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Monday, March 18, 2013

TICKLING THE IVORYS


Fresh off the plane from Atlanta, Georgia, concert pianist Mac Frampton performed solo at the Washington Middle School today giving the crowd a touch of the Irish, classical, oldies, and show tunes. He started his show off with the William Tell Overture and ended the show with God Bless America.

Frampton started playing piano at the age of six in his minister father's church and knew that's what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He studied music at the Cincinnati Conservatory and has played over 4,000 concerts in his 40 years of touring after college.

The first half of the concert went a bit slow as he played MacArthur Park, Rhapsody in Blue, and the Phantom of the Opera, and talking a lot to the audience between songs. The second half was more lively and less talking - more playing. For his finale, he had a legal pad and pen and took requests from the audience. Once he filled all the lines on the paper, he told the crowd to listen carefully, because some tunes might be brief. He played a seamless medley of about 30 tunes such as Sentimental Journey (that I had suggested), When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Danny Boy, Battle Hymn of the Republic, music from Bach, something from Sousa, and many more.

I found the following YouTube video of a similar medley Frampton performed for an audience by taking requests and transitioning one song after another. He can play religious music, rhythm and blues, rock, and every song requested in all genres.



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