SUEZENNE FORDHA CHAMBEER JAZZ LA "5th Stream"
Next Concert is on November 7th 2011 at the Donald Wright Auditorium, Pasadena Library 285 East Walnut... 818 371 7735
Beautiful, casual but elegant venue Free Admission
Showing posts with label Steinway Pianos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steinway Pianos. Show all posts
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sunday, November 23, 2008
"The Making of the STEINWAY L1037"
A video-documentary by BEN NILES
Fields Pianos in West LA,Tuesday, November 18th 08
A very stunning Event happened last Tuesday at Fields Pianos, West LA.By invitation only there was a special showing of the Documentary- Movie by Ben Niles on the creation of concert "D" Steinway L1037... from the cutting of the timber in Alaska to it's completion and use in performance at Zankel Hall 'neath Carnegie Hall in New York. [ across the street from the georgeous Steinway Showroom on Fifty Seventh Street.]
The video was shot from in and around the Steinway factory in Astoria, across the East River from Manhatten. The true heroes of the story are the devoted Artians from many different cultural backgrounds, most of whom have been with the Steinway Company all of their working lives. There is nothing pretentious about these men and women, and their total devotion to the Art of creating these wonders, arguably the finest, most sensitive, expressive and best made in the entire world.
In these days of cutting corners in manufacturing of other Fine instruments, [pianos] I am awestruck that Steinway does all of their work themselves, in the USA. The only thing that is done outside of their Astoria factory are some Black Keys that are made at a very small factory in Iowa. That factory is owned by Steinway and Sons.
The detail that goes into this labor of love is heart rending. All of my life in New York, I had friends who were Steinway Artists... William Kapell, Robert Goldsand, Josef Raieff, Ania Dorfman, Wanda
Landowska, to name a few,
Vladimir Horowitz lived just a few doors from William Kapell on East 94th Street and a few doors in the other direction was Mme Ania Dorfman... Sometimes when visiting Willie, I could hear my teacher Mme Dorfman practising, and walk a bit past Willies house, and hear the great Horowitz creating thunderous clouds of tone, and exuding genius on his fantastic Steinway. Steinway provided him with this very special piano, adjusted to Horowitz' specifications.
He traveled on tour with this instrument, along with Steinway's Master Tecnician to care for the instrument. It was this unique partnership, Horowitz, Steinway and Sons NY and his Master Tecnician that allowed Horowitz to electrify audiences the world over, much the same as Liszt had done some years earlier. And he played this wonderful instrument when he finally returned to his beloved Russia on one of his final tours, and final recordings recorded in Moscow
His Steinway Tecnician was at his side for all the tours, to attend to anything that might need adjusting, perhaps a string that would need a gentle turn of the tuning wrench or to be replaced, as Horowitz was a powerful Concert Artist. They were sponsored by Steinway and Sons NY, and Horowitz never strayed from their fold. [I was fortunate enough to play and record on that very instrument when it was on it's last tour in LA a few months ago. An experience I will cherish all of my life.]
All of this is to say there are several reasons that I was so very interested in this video... It was exactly the most perfect tribute to the most perfect instruments that I, and my beloved ones could ever hope for.
At a recent NAMM Show, I ran to see the "Fine" pianos.. and played all three major Brands of concert grands "D"s... and was numbed that their actions were exactly the same, therefore one 8"11 sounded exactly the same as other 8'11 s. [from different manufacturers]
Used to be that each of those pianos was very different from each other. I must add that Steinway was not present at the Namm show. I would prefer to think it was because Steinway is "above" that sort of thing. An unsuspecting salesman unwittingly let it slip that the Keyboards and Actions of those other pianos were indeed made by the Renner Company which is in CHINA!!! Then shipped to Europe, and the US... So all of that money is actually for the glitzy furniture!!! Gasp!.
Sooo when I saw this documentary months ago [I bought it as soon as it came out] I was delirious with joy, and proud that my illustrious friends had encouraged me in the love of those magnificent instruments. Seeing it again with a few Steinway officianados was very rewarding, and it was very interesting to actually speak with the Producer, writer of the Documentary, Ben Niles, who shared a lot of information about the making of the film, and details that only those that were working on the film could share.
