I'd like to put together a master list of venues where you can go to hear live piano music (and/or play).
I'll start off with some Piano Bars:
Keys - in Key West, Florida Rotating live pianist, often down from NY. Waitstaff sings (they are also often down from NY, usually off-broadway performers).
Don't Tell Mamma - NY I haven't been to this one, but the folks at Keys spoke highly of it.
Manhattan Inn A new old-timey piano bar on Manhattan Avenue (in Brooklyn) opened by Brooke Baxter and Rolyn Hu
I have been thinking of starting something like this, so I'm glad you did it! It's really important for people (especially musicians) to patronize places that feature live music. Whenever you're visiting a restaurant, hotel, club, bar, whatever, that offers live piano music it is CRUCIAL to compliment management on their music policy. After three and a half decades in the biz I can assure you that this makes a huge difference.
So here are my first entries:
Waldorf Astoria, New York City, Peacock Alley My pal Emilee Floor plays Tues-Sat from 9-12. She is GREAT. Stop by and tell her I said hello.
Schlosshotel Lerbach, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany A 5-star European castle with a Michelin 3-star restaurant featuring solo piano music (Robin Meloy Goldsby) Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30. Robin plays in the main hall of the castle, so you can visit for the price of a coffee or a glass of wine. Sunday lunch with solo piano (Robin Meloy Goldsby) music from 12:30-14:30
Michael's on East - Sarasota, Florida Great Hall of Fame restaurant with a piano bar in the center. The regular performer is Joe Micals, originally from NYC area.
If in Sydney on a Thursday night, head to the AB Hotel Glebe. One band per night. Starts approximately 9:20pm. Jazz fusion might be the best way to capture the diverse range.
If you are in New York City, one of the best places to hear Jazz and great piano play is at Smalls, 183 West 10th Street, they have a website to see talent appearing, www.smallsjazzclub.com
In my neighborhood, the local piano dive is The Alley, 3325 Grand Avenue (between Elwood Ave & Lake Park Ave) Oakland, CA 94610 (510) 444-8505 Rod Dibble is the pianist. I have never gone there, as bars are not my thing.
Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music http://www.music.indiana.edu/events/ ...fyi that many university schoolsofmusic offer wonderful weekly/monthly performances
Grand idea of a post. These cities are where I have lived. Lived for 28 years in Denver before moving to Ensenada in 2006. El Chapultepec is a dive bar, but, serves world class jazz.
OOPS, "Bodegon" is now 3er Piso(third floor) located just south of Cruiseport, 1 block west of Costero, next to Hotel Corona. They moved end of November 2009. Will report on the new venue soon. Should be good with the ocean view.
Cocktail style. The pianist is there most evenings that I've been here. Piano only. He was playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow as I sprinted through the lobby for my dinner date tonight.
Will try to have a drink and hang out tomorrow evening.
Pittsburgh: Oxford Center, downtown. Gorgeous Steinway B that is played in the lobby every day at lunch
Duesseldorf Airport: Nice Yamaha grand played every day during cocktail hour
Atlanta Airport: Yamaha grand in the food court. No one was playing it when I passed through, but there was a tuner there working on it, which is a good sign.
Excelsior Hotel, Cologne, Germany, music daily during cocktail hour
I actually stopped and played the Yamaha in the Atlanta airport when we came through there on the way back from the NAMM show. It's pretty well maintained.
They have a sign that essentially says they would prefer to limit the playing to people who actually know how to play. They let me play it anyway.
I played the Atlanta grand a few years back, before they put up a sign ! It was also before the tuner came. Conveniently located near the bar, it helped pass the time until they could get the plane cranked.
In the far East Bay of the San Francisco area I play piano at Scottie's restaurant every Friday and Saturday from 6:30-8:30. It's transitioning from its old name of Shutters Brasserie, so go to www.shuttersbrasserie.com for more info.
Wolfsburg, Germany: The Ritz Carlton at the VW Autostadt. Sunday Brunch. Beautiful Schimmel Grand.
