In which I regretfully have to depart
It was sometime in the early 2000s. The exact date – even the year – has been lost to the mists of memory. We were going to see my sister-in-law Susan perform with this comedy improv group she had joined called Lunatic Fringe. They were playing at a local dessert place called The Soda Shop (I think). As we were waiting for the show to start, Deb Maclean -the director of the group – was walking around around the room shouting “Is there a piano player in the house?”. Apparently the regular piano player was a no show. I tried to hide under the table but everyone else pointed at me. And so I was summarily dragooned into playing piano with this bunch of crazy talented people.
At first I had no idea what I was doing. Sometimes I was laughing so hard I forgot that I was on stage. Then I’d hear a frantic whisper. “Eric, Eric!” Oh yeah that’s right, I’m supposed to be playing piano. Sometimes I puzzled over what music to play. What song goes with a skit about tooth paste?
In the many years since I’ve performed with these folks all over New Jersey and even took a few ventures into Manhattan. I’ve had more fun than I thought possible and have stocked away enough memories to last several lifetimes. There’s been some sadness too, Jerry Lazar’s death was a tragic loss.
Anyway, it’s now my time to say good-bye – at least as the regular “house piano player”. My life has become overly-full and I have to let some things go. Does this mean I’ll never, ever perform with Lunatic Fringe again. Of course not – I’ll still jump in in a pinch.
“You’ll never know what hit you when you swing with Lunatic Fringe, yeah!!!”
And take on something new
So I’ve been pretty low key about this up to now, but I guess it’s time to come out. I’ve been bitten by the composing bug and have contracted a very serious composition fever. Not to worry, it’s not contagious – but it is has taken over much of my musical mental space.
So what am I doing about this? Well, I’ve just finished up my second year of study at Juilliard Evening School and have written a medium sized handful of pieces of chamber music. At the recommendation of one of my professors, I’ve joined a non-profit New York based Composer’s Collective.
Last month a short piano piece of mine got it’s public debut at a piano recital; and later this month my first woodwind quintet will be performed in New York.
Where this is all going to lead? Likely not very far. If there’s any field of music which is even less profitable and even more obscure than playing the blues in small New Jersey clubs it’s the classical music field.
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June 11th, Saturday, 8-9:30 PM – Lunatic Fringe, Glen Ridge Community Center @ The Glen Ridge Train Station, 228 Ridgewood Avenue (corner of Bloomfield Avenue), Glen Ridge, NJ Reservations: (973) 429-1527
A bittersweet last regular show. Tickets: $12 at the door; $10 with a reservation
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53938723078&ref=ts
June 18th, Saturday, 9:00PM-1:00ish – Better Off Dead at The Great Notch Inn, Route 46, Little Falls (973) 256-7742
It’s sum-sum-summer time and it will be still light out when we start playing. Vroom, vroom, vroom go the bikes merrily down Route 46.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htmhttp://www.agreatertown.com/little_falls_nj/great_notch_inn_new_jerseys_rockin_roadhouse_00089580
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Notch-Inn/45741843010?fref=ts
June 20th, Monday, 8:00PM-9:30ish – Summer Winds: New Music for Woodwind Quintet at Fort Washington Collegiate Church, 729 West 181st Street, New York, NY 10033
So this is it, my big classical music composing public coming out. There will be music by seven (count them – 7) composers at this concert – including a piece by yours truly. I don’t know the order of the pieces – I might be first, I might be last. I can report that the woodwind players are excellent – they’ve got a killer bassoon player. Tickets are $15. You can buy tickets in advanced here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2561555http://www.composerscollective.org
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2561555
June 25th, Saturday, 7:00PM-9:00ish – at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair (973) 509-1134A Better off Dead double header this month. Hopefully the weather gods will smile on us as we play out on the back veranda. BYO and be patient when ordering food – it’s worth the wait.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm