July 20, 2005
Tuesday at the Village Vanguard
I’ve been in New York City since Sunday afternoon, and it’s been wonderful, even more so than I had expected. Here’s what I’ve been up to in a nutshell:
- Sunday evening: Went to the kick-off concert for the International Keyboard Institute & Festival, founded by my dad’s lifelong pianist friend Jerry Rose, who teaches at the Mannes School of Music here on the Upper West Side. Jerry played the concert (as he always does for the first one of the festival).
- Monday afternoon: Went to a Master Class at the IKIF run by Ursula Oppens. Afterwards, we (my parents and Jacob and I) went to high tea at the Four Seasons. Spectacular.
- Monday evening: Dinner and hanging out with David and Susana. Much fun. I’ve missed them tons. I’m going to see them again this afternoon to go hip-clothes shopping. :)
- Monday night: Met up with Carol Ann downtown and hung out for a loooong time. First we went walking around Soho, Little Italy (where we stopped for some gelato) and the East Village. Then back to her place, where we played Boggle and listened to records and danced. By the time I looked up, it was 6am, so I walked home still so amped by having had a good time that I didn’t get to sleep until 7.
- Tuesday afternoon: Invited Carol Ann to come with me to another Master Class, this one conducted by Fabio Bedini. We caught the last hour and a half of it. I enjoy a good Master Class, and last year at the IKIF I thought how much I’d love for some of my friends to see one. After the class, Carol Ann and I went to the Ayurveda Cafe, which I always try to visit at least once whenever I come to New York.
- Tuesday night: Jacob had the fantastic idea of going to the Village Vanguard to hear some jazz. Actually, we debated between the VV and the Blue Note, but the Blue Note featured a piano trio while the Village Vanguard had the Jimmy Greene quintet, and Jacob wanted to hear some lead instruments. :) The quintet featured Stefan Harris on vibes, which was a pleasant surprise for me—I’d seen Harris in St. Louis leading his own band at the Bistro about a year and a half ago, and I like him.
So it’s just been a whilewind. Right now I’m taking it easy, resting and relaxing before the shopping later. It’s hard to believe I’ve only been here two full days so far; what a great vacation.
Posted by alex at 08:54 AM | Comments (0)
Tuesday at the Village Vanguard
I’ve been in New York City since Sunday afternoon, and it’s been wonderful, even more so than I had expected. Here’s what I’ve been up to in a nutshell:
- Sunday evening: Went to the kick-off concert for the International Keyboard Institute & Festival, founded by my dad’s lifelong pianist friend Jerry Rose, who teaches at the Mannes School of Music here on the Upper West Side. Jerry played the concert (as he always does for the first one of the festival).
- Monday afternoon: Went to a Master Class at the IKIF run by Ursula Oppens. Afterwards, we (my parents and Jacob and I) went to high tea at the Four Seasons. Spectacular.
- Monday evening: Dinner and hanging out with David and Susana. Much fun. I’ve missed them tons. I’m going to see them again this afternoon to go hip-clothes shopping. :)
- Monday night: Met up with Carol Ann downtown and hung out for a loooong time. First we went walking around Soho, Little Italy (where we stopped for some gelato) and the East Village. Then back to her place, where we played Boggle and listened to records and danced. By the time I looked up, it was 6am, so I walked home still so amped by having had a good time that I didn’t get to sleep until 7.
- Tuesday afternoon: Invited Carol Ann to come with me to another Master Class, this one conducted by Fabio Bedini. We caught the last hour and a half of it. I enjoy a good Master Class, and last year at the IKIF I thought how much I’d love for some of my friends to see one. After the class, Carol Ann and I went to the Ayurveda Cafe, which I always try to visit at least once whenever I come to New York.
- Tuesday night: Jacob had the fantastic idea of going to the Village Vanguard to hear some jazz. Actually, we debated between the VV and the Blue Note, but the Blue Note featured a piano trio while the Village Vanguard had the Jimmy Greene quintet, and Jacob wanted to hear some lead instruments. :) The quintet featured Stefan Harris on vibes, which was a pleasant surprise for me—I’d seen Harris in St. Louis leading his own band at the Bistro about a year and a half ago, and I like him.
So it’s just been a whilewind. Right now I’m taking it easy, resting and relaxing before the shopping later. It’s hard to believe I’ve only been here two full days so far; what a great vacation.
Posted by alex at 08:54 AM | Comments (0)