Note: This is a 5 star hotel catering to people picking up their new cars directly from the VW plant. It's a spectacular hotel. I saw two grands in the hotel, but as far as I could tell, only one is being used, and only ONCE a week. The hotel seems to be doing well---it was full on a Monday night in February. Seems a shame to have those gorgeous pianos there with no one playing them.
I remember going to Nordstrom when I visited LA 7 years ago - I knew it was a high-scale department store, but large piano beside the elevator kind of department store? I wish we had those in Canada.
Most 5 star hotels and up scale restaurants in Asia have a piano or piano bar. In Cebu, Philippines I have been to many hotels with a piano in the lobby and for the price of a drink or a cup of coffee you can spend the evening. Here in Thailand most decent hotels have live entertainment and most of it is piano with or without a singer.
The Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA has great jazz piano and combos nearly every Friday and Saturday. You have to check their schedule to see who's playing what, but some fine folks have played there. Usually only a $5 cover.
On the Grand Princess, a couple of years ago, I heard a young man from the Phillipines who played fairly well and sang very well (reminded me of Johnny Mathis). Arny G (aloyo) sings crooner-type ballads and accompanies himself on the piano. Lots of fun.
He's currently on an Alaskan run (I think on the Sapphire, a Princess ship). Sadly, that's too cold for me.
I'm looking for other cruise venues where really good lounge piano players are billed. I'm more interested in finding a a really good player than a singer/player.
Here's one pretty far out of the way. If you go to Grand Cayman Islands in the Caribbean stay at the Westin. They have a very nice big open lobby area (I didn't even need to buy a drink, totally free) and they had a pianist (actually a different guy each night) a few nights in a row there. It was classical and really nice. This was on my honeymoon 10 years ago but I always remember it, and hopefully they still do it.
The Rex Jazz and Blues Club The Homesmith Bar at the Old Mill Inn The Reservoir Lounge The Trane Studio Azure Lounge in the Hotel Intercontinental Gate 403 Nawlins The Pantages Hotel Lounge Chalkers Pub Momo's Bistro Ten Feet Tall Manhattans (in Guelph, Ontario) The Corktown (in Hamilton, Ontario - Wed. night jazz)
Look up the Regatta Bar. Not sure if they're still aroung but I played there a couple of years ago and they had a beautiful Steinway D or B (can't remember)
I saw dueling pianos in Treasure Island, FL at Wahoo's
whahoosontheisland.com
They were entertaining and comical. They played and sang primarily from the 50s to present pop tunes, and were enjoyable. They played on digital pianos hidden inside the case of baby grands. On some weekday nights, they had a piano player inside the bar who played and sang the same palette of tunes, also on a digital. He had very loud electronic drum accompaniment, which I don't prefer, but the crowd there really enjoyed what he did. Outside, on one night, I heard still another player (digital again, and not a very good one) play and sing Sinatra tunes. I liked his piano accompaniment; his electronic drums and more were less obtrusive than the ones inside.
I haven't yet been able to find locally the preferred combination of a really good player, using a really good and well-tuned grand, playing (and not, or only rarely) singing, with nice arrangements and improvisation.
If I get to Seattle again, I'll try the Canlis restaurant:
Walt Wagner at the Canlis restaurant. Google his name, and lots of hits come up. Try listening to Cry me a River here:
Look up the Regatta Bar. Not sure if they're still aroung but I played there a couple of years ago and they had a beautiful Steinway D or B (can't remember)
Don't know about piano music, but my son's guitar teacher just did a gig there a few weeks ago. He said the venue seats about 250. Here are the details:
Regattabar www.regattabarjazz.com 1 Bennett Street Cambridge, MA 02138-5707 (617) 661-5000
Has anybody been to the "Shout House" down in San Diego? We dropped in there one evening, and even though the music wasn't particularly my style, I was super impressed at the level of interaction these dueling piano showmen had with the crowd. A bit heavy handed on all the canned signature riffs, and five too many glissandos for me, but the pianos were front and center, and the place was jumping. Kudos to those guys.
I'm in Southern Oregon - there used to be a lot of live jazz here, and there are a couple of new jazz societies that are bringing it back to life. Pretty cool stuff. If you happen to come through Medford, give me a shout out and I'll point you in their direction.
Can anybody tell me of any live piano venues happening in Eugene or Portland Oregon?
If you ever happen to be in Vienna, Austria, there is a cute little museum called Haus der Musik, which has a nice piano in the lobby. People like to improvise on it for long periods of time, or just play stuff. Not exactly a live music venue, but I thought it was cool
If you ever happen to be in Vienna, Austria, there is a cute little museum called Haus der Musik, which has a nice piano in the lobby. People like to improvise on it for long periods of time, or just play stuff. Not exactly a live music venue, but I thought it was cool
From now on airline passengers from all over the world can relax before takeoff of from International Terminal 3 at Changi Airport Singapore a Schimmel grand piano K 230.
Braunschweig, 18th of November, 2010. –
Besides pure functionality and aesthetics, the 1988 awarded Changi Airport Singapore follows the philosophy to connect people in ways that will enhance their lives.
Terminal 3, which opened in 2008, underlines this claim once more and brings it to a new level. From now on airline passengers can relax and encounter a Schimmel concert grand K 230 in the center of Terminal 3.
The grand piano can be used by piano players freely or airline passengers can simply recover from their travel strain with the wholesome sounds of the Schimmel grand piano in the background.
I had the veal parmigiana, Kathy had the veal piccota (sp?). Amazing, melted in you mouth. Fresh salad and bread were to die for.
The pianist went to Julliard but is very humble, and very talented. He claimed he isn't a "piano player", would that I could play like he does. If you do actually go there (reservations are a good idea, ask for a table near the piano), please mention Piano World to the waiter, and the piano player, he has our business card :-)
And by all means, let us know what you think of your evening.
I have stayed in the Hyatt in Muscat several times and this is very special hotel, the location right on the beach and decor in the main areas are quite startling. This Hyatt is more on the level of a Ritz Carlton than a normal Hyatt and they have the two most amazing grand pianos I have ever seen - one in the main foyer and one in cocktail lounge. The one in the cocktail lounge is all glass (or at lease a simulated plastic glass) through which all the inside is visble and the can also project light. The one in the foyer is indescrbable and I wish I had taken a picture. It has gold leaf inlays and is shaped like a wave where the main body of the grand sweeps to the ground rather than have a third leg on the back. They are played every day by professionals - and here is the bad news. They were TERRIBLE players. What a waste! Mike
I do a lot of traveling, so this list is a great idea!
I thought it may be a good idea to put all of these on a map, so here we go, Live Piano Venues!
Now I think that I have this setup so that anybody can edit the map and add more places. You should just be able to click on "Edit." The first person to try it out please let me know if it lets you do this. You'll probably need a google account to sign in, but nearly everyone in the world probably has one of those! Also, because this will be a public map, please act accordingly (I know I don't have to tell any of you that, but thought I'd mention it )
I think I added all of the ones listed on this thread, but if they've changed you may want to go back and edit them. You can also go in and add descriptions for each place to let people know what's going on there (a lot of them have reviews/comments already that mention some of these things).
Glad that at least the Edit button shows up! It's the first public google map I've made, so not real sure how this will work out.
You could potentially use it as a "Where are the Piano World Forums Members located" map as well, however it may get pretty crowded! It may be fun to see if any members were located nearby though.
I added "Forli Ristorante & Bar" in Alamo, CA (East Bay area) to the map. It's where my piano teacher performs every Friday and Saturday night, with his wife (who sings). The address is 3160 Danville Blvd., Alamo, CA 94507. Website: Forli Restaurante
Well, my wife Carole and I went there last Saturday night. I had mixed emotions about the experience.
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I had the veal parmigiana, Kathy had the veal piccota (sp?). Amazing, melted in you mouth. Fresh salad and bread were to die for.
We both had the linguine with crab and shrimp, in a light white sauce. It was good (especially the crab), although somewhat pricey. We also liked the portobello mushroom appetizer.
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The pianist went to Julliard but is very humble, and very talented. He claimed he isn't a "piano player", would that I could play like he does.
