Monday, November 21, 2016

Abhik!

I have used the expression "what a gift" in this blog before, but this time I am referring to Abhik Mazumder.    Abhik is a student of Dr. Suzanne Newcomb.  In my years of observing piano teachers, most teachers have a student or students who "break out of the pack."  Abhik is that student for Suzanne.

Yesterday Abhik presented a beautiful piano recital through the Music Series at St. John's Episcopal Church in Worthington, Ohio. Abhik is only 15 years old, but he played with superb technique and musicality beyond his years.  Abhik began taking piano lessons at age 4,  and was the 2013 Ohio Music Teachers Association piano competition winner.

He has also gone beyond his interest in classical piano, and began his jazz education under the late performer and educator Mark Flugge.  He joined the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2015, and played at Lincoln Center this past summer.

I had the opportunity to hear Abhik perform at the Columbus Jazz Orchestra/Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra concert at the Lincoln Theatre here in Columbus.  This concert featured the amazing jazz pianist Aaron Diehl, and Aaron has connected with Abhik.  Abhik has also won the Jazz Arts Group Hank Marr High School Jazz Award.

I can only add, after hearing Abhik perform yesterday, he could be on his way to an incredible career as a pianist, including classical music and jazz.


Abhik started the recital with the concert etude by Franz Liszt "un sospiro."  It was absolutely beautiful, and the work displayed Abhik's amazing technique.  I know from limited playing where I am crossing my left hand over my right hand, that it is challenging.  Abhik's agility over the key board, is simply so incredible.

I love Claude Debussy and Abhik did not disappoint his audience with the beautiful La soiree dans Grenade.  Beautiful chords, and a moving impressionist work, which I had not heard before.  I played Clair de Lune for my 10th grade piano recital, and Abhik simply did an incredible performance of that familiar work as well.

Abhik ended the first half of the recital with "Ocean" an Etude by Chopin.  It truly brought the sounds of the ocean to life.  Abhik's playing brought out the majesty of this work.

I have blogged about jazz piano, and Abhik's second half of his recital was worth the wait.  He started with Blue Monk  by Thelonious Monk, and did such an incredible job of adding a dimension of excitement to such a familiar piece.

Abhik played one of my all time favorite songs of all time Jerome Kern's All the Things You Are.  For a person of such young years, he was able to capture the timeless melody, and it made me think of the endearing lyrics and the unending message of love that the song conveys.

Abhik honored the late Mark Flugge, a brilliant pianist, gone too soon with February's Promise,  And he played Spain by Chick Corea, another wonderful selection.  By this time, I felt like I was in heaven, Abhik, is in fact, that good.

In 1969 I was 14 and starting high school, when Paul Simon composed Bridge over Troubled Water.  I played it often, and I think the song is quite applicable to the political climate in the country.  Abhik did a moving performance of a timeless classic.  It was a meaningful ending to a wonderful afternoon of music.

Since Abhik's teacher, Dr. Suzanne Newcomb loves Brahms, Abhik came back for a beautiful Brahms etude to end the recital.  I can only repeat what I blogged at the beginning, Abhik, what a gift!!

Where ever his music takes, him, Abhik's journey is going to be an interesting one.  It was comforting to see his parents in the choir loft balcony recording his performance.  They must have been so proud. It brought back so many happy memories, of my parents in place for my recitals.  For it is the parents who bring their child or children to the music.

It was an honor to share in Abhik's musical adventure, and I know he will be making his mark in the Central Ohio arts community and beyond



Monday, November 14, 2016

The Next Wave and my piano

It has been a while since I have posted.  Work has kept me busy, and I have spent some time sorting out what I want to do after I am done practicing law, in a few more years.  I took a hiatus from piano lessons, and at least for a while just played my "lounge lizard music"  I made the decision at least for the moment to return to Dr. Suzanne Newcomb, a couple of times of month.  She has what is called adult student Fridays, and one can sign up through her genius sign up board.  So I average 1 or 2 lessons a month depending on her schedule and mine.  In the past I was taking lessons from Madeline Karn, who also taught my daughter for many years.

I decided I would change it up for a few months, just to do something different..  I can only say that Mrs. Katherine Lemon, Madeline and Suzanne make up the trifecta of my best teachers,  Mrs. Lemon and Madeline are graduates of Oberlin, and Suzanne received her doctorate from Peabody, so I have always been in good hands literally.  So that is my update on the piano lesson front.

I also add that I have been dealing with tendonitis the last few months, actually from repetitive needlepoint work.  Interestingly it doesn't seem to bother me when I am playing the piano, so I guess that is a good thing.

But I digress and want to say that the post is really about my favorite pianist Emmanuel Ax.  Of course I have had the good fortune to see Mr. Ax in concert, with Yo-Yo Ma and with his wife.  He is an incredible pianist, and there is simply something warm and genuine about him.  I truly think he is amazing.

The recent issue of Clavier Companion has an article entitled the Ax Files, and an interview with Mr. Ax.  There are wonderful parts to the print and video interviews.  The part of the article and video that truly hit home with me, was his kind words about amateurs.

He talks about the quality of pianists now studying at conservatories, of their great perseverance and talent.  But he also talks about amateurs, and that anyone can learn to play the piano.  He sort of implied and perhaps actually said that amateurs are part of the future of the piano.

There are so many of us, who dreamed of a career as a musician, whether it was for a day, a month or even over a number of years.  Many of us went on to another profession, and some of us still felt that we must make the piano part of our lives.  In his interview, Mr. Ax pointed out that anyone can learn the piano, and sit down at the piano and make some music happen.

It is so true.  Even if one sits down with a book of music from their early child hood years, a person can perhaps plink out a Christmas carol, or something even a bit harder, and perhaps decide this:  hey I really did enjoy this, and I want to bring it back into my life.  All three of my trifecta teachers, have always encouraged playing the piano for the sheer enjoyment of it.

I always loved coming to my lessons in high school.  I would find Mrs. Lemon playing her Chickering grand with the top up, often world war 2 big band music, that she claimed she danced to with Mr. Lemon.  She knew loads of classical pieces, but she also played whatever simply for the sheer joy of playing it.  That always made me happy.

Back to Mr. Ax's interview.  He also spoke about the great patience that is required to teach piano. No truer words were spoken.  It does take great patience, to help a student determine the correct fingering, correct someone's pedaling or lack thereof, or of course, point out for the umpteenth time, hey that is not a b flat.

The article simply affirmed how much Mr. Ax still loves the piano.  He also reassured the interviewer, that he gets nervous before performances.   I love to get a glimpse of someone's human side, again, it is so re assuring.

Pick up a copy of this magazine at any bookstore, or access it on line at Clavier Companion.  It's puts Mr. Ax in a very human light, and that human quality is what attracted me to his artistry in the first place.

I am also such a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma and of course he is so proud of his collaborative work with Mr. Ma and Jaime Laredo.  Incredible interview in print and video.