All Events

There are many ways of listening to music at The Great Notch Inn.  You can hang out in the parking lot and admire the hogs (look but do not touch).  You can get a drink and hang out on the veranda.  Or you can come inside and get the full immersion.   As the old disco song goes - "Do it any you wanna, do it..."
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm
https://www.facebook.com/Great-Notch-Inn-45741843010/

This is Better Off Dead's annual Halloween extravaganza.  I will humiliate myself and wear the wizard hat that my daughter used when she was 11 years old to trick & treat.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm
https://www.facebook.com/Great-Notch-Inn-45741843010/

Dave Rudbarg is a power house vocalist and a mainstay of the North Jersey / Manhattan blues circuit.  We will be playing in the Green Room at The Shrine in Harlem NYC starting at 8:00.  There may be an admission charge, so call ahead for details.   (212) 690-7807
https://www.shrinenyc.com/
www.livinginthelandofyes.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rudbarg/100063610720802/

This is Better Off Dead's annual Christmas extravaganza.  I will humiliate myself (are you seeing a pattern here?) and wear an elf's hat.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm
https://www.facebook.com/Great-Notch-Inn-45741843010/

This is the latest iteration of a long running series of blues jam sessions run by Al Gold.  I will be sitting in with the house band.
Blues Jam at Pickett's Village Bar

My composition Short Story for Violin & Piano #1 will be performed by violinist Marina Kifferstein and pianist Simon Mulligan in a concert produced by the New York Composers Circle.
There will be a wine & cheese reception following the concert.
General Admission $20, Seniors $15, Students Free

A special one set show at the historic Bitter End in Greenwich Village, NYC

Admission is $10, plus a drink minimum

Annual Halloween Party

An all star cast of North Jersey's finest blues musicians will gather together and make a mighty fine sound - all to raise money in support of early childhood education.

Annual Christmas Extravaganza

My composition SQrt Season 1, Episode 1 will be performed at the National Opera center in NYC by The Rhythm Method string quartet - along with pieces by 7 other composers in the New York Composers Collective.

Advanced tickets are now available.  $15 in advance. $20 at the door.  You may purchase advanced tickets here:  https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5668828

March Madness @ "Da Notch"

My composition Suite for Strings - Episode 1 will be performed by the Lviv Philharmonic Society (Ukraine) along with pieces by 6 other international composers.  Please note that you will not have to travel to Ukraine to see/hear this, it will be live streamed.   Also, the time(s) may be subject to some changes (although the date is firm I am told).  I will update this when I have more details.   Stay tuned.

I will be making a rare solo appearance playing piano at the cute Trend Cafe herein Montclair.  I will doing a mix of blues, boogie-woogie, 60s hits (Doors, Beatles, Beach Boys) along with some of my so called classical compositions.
https://www.facebook.com/dime.trendhouse.7
https://www.trendcoffee.com

My composition for string quartet SQrt Season 1, Episode 1 will be performed in concert by the Bergamot Quartet.   Admission is $20, $15 for seniors, students are free.  Tickets will go on sale at the end of the month here.  My piece is first on the program so don't be late!   Cheese & wine reception after the concert.
New York Composers Circle

Summertime music

I will be opening up playing piano for the Fabulous Rhythm Aces playing a mix of blues, boogie woogie and a few original tunes.  Admission is $10.   Beer drinking is optional.

Annual Halloween Extravaganza

This whimsically named concert will feature compositions by members of the New York Composer's Collective and will be performed by a Piano Trio (hence the whimsical concert title).  Piano Trios consist of a piano (duh) plus violin & cello.
I will be playing piano on my piece (gulp) title Short Excursion for Piano Trio #3.
Tickets are $20.  Sorry I do not have any "comps".

This is a fund raiser for the North Jersey Blues Society.   I will be playing piano opening up for some industry "heavy weights" including The Blues People & Alexis P. Suter Band.
Tickets are $25.   You may purchase advanced tickets here:  https://www.northjerseybluessociety.org/event-details/njbs-annual-fundraiser

Annual Christmas party

My composition Short Excursion for Piano Trio #1 will be performed in concert.   Katie Thomas will be playing violin, Kate Dillingham will be playing cello, and I will on piano (gulp).  Admission is $20, $15 for seniors, students are free.  Tickets will go on sale Feb 28th here.   Cheese & wine reception after the concert.
New York Composers Circle

Better Off Dead's first show of 2024!

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Sunday Night has an earlier start.

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I will be the half time show at this event at SOPAC - playing a mix of boogie-woogie and contemporary blues piano.

Bring your friends and family together in The Loft at SOPAC for an intimate evening of world-class Blues music. Curated by Mike Griot, this evening - filled with luxurious harmonies and swingin’ rhythms  - is perfect for any Blues lover will feature Blues and Rock guitarist Debra Devi and guitarist Dean Shot.