The fellow that played the piano when we were there was an older gentleman called Gino. He was very pleasant and gracious to all. He sang in a very soft voice, for part of most of the tunes he played. He was highly skilled, but there were times during the evening when he chatted with a guy sitting on the stool next to him on the bar while he played. It was like he was on automatic pilot at those times.
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If you do actually go there (reservations are a good idea, ask for a table near the piano), please mention Piano World to the waiter, and the piano player, he has our business card :-)
I did that. I was surprised the see that the piano was digital, shaped like a small grand. I didn't get up to see the brand of the instrument, but it sounded much better than most digitals, and Gino played it only as a piano (no other funny sounds). Sometimes he used a drum backing while he played, which to me detracted somewhat from the piano.
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And by all means, let us know what you think of your evening.
On the plus side, I thought Gino was very talented on the "piano", and played a variety of standards with what I considered to be fairly typical cocktail style, well executed. The service was excellent, and the food was quite good also.
On the less positive side, one of the (very) old timers sitting at the bar around the piano insisted on singing some very old unfamiliar standards (1920s and maybe earlier), and he just didn't have the ability to do it. At a table near us, a large group of about 12 people were seated even though they were wearing T shirts and cutoffs, with the women exposing bare midriffs. I know this is a beach town, but please, not at a fine restaurant. I also thought that $80 for two, without any drinks (only water) or desert was somewhat steep for what we got. (But we don't go out a great deal, so I may very well be off base here. Plus, Gino needs to be paid. We could have chosen less pricey items on the menu.)
Bottom line: In recent years, I haven't found a better bar piano / restaurant piano establishment to visit, although I am constantly looking for them. If the restaurant in New Port Richey (Trio's) was still in operation with their piano player, I would choose that one. But for now, this is the best I have found not counting cruise ships.
I should have mentioned it was pricey, we thought so too.
If we just want a good meal, we usually go to Cody's or Outback.
But we liked the atmosphere and our waiter, thought the food was very good and the piano player did a good job.
I still need to get down to Sarasota to catch my piano teacher in action. If you like jazz piano running from smooth to traditional, Mike is one talented guy. I've just started taking lessons with him, and I'm already excited. Can't wait for my next lesson (when I get back from our European piano tour).
Not that it makes any difference to his abilities, but I do find it interesting that he plays so well, yet he's completely blind. He had four or five CDs out, very enjoyable listening.
Any way, here are the places and times he plays, if anyone gets a chance to check him and the restaurants out, please let me know. I can't vouch for the food, but I can tell you it's fun hearing Mike play.
From Mike Markaverich...
"Thursdays and Fridays I'm at Caragiulos Restaurant, 69 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, from 5 to 8 PM (except Thursday June 23) and Saturdays and Sundays I'm at Euphemia Haye Restaurant, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (upstairs in the Haye Loft) starting at 7:30 PM until they tell me to wrap things up. On Saturdays that's usually between 11 and 11:30 PM, and it's usually a little earlier on Sunday nights. It depends on business".
I should have mentioned it was pricey, we thought so too.
Thanks again for the recommendation. It's the best I've seen in the area so far. Price is not the most important consideration for me (although it is in the top three).
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I still need to get down to Sarasota to catch my piano teacher in action. If you like jazz piano running from smooth to traditional, Mike is one talented guy. I've just started taking lessons with him, and I'm already excited. Can't wait for my next lesson (when I get back from our European piano tour).
Not that it makes any difference to his abilities, but I do find it interesting that he plays so well, yet he's completely blind. He had four or five CDs out, very enjoyable listening.
Any way, here are the places and times he plays, if anyone gets a chance to check him and the restaurants out, please let me know. I can't vouch for the food, but I can tell you it's fun hearing Mike play.
From Mike Markaverich...
"Thursdays and Fridays I'm at Caragiulos Restaurant, 69 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, from 5 to 8 PM (except Thursday June 23) and Saturdays and Sundays I'm at Euphemia Haye Restaurant, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (upstairs in the Haye Loft) starting at 7:30 PM until they tell me to wrap things up. On Saturdays that's usually between 11 and 11:30 PM, and it's usually a little earlier on Sunday nights. It depends on business".
