High above the cacophonic streets of New York in an apartment building overlooking Lincoln Center is a de-facto artist compound home to Wynton Marsalis, Samuel L. Jackson (reportedly) and countless Juilliard musicians. I grew up in this building with the sounds of a piano tinkling combined with the cacophony of the New York City streets. But unlike the Juilliard practice rooms, there is a community here. I first met Wynton Marsalis in the elevator as a star-struck high schooler and I thought I had hit the pinnacle of existence when he asked me for my band’s CD. He popped next door to violinist Stefan Jackiw’s apartment one day, hoping Stefan (despite being in boxers) could play some of the violin parts he had just written. But most recently, a private concert series has been happening.
In August, it was Philip Glass. Last week, it was jazz pianist Misha Piatigorsky and his new group, Sketchy Black Dog. 25 lucky people get to see an intimate performance of world-class musicians while drinking bottles of Vueve Clicquot to the backdrop of Lincoln Center, Manhattan and the Hudson River. It might sound fancy, but at the heart is an attempt to bring back the intimacy of the concert. After all, the etymological definition of concert means “to strive alongside”, or to be in “agreement, accord, harmony.” The word has come along way since the 1600s. In his welcome remarks last Saturday, Misha expressed the importance of these small concerts as an antidote to the anonymity of the digital age.
We hope to offer you exclusive virtual access to some of these future concerts in the future on Untapped. For now, here are some photographs from the incredible performance by Misha Piatigorsky and Sketchy Black Dog:
Before the concert:
Misha addressing the audience:
The jazz begins:
