Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

Sunday, February 24, 2008




A Great Night


Kitty and I went to see Gabriela Montero last night at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. We had seats in the front row Center! As is her want, the first half of her program, she played straight classical pieces & after intermission, she did improvisation requests from the audience. The highlight (for me) of the performance was when a Peddie School Student asked if she could play a piece she had been working on but was stuck. Ms. Montero welcomed her up, she played about 6-8 seconds of a piece and after a moment, Ms Montero went for a good 5-8 minutes; just on that small piece! I loved the fact that she engaged the audience (and was very engaging herself)


After the performance ended, we came out to the lobby, where a couple of Ms. Monteros' CD's were being sold. We were told she would come & sign them and because I was prepared for that eventuality, I brought the Right tool for the job, a fine point Sharpie ( I've had Experience with Musicians before-they Never have them!)

Ms. Montero came out and (as usual) was trying to sign in pen. I offered her the Sharpie, which she gladly accepted and when it was my turn, I got both my CD's signed on the Cd's themselves plus I gave her a job shirt I had made for her from the Quartermaster with her name embroidered on the Right side (like all of us have) I said: " many people will offer you flowers or Candy but I thought you might appreciate something that will keep you warm." She graciously accepted and in the picture above, you see her holding onto the Quartermasters' clear bag.(and the Sharpie)

Yes, that IS what I look like- Short,Plump & Balding with Glasses and a 'stache Kinda like Santa Claus but without the Powers or Motivation. But I'm a WHEE! of a paramedic!- and a Legend in my own mind too!
























Friday, February 22, 2008

Music You might like to Check Out.

Thanks to Gooseberried and her wonderful commenters for a list of music they listen to.

1. Belle & Sebastian 11. The Postal Service 21. Neko Case
2. Bloc Party 12. Regina Specktor 22. DCFC
3. David Bowie 13. 311 24. The Doves
4. Elliot Smith 14. Idna Menzel 25. Iron &
5. Feist 15. Beirut Wine
6. Imogen Heap 16. Hawksley Workman 26. Wilco
7. Ingrid Michaelson 17. Mia toi Dodd 27. Rachael Yamagada
8. The John Butler Trio 18. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! 28. Sia
9. Joni Mitchell 19. Tally Hall 29. Stars
10. PJ Harvey 20. Arcade Fire 30. Nada Surf

I didn't follow any particular order and there were some I couldn't fit in (only 30) but Please Check out her Great Site for the Original List! For some (probably) stupid reason, I can't point to more than 24 folks. Sorry!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Classical Music for Non-Classical Music Lovers

Until I figure out how to acquire Last FM or Pandora to appear on this site I'd like to direct your attention to Gabriela Montero, a Venezuelan piano virtuoso who re-interprets all kinds/ styles of classical music and is Very listenable! I picked up her CD yesterday and although I am not a big classical fan, I really like her stuff! Lively,Quick &Deft, in both technique & feel.She is on MySpace, YouTube and other places a young musician would post to so you can check her out and even download a few of her performances for free.

My next question I'd like to put out there is: Have you found an artist, group or style of music that you found you liked but don't normally listen to? I'm an eclectic listener of everything from Dance Trance/Electronic through Rock, Pop, Folk & Non Folk (Regina Specktor) and now some classical! Who'd a Thunk it?