If I remember correctly, Mike Markaverich is the piano player on earlier posts to this forum from Nick's Piano Showroom. In that earlier post, I think he actually was playing the HG 178 that I ultimately purchased. If that's your teacher, I'd be interested in hearing about his approach and your progress. I didn't yet find it on your website, but you can find him here on Nick's site (look for videos on the right side of the webpage):
Rossi's in Big Pine, CA. At least as of a couple of years ago. The food is overpriced and less than mediocre, just about anybody could make better Italian at home. The piano is an old, beat up, house painted upright, probably a Baldwin. the guy playing it looks like he was a enforcer for Sonny Barger and had just been released from San Quentin.
He's pretty good, though. An excellent sight reader, he played everythiong from the Addams Family Theme to the Moonlight Sonata.
When we left I threw five bucks in the tip jar, trying not to make eye contact.
In Kansas City t the Westin Crown Centre, I think on the third floor, maybe the second, is an old Yamaha grand. Ivory keys, I think, some of the keys are bare. It's pretty beat up, but I enjoyed playing it while waiting for a train last year. The action was pretty good. Some guy and his kids stopped by to give me a tip!
Soka University Performing Arts Center. This is a brand new $73 million arts center designed by Yashusida Toyota of the Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The grand -opening is tonight with pianist Horacio Gutierrez playing Rachmaninoff piano concerto no 2 - 8 pm.
Hello everyone Live piano music at Kingsmill Resort Conference Center; The Bray Bistro in Williamsburg,Virginia. I play every Friday for a scrumptious seafood buffet from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Nice view of the James River from the dining area. Sunday Brunch buffet from 11:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. with live piano music from some of my friends.Really close to some fun and historical locations. Come on by if you're in town!
The house band is there most nights. Who all is playing varies from night to night. There's always a drummer and bass player, and either a clarinet, trumpet, banjo or maybe 2 of them, and most nights Richard Scott is on piano. The whole band is great....but of course the pianist is what makes it for me. They play old timey traditional jazz. Tip him and ask nicely and Richard will play a ragtime solo for you :-) They have a full bar and are cigar-friendly, if that matters to anyone (it's of utmost importance to me LOL).
Pat O'brien's 718 St Peter (just off Bourbon St)
This place is a must-see for tourists. Their signature drink, the hurricane, is a must-try. Pat O's has a big open courtyard with a gorgeous fountain. Off to the side of the courtyard is an enclosed piano bar. I've actually only been there once, and it's been over 10 years ago. My memory is foggy (too many hurricanes? LOL), they play pop and cocktail-lounge type stuff. I remember hearing "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. Writing this reminds me that I should check it out on my next trip down.
I go to New Orleans fairly often, but I'm only recently had any inkling to see live piano music. Any other suggestions appreciated. I'll post up if I find some other places as well.
Not in Detroit, but I had dinner at The Rusty Scupper in Baltimore tonight. http://www.selectrestaurants.com/rusty/about.php They have a pianist playing jazz standards at the bar. I arrived a little late, so only caught the tail end.
And in Old Town Alexandria, a piano bar with open mic nights. A hoot.
http://www.morrisonhouse.com/mrr-dining The Grille Morrison House Hotel 116 South Alfred Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Reservations:(866) 834-6628 Hotel:(703) 838-8000 Fax:(703) 684-6283
Not exactly a venue, pianist Bob Milne is sheduled to perform in Brooksville FL on Feb. 11. He plays mostly popular music (ragtime is his specialty, but also boogie woogie, blues, show tunes, pop tunes) and some classical (Bach, Mozart).
This is part of a subscription series, so individual tickets are not sold, but if anyone is interested, let me know and I'll try to get free tickets for them.
I'll try to get two of the tickets; I'll let you know. I think the distribution date is in early January, so I can let you know one way or the other well before the performance date.
I'll try to get two of the tickets; I'll let you know. I think the distribution date is in early January, so I can let you know one way or the other well before the performance date.
Hop
Looks like tickets are scarce but available. Please PM for details and to make arrangements.
Whether it’s raucous dueling pianos and outrageous fun, or elegant surroundings and quiet jazz, piano bars in the Puget Sound are a great way to let your hair down after a long day at work.
