Expression made explosion like in space: David Mann at McKenzie Gallery

Visiting McKenzie Fine Art Gallery, some months ago, gave a wonderful feeling on abstract expressionism to me. I am really engaged in appreciating abstract art and how it conveys to elicit feelings from potential feelings.

More recently, David Mann's exhibition at this gallery provided me with immediate reactions on colors, shapes, simulated symmetry, improvised lights, as well as recreation of life. Mr. Mann's artworks are absolutely entertaining since you stand in front of his works by the first time.

The combination of kinetics and biological shapes connects your inner feelings with art. Mr. Mann's pieces may make you wander about where everything could have started. The diversity of colors confronts the reality of life as appreciated by anyone from a scientist up to a poet. The dark background put the explorer in the nothing and in everything. It gives approximation to constellations as well as to microscopic beings. From space to body substances.

The shapes developed by Mr. Mann combines images of what can be seen in the deepness of the ocean, imagined in the immensity of the sky, and even considered in the focus of a microscope. The colors and their different grades express creation and smiles to the individual imagination. The illumination comes from the pieces themselves instead of any external source. Standing in front of this pieces made me imagine how they could work in any space, since they go beyond expression but touches real creation.

I thought and decided, based on my ideas, and bought one of his artworks: "The Near and Within".

Mr. Mann sent to me, through his artistic expression, a greeting for confluence and creation. So, now, I am interested owner of David Mann's "The Near and Within". I'm so happy for it and hope to see more of his artworks again.

Unforgettable and twisting evening with The New York Pops and Wayne Brady

Perhaps one of the greatest shows at Carnegie Hall, happened last night (October 9th 2009) having The New York Pops followed by Wayne Brady as guest artist in an tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke.

The orchestra waited for Mr. Steven Reineke (Conductor and Music Director) who made his entrance with his own Celebration Fanfare. Mr. Reineke gave gala of his voice and oratory when addressed the multitude to introduce some pieces creating the connection with the audience mainly identified with the generation who enjoyed more the Big Band Music. Each announcement wast followed by sighs from an audience that seemed to evoke memories with the melodies.

The wall of the stage showed colors, symbols, and added some variety making of the performance a real "pop" and sophisticated one. The playing of "Unforgettable" as well as of "Mack the Knife" were delightful. Mr. Reineke seemed to enjoy the music very much with a tendency to dance as if he were not conducting. This was so interesting since most of the conductors focus strong on the direction duties but Mr. Reineke is a real "pop".

The second half was an outstanding show of Mr. Wayne Brady who expressed his emotion of being accomplishing a dream after seventeen years: perform at Carnegie Hall. He really did a great job. He brought audience members to stage, interviewed them and improvised lyrics based on the result of the interview. He was also accompanied by a fantastic team of professional dancers that made their best with most of the melodies some of them including Mr. Brady in the choreography with perfect timing.

Wayne Brady did it great. His combination of popularity and elegance on stage were complete when adjusting with Reineke's conduction. The "Twistin' The Night Away" made the audience release their joy (... and some insubordinates went to the front aisle to show they could).

Unforgettable and twisting evening at the Stern Perelman Stage.

American Music Roots at Carnegie Hall

Supporting as Notables at Carnegie Hall gets better as I follow up calendar of events in a closer manner. However, on October 6th I received a late notice invite for attending "An Evening of Bluegrass and Banjo" with Steve Martin as well as Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys. When these gentlemen appeared on stage, I couldn't believe I was having a new first time experience: Original american folk music at Carnegie Hall.

The event was full of fun and laughs since Mr. Stanley and the "Boys" created an environment full of traditions, gapless ages, experience, and continuous good humor. Questions and answers made me feel like if I were at a front porch in Kentucky (where I've never been), seeing horses being raided around, or with a bonfire having some drinks. The banjo and all other string instruments were the difference that night at CH. The voices being tuned according to some pre-established order for getting together at specific points like making themselves identified with the lead introspection.

That is an experience: being put into context of traditions and what is typical through the experience of music. Although not easy to understand some lyrics and dialogues due to the accents or dialects, the whole feeling of listening bluegrass live and with real players (who seem to love their playing too) was absolutely wonderful.

These "Boys" brought the roots to Carnegie Hall and now I want to learn more about banjo and bluegrass.

Arrows to the precious target: A Concert of The Helicon Foundation

On October 4th 2009, I joined to the delicacy of the whole event that The Helicon Foundation's Symposium brought to the city. As usual, the event was preceded by a welcome pre-concert reception where chamber music lovers get together to chat on the experiences since the most recent symposium. Later, a triumphant walk upstairs leave to the heaven of the "intimate musical experience". In this case, an outstanding program in two parts with an intermission was put in beyond the hands of the concertgoers: exactly in the place where Cupido's arrows are supposed to target, in the softer part of the spirit.

The first half was a brilliant selection signaled by the mixtures of feelings from Richard Strauss and Anton Webern songs coming to life in the voice of Mrs. Miah Persson and pianist Ilya Poletaev. For this segment of the program, Persson's voice (and attitude) was like a blessing for the evening as well as her shy smile and shiny eyes completed her performance. Her connection with Poletaev through smiles, glaring , etcetera, inspired the most intricate thoughts about the the feelings that the composer expressed through their songs. This duo deserves to get together on stage again.

The second half was just a completion of the journey from love feelings to the most spiritual joy that the human being can have: Waltzes by Johann Strauss. With a subtle composition of titles, the program made the transfer from Roses through Lagoons up to the Emperor. At the most crucial moment of the concert ("The Waltz of The Emperor"), the performance made audience smile, smile and smile. Most of us reluctant to believe that this presentation was live just few steps before everybody attending. Incredible that music can be put together in a well organized frame where the link between passion and joy would never get lost.

This is the thought: Music shouldn't be lost in huge venues where people might be attending just for fun. Music needs to be brought to the audience thinking in them, in the feelings that it will elicit from the most stoic souls. Music in the intimacy is a great experience and that's what I have found in these Symposiums: I being surrounded by musical notes as angels whispering aloud to my ears. I can say that I am more than eager to live the experience that's going to be the next.