I urge you to see this documentary, and take your young ones to see it. better yet, go on the internet and buy your own copy, or several, and donate them to libraries,and see the devotion and work ethic that the Steinway workers have that enables them to produce the Stradivarius of pianos.. True treasures, and these instruments enable the finest virtuosos to send their souls soaring, and move millions of listeners to the Gods with the joy of music. As well as a beginning piano student to develop their best capabilities, either in practise at home, or in their first recital...
Let us hold the sacred hope that Steinway will always be as it is, and that they will not be tempted as the others have been. I feel there is hope in America as long as we have this treasure, showing others the Way... AND remember it's MADE IN AMERICA. Go enjoy the best!
L1037 is part of the lineup of Artists Instruments, and resides at Steinway and Sons on 57th Street, in the Artists Room, where they choose the Pianos for their New York concerts. Steinway may send Major Artists two or three to the concert, so the stressful night of the concert will be more relaxed, and there is a choice. Usually there will be a master tecnician in case of a last minute adjustment.
[I especially thank the staff at Fields Pianos, including Sheree, Artist's rep. Mr. Ida, and Mr.Lee,who take such good care of my group during concerts at Steinway Hall. I also thank you for the kind invitatition to this event.]
SUEZENNE FORDHAM
Suezenne Fordham Chamber Jazz LA
A video-documentary by BEN NILES
Fields Pianos in West LA,Tuesday, November 18th 08
A very stunning Event happened last Tuesday at Fields Pianos, West LA.By invitation only there was a special showing of the Documentary- Movie by Ben Niles on the creation of concert "D" Steinway L1037... from the cutting of the timber in Alaska to it's completion and use in performance at Zankel Hall 'neath Carnegie Hall in New York. [ across the street from the georgeous Steinway Showroom on Fifty Seventh Street.]
The video was shot from in and around the Steinway factory in Astoria, across the East River from Manhatten. The true heroes of the story are the devoted Artians from many different cultural backgrounds, most of whom have been with the Steinway Company all of their working lives. There is nothing pretentious about these men and women, and their total devotion to the Art of creating these wonders, arguably the finest, most sensitive, expressive and best made in the entire world.
In these days of cutting corners in manufacturing of other Fine instruments, [pianos] I am awestruck that Steinway does all of their work themselves, in the USA. The only thing that is done outside of their Astoria factory are some Black Keys that are made at a very small factory in Iowa. That factory is owned by Steinway and Sons.
The detail that goes into this labor of love is heart rending. All of my life in New York, I had friends who were Steinway Artists... William Kapell, Robert Goldsand, Josef Raieff, Ania Dorfman, Wanda
Landowska, to name a few,
Vladimir Horowitz lived just a few doors from William Kapell on East 94th Street and a few doors in the other direction was Mme Ania Dorfman... Sometimes when visiting Willie, I could hear my teacher Mme Dorfman practising, and walk a bit past Willies house, and hear the great Horowitz creating thunderous clouds of tone, and exuding genius on his fantastic Steinway. Steinway provided him with this very special piano, adjusted to Horowitz' specifications.
He traveled on tour with this instrument, along with Steinway's Master Tecnician to care for the instrument. It was this unique partnership, Horowitz, Steinway and Sons NY and his Master Tecnician that allowed Horowitz to electrify audiences the world over, much the same as Liszt had done some years earlier. And he played this wonderful instrument when he finally returned to his beloved Russia on one of his final tours, and final recordings recorded in Moscow
His Steinway Tecnician was at his side for all the tours, to attend to anything that might need adjusting, perhaps a string that would need a gentle turn of the tuning wrench or to be replaced, as Horowitz was a powerful Concert Artist. They were sponsored by Steinway and Sons NY, and Horowitz never strayed from their fold. [I was fortunate enough to play and record on that very instrument when it was on it's last tour in LA a few months ago. An experience I will cherish all of my life.]
All of this is to say there are several reasons that I was so very interested in this video... It was exactly the most perfect tribute to the most perfect instruments that I, and my beloved ones could ever hope for.
At a recent NAMM Show, I ran to see the "Fine" pianos.. and played all three major Brands of concert grands "D"s... and was numbed that their actions were exactly the same, therefore one 8"11 sounded exactly the same as other 8'11 s. [from different manufacturers]
Used to be that each of those pianos was very different from each other. I must add that Steinway was not present at the Namm show. I would prefer to think it was because Steinway is "above" that sort of thing. An unsuspecting salesman unwittingly let it slip that the Keyboards and Actions of those other pianos were indeed made by the Renner Company which is in CHINA!!! Then shipped to Europe, and the US... So all of that money is actually for the glitzy furniture!!! Gasp!.
