AB OVO (from the egg) - original Mark Birnbaum pieces running the gamut from blues/jazz/ragtime to classical. Musical tributes to W. C. Handy, Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Claude Debussy, Alexander Scriabin and Erik Satie.

18 MP3 Songs in this album (72:53) !
Related styles: Jazz: Ragtime, Classical: Classical era, Featuring Piano

People who are interested in Jelly Roll Morton Scott Joplin W.C. Handy should consider this download.


Details:
Hell's Kitchen Productions - Peter Gilmore 2006
Retrospective Review of Mark Birnbaum cds
AB OVO
Jelly Morton's Missing New Orleans
Hot Piano!

AB OVO gets off to a rousing start with the live recording of Birnbaumâs improvisation on Dr. LaVeyâs âThe Battle Hymn of the Apocalypseâ from that memorial concert, and includes mostly works by Birnbaumâblues pieces and classical as well, including âLucifer Rising.â

Jelly Roll Mortonâs Missing New Orleans is a summoning of the past magical atmosphere of that now devastated city of darkness, finishing with Birnbaumâs own âDark Star.â

Hot Piano! is 77 minutes of joy, with works by Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Ellington, Scriabin, Debussy, and Birnbaum, among others.

Together these three make a perfect anthology capturing the breadth of Dr. Birnbaumâs artistry. Sound quality does vary between pieces, as some are studio recordings and others were captured live in concert.
Red Hot Piano and Vocals in the Classic New Orleans, Ragtime, Blues and Jazz Style.

Dr. Mark Birnbaum has wowed audiences in many venues, including his long stint as resident keyboard player for the Joe Franklin Show. He is equally at home in ragtime, jazz, and classical pieces and his own evocative compositions span these genres as well. Now you can savor his mastery in these three CDs.
www.ragtimemarkbirnbaum.com

DESCRIPTION
AB OVO (from the egg) - all original (bluesy) Mark Birnbaum pieces....SOLO PIANO............
running the gamut from blues/jazz/ragtime to classical.
Musical tributes to W.C. Handy, Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Claude Debussy, Alexander Scriabin and Erik Satie.

Extra Added Attractions- Some Bach and Mozart! Plus....
Live recording of LaVey's Battle Hymn of the Apocalypse!

Released in 2005 on his mother's 75th birthday!
www.ragtimemarkbirnbaum.com

BIO (WIKIPEDIA)
Mark Birnbaum (b. 1952) is an American musician.
A classically-trained composer and pianist, and a television personality, Birnbaum earned a Doctorate in Music from Columbia University in 1982. In 1983, he composed and directed the successful off-Broadway show, "A Day Together", which was funded by the Helena Rubenstein Foundation and travelled throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Encouraged by Andy Warhol, Steve Allen and a chance encounter with Richard Nixon, he moved to playing (and singing) ragtime, blues, and jazz, successfully appearing in Birdland, The Angry Squire, and other nightclubs in the New York City metropolitan area. From 1990 to 1993 he appeared nightly (dressed in flashy clothing) as staff pianist on the Joe Franklin television show (WWOR-TV).

At Edith O'Hara's 13th Street Theatre, Birnbaum has had successful one-man shows -'Ragtime 94', 'Ragtime 96' and most recently 'Hot Piano! Ragtime, Blues & Jazz'.
Nicknamed "Mr Ragtime" by Captain Lou Albano, Birnbaum continues to record, perform, and reinvent Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller and1920's-1950's music. In 2005, Birnbaum was awarded an honorary degree from the Neupauer Conservatory (the Order of the Shield) by Dr William Schimmel for his work with the accordion.

In December of 2007, Schimmel and Birnbaum recorded together for the first time with the help of Micki Goodman and Godfrey Nelson their recent project "Duality Wrecks", which covers the entire spectrum of rock and roll, rockabilly, swing, ballads and punk in a 50 minute continuum (interludes composed by the performers) www.billschimmel.com
As a pedagogue, Birnbaum has pioneered a radical method to teaching the piano, involving meditation, deep breathing and slow motion transformation ("going faster by going slower"). Birnbaum also suggests healthful ideas(vegetarianism, black-strap molasses, goji berry juice) designed to further one's ability to learn faster and clearer with more energy.
Hurricane Katrina: As a tribute to the birthplace of Jazz(and the greatest jazz man), in 2006 Birnbaum released "Jelly Morton's Missing New Orleans" (piano & vocals)
Although less of a fixture on late night television, Birnbaum, when away from the piano, is still regarded (and photographed quite often) as one of the flashiest dressed men imaginable; ultra-modern eyeglasses, top hat,two-tone shoes, brilliant colored suits...and weather permitting, floor-length (faux) fur coats. Is he part Mr. Monopoly, Liberace, Gangsta-rapper and Pimp? That's what he is asked. Warhol did tell Birnbaum that "America Loves Visual Images".