88 Keys Dueling Piano Restaurant and Bar 315 2nd Ave. S Seattle, WA 98104 206.839.1300 www.ilove88keys.com
Piano Bash 505 Bellevue Square Bellevue, WA 98004 425.454.6862 www.pianobash.com
Open Thursday – Saturday, 6:00pm – 2:00am, Piano Bash is high octane fun
John Howie Steak & Piano Bar 11111 Northeast 8th Street Bellevue, WA 98004 425.440.0880 www.johnhowiesteak.com
Chef/restaurateur John Howie serves up custom-aged USDA Prime steak, American Style Kobe and Japanese Waygu beef, as well as fresh seasonal fish, seafood and chops. The
Chopstix is located in Everett. They are open Thursday through Saturday 5:00 pm – 2:00am, and Sundays from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. What’s most fun is when they have Dueling Pianos
Vito’s is an iconic restaurant and lounge located on First Hill. Opened in 1953, it has a history rich in cocktail culture, and family-style Italian cuisine. Vito’s lounge offers live jazz, blues and lounge singers almost every night of the week.
The Sunday Brunch at Cafe Fleuri at the Langham Hotel in Boston has a Jazz Trio on Sundays that includes a pianist. Fun but expensive place for families. Come hungry as the buffet includes sushi, appetizers, breakfast with omelette station, carving station, pasta station, and the famous chocolate fountain and chocolate bar. Some of the music this weekend included the Mission Impossible Theme plus lots of jazz standards (Song for My Father, All of Me, ...) Lots of birthdays being celebrated. Piano is a keyboard rather than acoustic.
They also do the chocolate bar on Saturdays, but I'm not sure about the live music.
Cafe Fleuri Lanham Hotel 250 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110, USA T +1 (617) 451 1900 F +1 (617) 423 2844
Okay, I gotta admit I haven't read this entire thread, but I've perused it a couple times and left frustrated. There's gotta be a better way of compiling all this info into a more user friendly (i.e., searchable by locale) format??? Any computer experts got a suggestion(s)? I'd be willing to put some time into a project if it would be something very useful to people and with strong suggestions and support!
Okay, I gotta admit I haven't read this entire thread, but I've perused it a couple times and left frustrated. There's gotta be a better way of compiling all this info into a more user friendly (i.e., searchable by locale) format??? Any computer experts got a suggestion(s)? I'd be willing to put some time into a project if it would be something very useful to people and with strong suggestions and support!
Ask, and ye shall receive. TBROWN put Live Piano Venue map together, linked on the previous page:
This week is the grand opening of the first theater specifically built for jazz in the world, the SF Jazz Center, corner of Franklin and Fell in San Francisco. The Steinway D has arrived, and the Yamaha CFX and other pianos are due soon.
This week is the grand opening of the first theater specifically built for jazz in the world, the SF Jazz Center, corner of Franklin and Fell in San Francisco. The Steinway D has arrived, and the Yamaha CFX and other pianos are due soon.
In the gigantic atrium of an office building in NYC(on 53rd Street between Madison and Park Ave. and next to Mason's Tennis Mart)the stride pianist Chuck Folds plays on weekdays from around noon-3pm It's completely free and he is sensational. He is also a walking encyclopedia of jazz history which he is very glad to share. http://www.amazon.ca/Hitting-His-Stride-Chuck-Folds/dp/B0000031L7
Just down the street from us in Duluth (NE Atlanta) is a great intimate venue for live music. Eddie Owens Presents at Red Clay Theater. The focus tends to be on singer/songwriters, but many are piano-centered now that we have a Hailun grand in there. Tickets are affordable, and they are attracting great musicians.
For example, this Saturday, March 16, you can see Jimmy Webb at the piano. The seats are comfortable and I love the staff at the venue, too.
And for something entirely different...hear the 1927 Wurlitzer Theater Organ played daily at the Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, AZ. This 400+ seat venue is a treat for everyone. Kids love it. Open 7 days a week, but check the hours.
I tuned today at the Sheba Piano Lounge at 1419 Fillmore Street in San Francisco, about halfway between the Fillmore Auditorium and Yoshi's San Francisco.