Sooo when I saw this documentary months ago [I bought it as soon as it came out] I was delirious with joy, and proud that my illustrious friends had encouraged me in the love of those magnificent instruments. Seeing it again with a few Steinway officianados was very rewarding, and it was very interesting to actually speak with the Producer, writer of the Documentary, Ben Niles, who shared a lot of information about the making of the film, and details that only those that were working on the film could share.
I urge you to see this documentary, and take your young ones to see it. better yet, go on the internet and buy your own copy, or several, and donate them to libraries,and see the devotion and work ethic that the Steinway workers have that enables them to produce the Stradivarius of pianos.. True treasures, and these instruments enable the finest virtuosos to send their souls soaring, and move millions of listeners to the Gods with the joy of music. As well as a beginning piano student to develop their best capabilities, either in practise at home, or in their first recital...
Let us hold the sacred hope that Steinway will always be as it is, and that they will not be tempted as the others have been. I feel there is hope in America as long as we have this treasure, showing others the Way... AND remember it's MADE IN AMERICA. Go enjoy the best!
L1037 is part of the lineup of Artists Instruments, and resides at Steinway and Sons on 57th Street, in the Artists Room, where they choose the Pianos for their New York concerts. Steinway may send Major Artists two or three to the concert, so the stressful night of the concert will be more relaxed, and there is a choice. Usually there will be a master tecnician in case of a last minute adjustment.
[I especially thank the staff at Fields Pianos, including Sheree, Artist's rep. Mr. Ida, and Mr.Lee,who take such good care of my group during concerts at Steinway Hall. I also thank you for the kind invitatition to this event.]
SUEZENNE FORDHAM
Suezenne Fordham Chamber Jazz LA
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
WORD FROM TEDDY CHARLES , Vibist.
En route to the Netherlands, my friend of many years, Teddy Charles, called on the cell to tell me he had left his home on Long Island for Europe. A Concert tour of Paris, and the Netherlands,including the most prestigious Jazz Festival in Europe, had materialised, and he and his trusty Deagan vibes were on their way to set the world on fire again! With him are his hand picked Band from NY.
There is a tremendous interest in his music, and he has been in the Studios in NY recording a lot. He even recorded with Teo Macero a couple of weeks before Macero died.TC is a brilliant genius, and founder along with Mingus of the Avant Garde Jazz Movement in the world. Changed Jazz FOREVER. Changed the way we think of our instruments, and ourselves.
My group "Suezenne Fordhm Chamber JazzL is directly inspired by Teddy, as he was a close friend and teacher, helping me to clear my ears and see beyond what the others were doing...In addition toVibes, he played piano, and in return for Vibes and harmony lessons, I gave him lessons in piano tecnic, as I was a student at the time at the Juilliard, and had some great chops.{still do.}
A cat with a terrific sense of humor, and delving mind into all things intellectual, he was for many years the owner of the Schooner "The Mary E" until his real love, music called him back. He sold her, and gave his s0ul to his music wholeheartedly again, though the "business" of music Bugs him [still.]
Godspeed, Old Friend, and in spite of your fears, this is NOT the end,you'll be safe, it is just the beginning.
SUEZENNE
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA
I wish you the best, my friend, and safe travels, and i know how leery you are of planes, BUT if you are who YOU are, do it, and live up to your legacy... there many thousands out there who are waiting to hear what an 80 year old genius can do .SHOW THEM!!! Don't worry, you'll be safe.
God Love you.
En route to the Netherlands, my friend of many years, Teddy Charles, called on the cell to tell me he had left his home on Long Island for Europe. A Concert tour of Paris, and the Netherlands,including the most prestigious Jazz Festival in Europe, had materialised, and he and his trusty Deagan vibes were on their way to set the world on fire again! With him are his hand picked Band from NY.
There is a tremendous interest in his music, and he has been in the Studios in NY recording a lot. He even recorded with Teo Macero a couple of weeks before Macero died.TC is a brilliant genius, and founder along with Mingus of the Avant Garde Jazz Movement in the world. Changed Jazz FOREVER. Changed the way we think of our instruments, and ourselves.
