About me: I play the hottest ragtime, blues jazz & classical!!!
I wear the flashiest clothing!
top-hat, two-tone shoes, brilliant colored suits,blonde hair ...weather permitting,floor length faux fur coats!
Hell's Kitchen Productions - Peter Gilmore 2007
Dr. Mark Birnbaum: Cool Piano
Maestro Birnbaum presents a potent program displaying his virtuosity as well as his extraordinarily heartfelt interpretive skills. He has mastered the idioms of Joplin, Debussy, and Scriabin—a rare feat, and here he has selected pieces that well complement each other. His Joplin is earthy, detailed and playful, projecting a thoroughly carnal love of life. In the Debussy works, Birnbaum captures his impressionism with a painterly touch, from the majesty of the “Sunken Cathedral” to the piquant vista of “Reverie.” He evokes that surging sense of decadence and diablerie so essential to Scriabin including the dissonant “Sonata #9” (Black Mass) and the mysterious tremolo-infused “Sonata #10” (Insect Sonata).
The recording is excellent, miked close enough to capture plenty of detail yet with enough room reverberation to allow the sonorities evoked to resonate without obscuring the musical lines. Whether you are a longtime listener to masters of pianism or someone new to this form of music, this album will serve you well, seducing you to listen again and again.
Click on the album cover above to visit Dr. Birnbaum’s site for ordering details, or visit Amazon.com
Edward Jablonski, 2003, Official Biographer of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin & Harold Arlen : Cool Piano
Consider this unique compilation of works by a remarkable group of composers, an American, a Frenchman and a Russian. All were creatively active around the same time, the early twentieth century. All composed in the larger forms - symphonies, concertos, and operas. They are celebrated for their piano miniatures; miniatures but in no way small. In this genre they share, besides the time, a common trait: they were all masters.
These three composers, while individual, share philosophies, even sounds, but remain themselves. Mark Birnbaum's playing fits the concept of the collection. I love this album!
Reviewed by Lawrence Marshall JazzViews.Co.UK
Anyone who knows me knows I am not too crazy about solo piano so they hand me a CD of 77 minutes of same to review but, shock, horror! it’s a delight. This is a nicely varied programme and well-played by Mark Birnbaum who is a new name to me but I will look out for him in future.
There are two compositions of Scott Joplin, namely ‘Scott Joplin’s New Rag’ and ‘Solace’ which is just about my favourite Joplin piece and is played here with proper love and respect by Mr Birnbaum. No solo piano album would be complete without something by Jelly Roll
Morton and here we have no less than six if we count ‘Tiger Rag’ which it gives here as by Morton.
The classic side is represented by two compositions by Debussy and two by Alexander Scriabin, one of which is ‘The Funeral March’. Music for all occasions? He also plays Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ which comes in at over nine minutes and I am sure the composer would have approved this version.
Novelty ragtime is represented by Zez Confrey’s ‘Kitten on the Keys’ and Tin Pan Alley by ‘Darktown Strutters Ball’, ‘Sheik of Araby’ and ‘My Blue Heaven’. There is also Duke Ellington’s ’Sophisticated Lady’ and
something by Harold Arlen called ‘Trickeration’. The set is completed by four original compositions by Mark Birnbaum none of which really sets the woods on fire. A mixed bag then of which I feel that Morton and Joplin numbers come off best – but that could be me showing my age.
Finally, mention of Scott Joplin enables me to put in a plug for the Scott Joplin House in St. Louis. It is a little off the tourist track but is well worth a visit.
eJazzNews - "Hot Piano!" - CD Review May 2005
I admire any musical artist that has command of their instrument and
Mark Birnbaum is a prime example of that.
Birnbaum runs the gamut of ragtime, blues, classical and jazz with the
ease of a seasoned performer.
"California Here I Come" rips along like the roadrunner on steroids.
Pure excitement abounds as Mark Birnbaum's flying fingers bring us back to another time when music was a joy to listen to instead of a chore. Ragtime reigns supreme.
"Dark Town Strutter's Ball" is a case study in toe tapping rhythm as
Birnbaum struts jauntily through this tune, cocksure and confident.
Another fun-filled 2 minutes and thirty six seconds of pianistic
dexterity.
"Tiger Rag" There is no holding this tiger back as the fastest tune this
writer has ever heard is smoked across the keyboard.
Changing gears, Mark Birnbaum salutes Duke Ellington with
"Sophisticated Lady" and displays an Ellingtonian style which is a
complete departure from the aforementioned modus operandi. This song is soulfully rendered in Duke's svelte machinations.
Now departure is departure in the true sense as Claude Debussy enters
the picture. Birnbaum's interpretation of "Bergamasque Prelude" allows
this fine pianist to exhibit his formal side to the nth. degree.
Versatility, thy name is Birnbaum.
5 STARS
By John Gilbert
eJazzNews
Who I'd like to meet: Denzel Washington, P Diddy, Abe Lincoln, J S Bach,
donald trump, Madonna, Lucifer and God
are you excited for addy to move?i wasnt for keifer but i guess yesterday he went to go visit and refused to back to the 2s and stayed with sharen the hole day! i think addy will do fine because she is very sassy so the bigger kids wont pick on her:)she moves monday? you gonna be able to help her out? did you ever start on them online survey things i told you about? i hope you did, i just another check, this was for $237 from 2 weeks ago. if you didn't yet, pshhh, get on it; i guess you'll have to type the link into internet explorer or whatever, but here it is again:
We thought you might like to see the videos for our new summer singles, "Je T'aime Je T'aime" & "Chanson D'ete".
You can download the singles for your iPod by clicking here: It's only a dollar! ;-)
You can also get your copy of the new album "Lola Dutronic in Berlin" (featuring the hit single "Brigitte Bardot") by clicking here: http://cdbaby. com/cd/ldutronic
Hope you enjoy the clips and have a good summer! :-)
For a limited time, if you buy the CD direct from mrballad.com,delivery is free anywhere in the world and you will receive an exclusive mp3 download.
You can listen to all the tracks from both my albums at mrballad.com
We have some new music on our space. On the regular player you can find our new demo that we are currently sending out to record companies. Also, we have posted some semi-live recordings on the boom box/cassette recorder that you can see there. We would love to get your opinion!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my site. My new record 'Another Winter' is now available. Please click the player below to sample my music. Thanks and please visit me again. -Michelle
you already know i gotta keep you updated. check out who got the cover. also we got jewelry, holla at us if you need some. Techno Grill Watches only $119.99.
oh and as usual, tell your peeps that if they want a free electronic copy of our mixtape to download, send me their email and I got em.
oh and tell your peeps...if you want a free electronic copy of our mixtape to download. send me your email and I got you.
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Pink Slip Records presents 5th Flow's "Quarter to a Half Mixtape" **Representing Chi-Town & Texas** Get Your Copy Today "Quarter to a Half Mixtape" Holla at us if you need any drops, acapellas, radio edits, exclusives, freestyles, promo pics, and/or features.
had a great morning watching video's here, lot's of great youtube video's of piano and humour, that Marboro Man caroon had me laughing, but I am still smoking. My piano instructor she passed away on the tobacco stained ebony and ivories, she did live til 84 though. Here finger nails were long and a yellowy brown. She taught me all I know of playing and reading music. Unfortunately I never kept it up, only we Three Kings at Christmas until eventually nothing, oh I can still play a bit of the chopsticks, but I still find piano sounds, oh and videos very tranquil. So thanks for adding me. Have a great day killer piano, gotta go to Uni now. Best wishes Rob B.