Admission is $20.  You may purchase tickets in advance here

This is an all day outdoor festival featuring prominent blues artists Bob Stroger and Johnny Burgin.   The festival starts at 1:00 PM and goes until about 8:00 PM.  Cold in Hand is scheduled to hit the stage at about 5:30, but with as with all festivals the times are estimates.   The festival will be held rain or shine.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2470899313095419

Saturday Night party!
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Friday Night at the  Shillelagh Club
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Thursday Night!
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The Nu Quintet will be performing my Exercise for Woodwind Quintet along with pieces by 8 other composers.   This piece was inspired by the seminal New Orleans group The Meters.  Dig that funky bassoon.

Tickets are $20.50 in advance, pay as you will (cash preferred) at the door.  You may order tickets here:  https://www.nuquintet.com/event-details/nu-works-ii

Halloween -get prepared from some strange spooky music.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Great-Notch-Inn/100051551302390/
https://www.betteroffdead.com/

Annual Xmas Show - featuring some offbeat Christmas tunes.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Great-Notch-Inn/100051551302390/
https://www.betteroffdead.com/

Thursday Night!
https://www.facebook.com/people/Great-Notch-Inn/100051551302390/
https://www.betteroffdead.com/

My composition Short Excursion for Piano Trio #4 will be performed in concert.   Katie Thomas will be playing violin, Kate Dillingham will be playing cello, and Craig Ketter will be on piano.  Admission is $20, $15 for seniors, students are free.  Tickets will go on sale Feb 28th.   Cheese & wine reception after the concert.
New York Composers Circle

I will be joining forces with the Frost Kings (superb blues band) at the Monmouth Public Library - this is "down the shore" in Manalapan.   As this is a library we will be playing a bit quieter than usual.  Shhh!

Thursday Night!
https://www.facebook.com/people/Great-Notch-Inn/100051551302390/
https://www.betteroffdead.com/

I will be joining forces with the Frost Kings (superb blues band) at the Monmouth Public Library - this is "down the shore" in Manalapan.   As this is a library we will be playing a bit quieter than usual.  Shhh!

This is the last Composer's Collective concert in the 24-25 season and will feature works composed by members of the Composer's Collective for violin & piano - or just piano.  Tentatively I will be performing a collection of short works for piano.   Other works will feature violinist Katie Thomas and pianist Markus Kaitila.

This is an outdoor event in downtown Somerville.   Details will be forthcoming.

Sunday Night!
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https://www.betteroffdead.com/

Thursday Night!
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https://www.betteroffdead.com/

This is a 3 day composers convention/festival organized by NACUSA (National Association of Composers USA) featuring concerts and lectures.   I will be performing in concert some selections from a new collection of short piano pieces titled 10 Easy Pieces.   I am on Concert III which starts at 1:00.  A number of my fellow composers are also on the program - I am 4th on the program.  If you do show up, I encourage you to stay for concert IV which starts at 4:00

https://www.nacusamusic.org/festival-2025

This is a "virtual concert" put on by NACUSA (National Association of Composers USA).  If you go to this link at exactly 3:00 PM EST on Wednesday September 24th, you will hear my Rumble for Two Pianos as played by my computer (not real musicians).  I am 3rd on the program.  Good listening!

Sunday is Funday . . .
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Halloween!!
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https://www.betteroffdead.com/

I will be performing some selections from my up and coming album - tentatively titled "10 Easy Pieces".   I will post details on the program when they become available.

I will be in the house band for this inauguration of a new location for Andy Lackow's blues jam.  Andy's blues jam sessions are an institution in the North Jersey blues community.   While this is a new location for the jam, it's a well established location for blues aficionados.    https://www.facebook.com/events/798860159692693/

Thursday!
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https://www.betteroffdead.com/

Paul Weisenstein - the guitarist/lead singer of Uptown Boogie Band - and myself played in a band in the late 1970s - so this is a reunion of sorts.

https://www.northjerseybluessociety.org/event-details/uptown-boogie-band

Better Off Dead will raucously ring in the new year.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Great-Notch-Inn/100051551302390/
https://www.betteroffdead.com/

I will be in the house band for this second edition of Andy Lackow's blues jam at the Shillelagh Club.  Andy's blues jam sessions are an institution in the North Jersey blues community.

I will be joining forces with the Frost Kings (superb blues band) at the West Orange Public Library.   As this is a library we will be playing a bit quieter than usual.   Swing dancing is encouraged.

I will be in the house band for this third edition of Andy Lackow's blues jam at the Shillelagh Club.  Andy's blues jam sessions are an institution in the North Jersey blues community.

I will be joining forces with the Frost Kings (superb blues band) at the West Orange Public Library.   As this is a library we will be playing a bit quieter than usual.  Shhh!

This concert will feature the Trio Fadolin.  Each member of the Composer's Collective will create a piece specifically for this talented group of musicians.  My piece - tentatively titled "Its Only Natural" will also include myself playing piano.

Come celebrate that big refund you will be getting on your income taxes . . .
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https://www.betteroffdead.com/

Renowned Soprano Dominika Zamara will be singing 3 new songs composed by myself with lyrics by the Italian poet Brunella Postiglione.   Ms. Postiglione is a life long resident of Naples, and while her poetry does not explicitly reference Naples, it is drenched in the spirit & ethos of the Neapolitan people.