My group "Suezenne Fordhm Chamber JazzL is directly inspired by Teddy, as he was a close friend and teacher, helping me to clear my ears and see beyond what the others were doing...In addition toVibes, he played piano, and in return for Vibes and harmony lessons, I gave him lessons in piano tecnic, as I was a student at the time at the Juilliard, and had some great chops.{still do.}
A cat with a terrific sense of humor, and delving mind into all things intellectual, he was for many years the owner of the Schooner "The Mary E" until his real love, music called him back. He sold her, and gave his s0ul to his music wholeheartedly again, though the "business" of music Bugs him [still.]
Godspeed, Old Friend, and in spite of your fears, this is NOT the end,you'll be safe, it is just the beginning.
SUEZENNE
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA
I wish you the best, my friend, and safe travels, and i know how leery you are of planes, BUT if you are who YOU are, do it, and live up to your legacy... there many thousands out there who are waiting to hear what an 80 year old genius can do .SHOW THEM!!! Don't worry, you'll be safe.
God Love you.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
REMAINING CONCERT 2008
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA
"NEW ORBIT SERIES"
Thursday December 4th 08 7 30PM- 10PM
STEINWAY HALL
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA
818 371 7735
suezennefg@hotmail.com
zipperarts.com
suezennefordhamchamberjazzla@blogspot.com
FUSION of Jazz, Classical, Avant Garde with Tibetan nuances. Hip, arty, intimate, beautiful, virtuostic and inspiring. The concert experience with Jazz Passion.
SUEZENNE FORDHAM, Steinway Piano
Charlie Domingo, Contrabass
Rochelle Coatney, Latin Percussion
Cassidy Turbin, Drums, percussion and Winds
Complimentary Admission
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA
PERMANANT MEMBERS OF SFCJLA 08 09 Season
SUEZENNE FORDHAM, Founder, Pianist[Steinway]Gu Zheng, Chromatic Harmonica
Charlie Domingo, Contrabass
Michael Alvidrez, Contrabass
Rochelle Coatney, Drums and Percussion
Cassidy Turbin, Drums, Winds, Composer
PLAYERS EMERITUS
DON LITTLETON, Drums, Exotic Percussion
BOB CARR, BASSOON, WINDS
SPECIAL ICON PLAYER EMERITUS
TEDDY CHARLES, Vibes[Deagan Artist
PERMANANT MEMBERS OF SFCJLA 08 09 Season
SUEZENNE FORDHAM, Founder, Pianist[Steinway]Gu Zheng, Chromatic Harmonica
Charlie Domingo, Contrabass
Michael Alvidrez, Contrabass
Rochelle Coatney, Drums and Percussion
Cassidy Turbin, Drums, Winds, Composer
PLAYERS EMERITUS
DON LITTLETON, Drums, Exotic Percussion
BOB CARR, BASSOON, WINDS
SPECIAL ICON PLAYER EMERITUS
TEDDY CHARLES, Vibes[Deagan Artist
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA "NEW ORBITS" Premiere concert huge success!!!
On October 5th, 08 Sunday evening at the Chamber Concert Hall of the South Pasadena Main Library, the Suezrenne Fordham Chamber Concert LA Perfprming Ensemble played their first concert of the 08 09 season to a capacity crowd and enthusiatic audience.
There were full houses for both shows, and the group felt very rewarded for their musical efforts.
"The new series, "New Orbits", is an explorationn of the formalism of Classical Chamber Music, and the improvisational Freeform of Avant Garde Jazz, fusing Fourth Stream Avant garde, and Classical forms into a new Music, enhanced with Tibetan Percussion. Truly the intensity of the Concert Experience with Jazz Passion," Suezenne Fordham, founder, pianist and composer-arranger, performer enthused.
The South Pasadena venue is a very historic venue, very hip, and comfortable...At intermission the audience was invited to get to know the Tibetan instruments hands on. The 08 09 season has a series of fourteen concerts spread evenly between the South Pasaden Venue and Steinway Hall at Field's Pianos in West LA.
On October 5th, 08 Sunday evening at the Chamber Concert Hall of the South Pasadena Main Library, the Suezrenne Fordham Chamber Concert LA Perfprming Ensemble played their first concert of the 08 09 season to a capacity crowd and enthusiatic audience.
There were full houses for both shows, and the group felt very rewarded for their musical efforts.