"Birnbaum is the best ragtime musician in the world today; he's Jerry Lee (Lewis) with a Ph.D!"
Captain Lou Albano 2006

"Versatility, thy name is Birnbaum"
John Gilbert, ejazznews 2005

RECENT BIO (WIKIPEDIA)
Mark Birnbaum (b. 1952) is an American musician.

A classically-trained composer and pianist, and a television personality, Birnbaum earned a Doctorate in Music from Columbia University in 1982. In 1983, he composed and directed the successful off-Broadway show, "A Day Together", which was funded by the Helena Rubenstein Foundation and travelled throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Encouraged by Andy Warhol, Steve Allen and a chance encounter with Richard Nixon, he moved to playing (and singing) ragtime, blues, and jazz, successfully appearing in Birdland, The Angry Squire, and other nightclubs in the New York City metropolitan area. From 1990 to 1993 he appeared nightly (dressed in flashy clothing) as staff pianist on the Joe Franklin television show (WWOR-TV).

At Edith O'Hara's 13th Street Theatre, Birnbaum has had successful one-man shows -'Ragtime 94', 'Ragtime 96' and most recently 'Hot Piano! Ragtime, Blues & Jazz'.

Nicknamed "Mr Ragtime" by Captain Lou Albano, Birnbaum continues to record, perform, and reinvent Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller and1920's-1950's music. In 2005, Birnbaum was awarded an honorary degree from the Neupauer Conservatory (the Order of the Shield) by Dr William Schimmel for his work with the accordion.

In December of 2007, Schimmel and Birnbaum recorded together for the first time with the help of Micki Goodman and Godfrey Nelson their recent project "Duality Wrecks", which covers the entire spectrum of rock and roll, rockabilly, swing, ballads and punk in a 50 minute continuum (interludes composed by the performers) www.billschimmel.com

As a pedagogue, Birnbaum has pioneered a radical method to teaching the piano, involving meditation, deep breathing and slow motion transformation ("going faster by going slower"). Birnbaum also suggests healthful ideas(vegetarianism, black-strap molasses, goji berry juice) designed to further one's ability to learn faster and clearer with more energy.

Hurricane Katrina: As a tribute to the birthplace of Jazz(and the greatest jazz man), in 2006 Birnbaum released "Jelly Morton's Missing New Orleans" (piano & vocals)

Although less of a fixture on late night television, Birnbaum, when away from the piano, is still regarded (and photographed quite often) as one of the flashiest dressed men imaginable; ultra-modern eyeglasses, top hat,two-tone shoes, brilliant colored suits...and weather permitting, floor-length (faux) fur coats. Is he part Mr. Monopoly, Liberace, Gangsta-rapper and Pimp? That's what he is asked. Warhol did tell Birnbaum that "America Loves Visual Images"

RECENT REVIEW
eJazzNews - "Hot Piano!" - CD Review May 2005 John Gilbert

I admire any musical artist that has command of their instrument and
Mark Birnbaum is a prime example of that.

Birnbaum runs the gamut of ragtime, blues, classical and jazz with the
ease of a seasoned performer.

"California Here I Come" rips along like the roadrunner on steroids.
Pure excitement abounds as Mark Birnbaum's flying fingers bring us back to another time when music was a joy to listen to instead of a chore. Ragtime reigns supreme. "Dark Town Strutter's Ball" is a case study in toe tapping rhythm as Birnbaum struts jauntily through this tune, cocksure and confident.

Another fun-filled 2 minutes and thirty six seconds of pianistic dexterity. "Tiger Rag" There is no holding this tiger back as the fastest tune this writer has ever heard is smoked across the keyboard. Changing gears, Mark Birnbaum salutes Duke Ellington with "Sophisticated Lady" and displays an Ellingtonian style which is a complete departure from the aforementioned modus operandi. This song is soulfully rendered in Duke's svelte machinations. Now departure is departure in the true sense as Claude Debussy enters the picture. Birnbaum's interpretation of "Bergamasque Prelude" allows this fine pianist to exhibit his formal side to the nth. degree. Versatility, thy name is Birnbaum.

5 STARS By John Gilbert


"Strike the corpse of Mozart, bring it to life" - MuzikReviewz 2005

"Every pianistic discipline in most enjoyable style" - EuroClubdeJazz 2004

"He played well...the audience in his living room" - OOBR 2004

"Famous Piano Player Returns..." - Paramus Town News 2003

"Jazz, Blues, Classical, Rockn Roll to Pop" - EuroClubdeJazz 2003

"I must admit I love this album!" - Edward Jablonski 2002

"Excellence at the piano" - The Review 2002

"Virtuoso piano - yo, he's got mad skills" - Seconds Magazine 1998

"As Emeril would say, BAM - The essence!" - Hell's Kitchen 1998

"Mix a little Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake and Irving Berlin" - Queens Tribune 1998