Most of my music is created through improvisation, and I’ve been composing and performing new pieces over the past several years. As I review the new work, I recognize I have a body of work suitable for a recording, and I also have several compositions to be released as singles. Hearing these new pieces, audiences have requested recordings of them — so it is time to get that done. A solo recording is my primary goal for 2019.
 
The one piece I’m most excited about came to me in a dream while I was on a cruise with my father. It repeated in my head all night long, and in the morning I raced to write it down before we disembarked. Perhaps because we met a beautiful Latina on this trip, the piece is a yet unnamed Cancion. 

Plans are also in place for a second recording by the newly formed Numinus Trio. Stay tuned...

I came up with a concept for a project integrating paintings, audience discussion, and improvised music, and decided to call it The Red Door is Open. I proposed the idea to Kimberley Lynne at University of Baltimore and she loved it. So we invited Maxine Taylor and Jessica Damen to bring their paintings, and Kimberley jumped in to moderate the discussion. The response from audience members and the artists was nothing short of incredible so we did it again – this time inviting painter and saxophonist Jeffrey Hoover to join in. Again, we had an enthusiastic response to the lively discussion and the music created in the moment.
 
Now that we’ve tested the concept, I’d like to take the show on the road – so to speak. I am partnering with artist/director John C. Wilson to package this concept for colleges, universities, and art centers around the United States. We will find local artists in each city where we perform, improvise musical responses either solo or with other musicians, and John will serve as the moderator. I’m excited to share this fresh inter-arts program with a wider audience.

Back in the 1990’s I began composing music for student films at MICA. I enjoyed creating scores to support mood or advance the action of the film. I continue to write for film, video, and theatre.
 
More recently it was great fun to write the music for Kneebouncers, a series of children’s videos created by Kurt Dommermuth.  My goal was to create an atmosphere for the cheerful animated characters that conveyed their charisma and a tonal palette pleasing to children. All were recorded in single takes scored to the running video.
 
Director John C. Wilson approached me to write music for his production of A Fierce Longing, a revival that was produced for Baltimore Theatre Project’s 40th anniversary. This intense play explores the life of novelist Yukio Mishima, and I loved being able to explore Japanese motifs and instrumentation. 

In the last couple of years with a pandemic and social distancing many of us have found new opportunities and audiences online. A simple concert is now streamed and available to people around the world, and this new way of reaching and developing audiences is here to stay. From outdoor Concerts on The Lawn, to a balcony in Key West overlooking the ocean. Recording Studios at Peabody and The Studios of Key West, livestreaming has become a great way to engage.
 My newest collaboration is the H and H piano Duo; Felicia Harrington and Robert Hitz. Our duo focuses on Improvisation in a variety of genres as well as covering the standard classical 4 hand repertoire. The samples here are from a recent concert and livestream with input from the audience in the room and on various continents.
 
I will be continuing solo concerts and leading Improv groups, as well as collaborating with a variety of musicians of various genres.

I am proud of my solo recordings for piano and continue to play many of those pieces in concert. They have passed the test of time. If you are unfamiliar with my work, I hope you will enjoy this sampling.

In recent years there have been an explosion of recordings by members of my teaching studio, largely showcasing original compositions under my artistic direction. This phenomenon highlights the creative growth of these students, as well as access to affordable recording time provided by recording engineer Lee Moore.
 
Here I want to feature two students who’ve been with me for many years. No one would have believed it if five years ago someone had said Dick Gatchell would be writing love songs and recording a CD. Now in his 80s, Dick has played piano most of his life but songwriting is new to him. Felicia Clarke came to me as an already accomplished pianist playing the classical repertoire. Working with me, she began writing her own compositions which are filled with passion and power. Ora Chaya Brock began studying piano with me as a child and now as a young adult is a imaginative composer.
 
Mr. Gatchell’s “It’s All About Love” rejoices with eight original love songs. Ms. Clarke’s “Beautifully Blemished” introduces her romantic piano compositions. Ms. Brock’s “Revelation” demonstrates her entrepreneurial spirit and musical accomplishment. Here is a sample from each artist.

I love watching people grow, and artists grow incredibly rapidly when given the opportunity to perform. Unlike the tradition of an annual recital, I like to provide my students with at least six performance opportunities each year (for those who wish to perform publicly). The venues and the formats vary from assisted living centers and house concerts, to churches, country clubs, theatres, and cabaret spaces.
 
One thing that thrills me is to witness the interactions and collaborations between studio members of different ages and experience. Everyone learns from each other, and rather than a competitive environment, we create one of support and encouragement. I’m proud to share some of their performances.

As testiment to this growth as performers and musicians, we are switching up our cabaret format this year. Rather than a musical variety show format with many performers, many studio members are ready for larger challenges and will be performing their own sets of music (vocal or instrumental) in preparation for creating full solo concerts.