New Piano Jazz bar in New York's West Village. Here's a NY Times article about it. Small (very) and unamplified (which is really nice!). Solos, duos and trios - no room for drums. Saw the much underappreciated Anthony Wonsey there last night, with Dezron Douglas on bass.
A Piano Marathon happens regularly in the lobby of the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake Illinois. Every year there is the National Piano Conference. The video link is a sample of the lobby entertainment on Liberty the custom Baldwin Flag Piano. Mike Potts and Tom Steffens perform
The National Piano Conference at Raue Center is a great source for Live Piano Music throughout the year. Here is a video sample of Live Piano in the Raue Lobby during a recent conference piano marathon
There is a nice satin black K Kawai ~5'8" near United baggage claim #13 and the closest elevator in the Minneapolis airport (code MSP). It is in great condition, ready for a concert on full stick, and has an adjustable bench. I played Chopin Mazurkas there yesterday and today. Yesterday, someone left a pile of pennies on the music desk. Hmmm???
In the Sacramento, CA region, I know of the following pianos:
In Woodland, CA there is:
- "Guinevere's Cafe and Bistro". A new Italian place with a vertical Schafer piano (tuned by me). I play there pretty often and they have had an open mic.
- "Common Grounds Woodland". A coffee place with a vertical Cable piano (tuned by me). I play there most Wednesdays in the morning and they have an open mic once in a while.
In Sacramento, CA there is:
- "Biba". An Italian restaurant and bar with three pianists covering Wednesday-Saturday. A nice grand.
- "Arthur Henry's Supper Club and Ruby Room". A new small place with a small stage and a digital piano. Live music sometimes.
- "Sheraton Hotel". They have a Yamaha grand. I heard they used to have someone play it but I don't think they do now.
- "The Back Door". A bar with a grand in Old Sacramento. The piano is not played and has not been serviced for a while. Recently they had a popular lounge singer on weekends but he did not use the piano.
- "Coconut Grove". A bar with a nice Kawai grand, also in Old Sacramento. The piano used to be in the front of the bar but is now in the back and I don't think it gets played.
- "Sammy's Astro Club". A bar in West Sacramento with a grand covered with a 'piano bar' top. It was a popular place in the 80's but the piano is not played now.
In Davis, CA there is:
- "Our House". A restaurant with a Kawai grand piano (tuned by me). They have a jazz trio Thursdays and often a solo pianist Saturdays.
- "Palm Court Hotel". They have a Stodart grand (tuned by me), but don't feature any music. This piano will probably not be around much longer due to upcoming renovations.
There is one in the train station in Venice, Italy. Piano is in tough shape, located by widows looking out to where you get the water bus.
Also one in the bar on the island of Certosa (Venice). The restaurant is called Il Certosino. Food is excellent as is the service. Old upright piano in the bar is actually in pretty good shape. Not much to see on the island, but worth the trip if you have a vapperetto pass (water bus). We had lunch there, under a giant umbrella, could see both sides of the island from our table. Waiter spoke good English and he had a great personality.
If you are visiting South New Zealand and would like to pop down to the city of Timaru, you could have the opportunity to play the world's longest piano, built by Adrian Mann; which is situated in St. Mary's Church, Church Street, Timaru. Adrian and other artists hold concerts in the church periodically. Adrian began building the piano about 11 years ago, when he was around 16 years old; and has made a fantastic job of it. It has been on countrywide tours occasionally. It is now housed in the church, and Adrian welcomes visitors to play his piano. Adrian may be contacted via his website: www.alexanderpiano.yolasite.com
La Loggia restaurant 11814 Ventura Blvd. has an Ehrbar grand. They used to have a pianist, but now it isn't played except rarely by customers. Lunch time is often quite slow there.
They have been streaming their music live at youtube: subjazzmusic and previously recorded performances can be found too. Frame rate of video can be spotty, but music seems always good.
)![[Linked Image]](http://soundboardmaterial.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/118462029/20160519_230654-2.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://soundboardmaterial.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/142067334/SubJazzCafe.png)