3/27/2020 - Rotterdam Philharmonic, now

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra - From Us, To You...

Sorry I am a couple days late with the Friday Musical Moment. This was a week where I transitioned to a home office, and Friday was very hectic.

For the next few weeks I plan to send you musical video clips that will brighten your day, and lift your spirits as only music can. In addition, Diana and I continue to get links (almost daily) to home performances that musicians are posting on the internet, and I'll add more links where you can listen to full concerts, if you want to have music to accompany your days being "safe at home". I am so glad you are on this journey with me.

Today's video clip has been watched over 1,925,000 times since it was posted on March 20. When Diana and I watched it we both cried. We’re adjusting to a new reality and we’ll have to find solutions in order to support each other.

I loved this comment: "Thank you - as an ER physician dealing with the repercussions of this global tragedy, it is beautiful to have reminders of why we are putting our lives at risk every day. You have touched my heart and given me, and others, strength to keep being what we are - doctors - because of what you are - artists...."

Please enjoy this video from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra:

https://youtu.be/3eXT60rbBVk

3/20/2020 - Claude Debussy for a stressful day

Claude Debussy - Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp

OK, we are officially in the weirdest time ever, with the whole State of California having been mandated to "stay home". At a time like this, most of all we need calm, comfort, and music to soothe our souls.

Today will be a day of adjustment for many of us as we restructure our lives to fit this crisis. Here is an 18-minute soundtrack to help you get through the day.

Claude Debussy (22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Born to a family of modest means and little cultural involvement, Debussy showed enough musical talent to be admitted at the age of ten to France's leading music college, the Conservatoire de Paris. He originally studied the piano, but found his vocation in innovative composition, despite the disapproval of the Conservatoire's conservative professors. He his first compositions were published when he was 25, and he took many years to develop his mature style. He was nearly 40 when he achieved international fame in 1902 with the only opera he completed, Pelléas et Mélisande. This sonata was part of a set of chamber music pieces he wrote later in life. It was composed in 1915 and had its first performance the following year. It is now a standard of the chamber music repertoire. Debussy died from cancer at his home in Paris at the age of 55 after a composing career of a little more than 30 years.

https://youtu.be/rLvShcrp1c4

3/13/20 - Pat Kelley "Off Broadway" with George Benson

Pat Kelley with George Benson - Off Broadway

Jazz guitarist and composer Pat Kelley began his career as a member of the house band on The Merv Griffin Show; long a sought-after session player, he appeared on some 2000 recording dates during his first two decades in the music business. As a solo artist, he made his debut with 1989's Views of the Future, followed in 1991 by Try to Remember. While spending much of the first half of the '90s touring the world in support of George Benson, Kelley also remained a prolific recording artist.

I have had the pleasure of playing with Pat over the last two years, and we are working on a new album called DreamCatcher. You have a chance to pre-order a copy between now and April 10th on Kickstarter.

Please take a couple of minutes and visit the Kickstarter, and pledge today! Thank you in advance for the help. In the meanwhile, take a few minutes and watch a young Pat Kelley do some guitar shredding as he helps George Benson on tour, "Off Broadway"

https://youtu.be/2b4KSU2jyx0

3/6/20 - Leonard Bernstein - I Feel Pretty

Leonard Bernstein - I Feel Pretty

There is a long history of jazz intersecting with Broadway musicals, and one of the all-time great musicals is West Side Story (book by Stephen Sondheim and music by Leonard Bernstein). In the show, "I Feel Pretty" plays as an uptempo waltz as Maria dreams about her date night coming up that evening.

Over the years this tune has been re-worked by Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Andre Previn, Stan Kenton, Marion McPartland and Dave Grusin, just to name a few. It is now the first single from the upcoming George Kahn Quartet album. The video was just released this week!

This is my third time using Kickstarter to launch a new recording. It is a great way to get you involved in the project, so you can be part of the creation as well as receiving a copy of the album when it is all done later this year!

The album features George on piano with Alex Acuña on drums, Pat Kelley on guitar and David Hughes on bass.

There are a few "Early Bird Special" rewards available right now: a two-for-one CD special, as well as a handful of tickets for the "Kickstarter Kick-Off" House Party on March 14. Please take a couple of minutes and visit the Kickstarter, and pledge today! Thank you in advance for the help.

http://bit.ly/GeorgeKahnDreamCatcher

https://youtu.be/BosNkUMjGds