On Friday, January 29th, The Marshall Tucker Band was in Town the same night that Yoyo Ma and Emanual Ax were performing at Carnegie Hall. I saw both. Yoyo Ma & Emanual Ax were great, but to my liking, the program could have used a Brahms sonata. The MT Band, Southern Rock’s  best, just keeps getting better and better.

Pulitzer Prize winning Aaron Jay Kernis is an American Composer of great renown. He had his 50th birthday celebration at Poisson Rouge and it was a wonderful musical event. I was just glad to be there.

The party was at Poisson Rouge, but the fish were actually big "gold fish."

This is the birthday boy himself. I think he really enjoyed his party.

Kernis, Kernis, Kernis, Tanenbaum and Luest

As usual, I earned my keep by helping out with the sound.

For me, hearing and seeing Handel’s Messiah at my namesake hall (Carnegie Hall) is one of the high points of the holiday season. I went with friends last night, and it was heavenly. The Hallelujah Chorus really rocks! You’d never know it was classical music. I certainly hope that you, all my friends and fans, have a happy and healthy holiday season and New Year!

Gosh there were hundreds of people on that stage just singing their hearts out.

Me and Fred, Latasha, and Rose all had really great box seats right up front.

Everyone stands for the Hallelujah Chorus. Sometimes people sing, too. I sang very loud!

]]> http://www.carnegierocks.com/2009/12/15/handels-messiah-at-carnegie-hall-december-14-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.carnegierocks.com/2009/12/02/new-york-philhamonic-concert-to-end-polio-with-violinist-itzhak-perlman-at-avery-fisher-hall/ http://www.carnegierocks.com/2009/12/02/new-york-philhamonic-concert-to-end-polio-with-violinist-itzhak-perlman-at-avery-fisher-hall/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:11:47 +0000 Carnegie Rocks http://www.carnegierocks.com/?p=1084
The New York Philharmonic performance at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center had a performance tonight to help stamp out polio worldwide. Polio, the A.I.D.S. of the Baby Boomer generation, still occurs in a few countries, and the Rotary and other sponsors are trying to end this disease for all time. The concert was played without intermission, but Mr. Perlman was especially exquisite during the Bruch Violin Concerto in G minor Adagio … I cried. Otherwise, the concert was a non-stop potpourri, and I must say Avery Fisher’s Hall is not nearly as attractive as mine.

I got trapped in this sculpture and almost didn't make it to the concert.

The thingys above the stage must have a purpose, but I have no idea what.

This is Itzhak Perlman. He is one of the world's great violinists, and he once had polio himself.

This is my friend Elizabeth with Avery Fisher

Almost in the orchestra

Among the big trees

Sir Simon Rattled JB's bones

Simply breathtaking & classic

Carnegie on Carnegie: There are few classical orchestral pieces that I have never heard before, but the Schoenberg orchestration of the Brahms’ piano quartet Opus 25 was just terrific. Contrasted with the Brahms’ 1st symphony a la Elgar meets the Rhine Maidens, it made me feel like I was racing down the Autobahn in a big powerful BMW.   And up close, Esko Laine was very entertaining!

The “Mostly Mozart” Concert series at the Lincoln Center is among the best classical music in New York during the summer (when my place, Carnegie Hall, is closed). The concert that I went to was actually an all-Beethoven concert.

I had a terrific seat in the orchestra

I don't actually play the violin

... but my friend Michael plays very well!

The Steely Dan Concert at the Beacon Theater was a lot of fun. Most of the people there were really fans, so the place really rocked!

Chris Hicks and I are friends

Whenever The Marshall Tucker Band comes to town, I'm there

I am not just a Marshall Tucker groupie, I'm a real rocker!

Doug and I go back a long way; but he is a lot older than me

Chris Hicks (the great guitar player) and I are good friends

All the women love Marcus

Everyone loves the flute

Me, Mom, Doug

Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden was a very special event. Lots of very famous singers came to wish Pete well.  I got to hang out backstage withfriends. Afterwords, we went to another birthday party for Pete at a restaurant.

As usual, I earned my keep helping out with the sound

This is me working backstage at Madison Square Garden

Harry & Pam Belafonte

Tom Morello

Tim Robbins

Emmylou Harris

Bruce Springsteen was a big hit!

Me making a big entrance

Generations of musical talent

And I worked concessions, too

Show's over; we're packing up

Greeting fans at the stage door

The after party was at Buddakan

These guys rock