June, 2025 Greeting

June 27: So far, 2025 has been busy with 124 concerts in 13 states. Most have been solo recitals. But also among them:

• Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto with John LoPiccolo and Poway (CA) Symphony (Here’s the performance on YouTube)
• Grieg Piano Concerto with Yoichi Udagawa and Quincy (MA) Symphony
• Jazz trio concerts. Over the years, I have developed musical partnerships with incredible bassists and drummers throughout the US. Just in these past six months I’ve performed in different trios in Florida, New England, the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles/San Diego, Maryland, and NJ/PA. Each group has its own personality.

       Here are Marlon Martinez and Marcello Carelli in the LA/San Diego area:

       With Vince Dupont and Will Crandell in Florida:

What makes these jazz concerts unique is that, in addition to our own arrangements, we perform note-for-note transcriptions of historic jazz performances, in a sense turning these great improvisations into classical chamber music where we stick to written-out scores. This year, I have been doing Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Marian McPartland, Bill Evans, Monty Alexander, Dave Brubeck and Ahmad Jamal.

Most of my concert activity is at retirement communities. Many of these places I have played many times, developing wonderful friendships with residents, who share with me their incredible experiences and achievements. While lower-paying than “public” concerts, ironically these concerts are artistically more satisfying. I can try out new programming ideas, play what is hot that day in my fingers, subtly change programs until they “work”, all not possible with the sent-far-in-advance programs. (Imagine a comedian or jazz musician having to send a program 6 months in advance!)  Not only are the concerts better, but I can do more of them. So far, since 1994, when I decided to go this route,  I have played 7343 concerts — all of them sit-down concerts (not background music or dance music or anything like that.) I often wonder if this isn’t a record of some sort. Three days ago, I played my 34th concert at RiverWoods Exeter. They presented me with a plaque for “30 years of extraordinary performances.”

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In my non-performing life: I was granted my fourth patent in May — this one for TakeChooser which helps those making recordings choose the best takes from hours of  recording sessions. This summer I will mostly be at home to spend much-needed time with my dear April — we’ve been married almost 33 years!

I wish you the best for the rest of 2025!