"The new series, "New Orbits", is an explorationn of the formalism of Classical Chamber Music, and the improvisational Freeform of Avant Garde Jazz, fusing Fourth Stream Avant garde, and Classical forms into a new Music, enhanced with Tibetan Percussion. Truly the intensity of the Concert Experience with Jazz Passion," Suezenne Fordham, founder, pianist and composer-arranger, performer enthused.
The South Pasadena venue is a very historic venue, very hip, and comfortable...At intermission the audience was invited to get to know the Tibetan instruments hands on. The 08 09 season has a series of fourteen concerts spread evenly between the South Pasaden Venue and Steinway Hall at Field's Pianos in West LA.
Monday, August 04, 2008
NEXT CONCERT SFCJLA AUGUST 24th 08
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA "NEW ORBITS" SERIES
Sunday, August 24th, 7 30 PM
South Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall
1115 El Centro
South Pasadena, Ca
818 371 7735
Free: Donations accepted
SUEZENNE FORDHAM, Steinway, Gu Zheng
TWO CONTRABASSES
Charlie Domingo
Michael Alvidrez
TWO DRUMMERS
Cassidy Turbin
Rochelle Coatney, PERCUSSION
We are a FUSION of Avant Garde, Bop, Classical, Hard Bop, Free Form
Our music is exciting, full of fiery virtuosity, and intensely interesting.
Our Muses are Evans, Messian, Stockhausen, Bach, and entire passages from Rach.concertos.
Ambience is Hip Historic, Arty, and comfortable.
The Concert Experience with the Passion of Jazz, and occasional tango.
Labels: Avant Garde, Bop, Contrabass, Jazz Bill Evans, Monk, Percussion, Steinway
posted by suezenne @ 10:29 PM 0 Comments 
WORD
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA PREMIERES" NEW ORBITS" SeriesSUNDAY JULY 27th 08 7:30 PM- 10PMSouth Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall1115 El CentroSouth Pasadena, Ca.Info: 818 371 7735suezennefordhamchamberjazzla@blogspot.comsuezennefordhamchamberjazz@blogspot.comSuezenne Fordham, Piano, Gu ZhengTwo contrabasses:Charlie Domingo, PrincipalMike Alvidrez, Asst.PrincipalTWO Drummers;Rochelle Coatney, Latin PercussionCassidy Turbin, Drumset and Percussion*Don Littleton, on tour in Japan*Bob Carr, at the Ahmanson orch.with"Chorus Line"Our music is a fusion of Bop, Avant Garde, Classical, with emphasis on virtuoso playing and musicality. The concert experience with Jazz Passion. Music is highly understandable and emotional. "This is a whole new group, and I have chosen the best in LA. I am very proud of my new players, and we will be going places musically that havn't been thought of, reaching for the universe, so tp speak,"said Fordham. My group is in it's seventh year, and I still mourn the loss of Bassist Garabedian, and to some extent Ross, but I will be pushing my new players into their New Orbits. Events are free, donations acceptedLook forward to seeing you. Ambience is Hip, Arty, Historic, intellectual, comfortable
posted by SUEZENNE FORDHAM
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA PREMIERES" NEW ORBITS" SeriesSUNDAY JULY 27th 08 7:30 PM- 10PMSouth Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall1115 El CentroSouth Pasadena, Ca.Info: 818 371 7735suezennefordhamchamberjazzla@blogspot.comsuezennefordhamchamberjazz@blogspot.comSuezenne Fordham, Piano, Gu ZhengTwo contrabasses:Charlie Domingo, PrincipalMike Alvidrez, Asst.PrincipalTWO Drummers;Rochelle Coatney, Latin PercussionCassidy Turbin, Drumset and Percussion*Don Littleton, on tour in Japan*Bob Carr, at the Ahmanson orch.with"Chorus Line"Our music is a fusion of Bop, Avant Garde, Classical, with emphasis on virtuoso playing and musicality. The concert experience with Jazz Passion. Music is highly understandable and emotional. "This is a whole new group, and I have chosen the best in LA. I am very proud of my new players, and we will be going places musically that havn't been thought of, reaching for the universe, so tp speak,"said Fordham. My group is in it's seventh year, and I still mourn the loss of Bassist Garabedian, and to some extent Ross, but I will be pushing my new players into their New Orbits. Events are free, donations acceptedLook forward to seeing you. Ambience is Hip, Arty, Historic, intellectual, comfortable
posted by SUEZENNE FORDHAM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
