Jack McDuff, saxophonists John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and many others, guitarists B.B. King, Freddy King, Eric Clapton and others. The list could go on and on. All have played a role in expanding his accordion consciousness and style. Murl considers his friend and colleague FRANK MAROCCO to be the best jazz accordionist alive and has been a big influence on him in recent years. Murl definitely has eclectic tastes and it has allowed him to play in many different situations.

Aside from his own tunes, Murl prefers to play in settings that allow him to play blues, zydeco, rock, country, ethnic/folk and jazz. If Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Faith Hill, David Sanborn, Airto, Anita Baker, James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Robert Cray, Wilco, Dave Matthews, The Chieftains or any of the modern Celtic, country, fusion, smooth or mainstream jazz artists call, MURL IS READY!

Besides performing at jazz festivals and concerts you are likely to hear Murl perform in the Seattle area at such places as: The 13 Coins Restaurant, Plymouth Congregational Church, The Sorrento Hotel, Cascadia Restaurant, Daniel’s Broiler, Columbia Tower Club, Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle Golf Club, Sunset Club and other private clubs, nightclubs and hotels. Murl has been an active member of the Pacific Northwest music scene for over twenty-five years.

You can hear Murl playing piano, accordion and Hammond organ on the soundtrack of the new comedy "Eulogy" starring Ray Romano and Debra Winger, scheduled for release to DVD in 2005. Murl's music can also be heard in retail stores on the MUZAK network and in Nordstrom’s own background music system. Recently Murl played accordion on the soundtrack of a feature film starring Eileen Brennan called “Moonglow” and a short film for the Seattle International Film Festival entitled “It’s Only Temporary.” You may have heard Murl on the soundtrack for the “Ivar’s Dancing Clam and Sea Captain” TV commercial in 1999/2000 or the “Accordion Logger” TV spots for Washington Mutual Bank in 1994/1995.

“Murl Allen Sanders’ trio dazzled the audience with his unique accordion style and energy...a mix of zydeco, blues and jazz...” - Doris Osgood, Northwest Accordion News

“This is music that will make you unwind and smile.” - Melinda Bargreen, The Seattle Times