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Archive for the ‘Music’ Category


Remembering Allan Blank


Composer Allan Blank passed away this week. He was a significant figure in the history of Third Wheel, and to remember him today, I’d like to tell you why. I discovered Allan Blank’s music in Lincoln, Neb. I was performing on tour with an opera company and had some time off to wander the city. […]

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Heavy Chamber Music


As a member of Third Wheel, I pay a lot of attention to other chamber music ensembles. Especially the groups that are inspiring and really pushing the boundaries of chamber music — just like we aspire to do in Third Wheel. Edmund Welles is one of those ensembles. Yes, that’s the name of the group […]

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La Banda Bassetti


When I was in Italy, I attended ClarinetFest in Assisi. I was able to attend a number of wonderful performances by clarinetists from all over the world. With so many performances, it’s hard to stand out. Everyone does play the clarinet, after all! One of the most memorable groups was the Banda Bassetti, from Italy. […]

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Harry and Two and Four


Harry Connick, Jr., is one of my absolute favorite musicians. He’s really got it all — sultry singing voice, agile piano playing, slick Southern style, affable personality — and did I mention stunning good looks? But really, above all that, he is truly an incredibly well-rounded musician. And he truly embodies every positive character that […]

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Alternatives


I have been working on a production of A Chorus Line lately. It’s the long-running Broadway hit from the 1970s that chronicles an audition for a fictional Broadway show. The material for the show, which profiles each of the dancers at the audition, is taken from a series of interviews that the writers did with […]

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Norwegian Wood


If you have ever come to a Third Wheel performance, it’s pretty obvious that we are all huge fans of The Beatles. There are very few performances where we don’t find a way to squeeze in a cover or two of some of our favorite Beatles songs — Blackbird and Eleanor Rigby are the two […]

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Shades of Blue, and Nostalgia


When I’m not playing with Third Wheel, I spend a lot of time working with the students at the Orange County School of the Arts. They are a wonderful group of talented musicians, and I have a great time teaching them. This week, they just got some new music to start preparing for their final […]

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What I’ve been listening to…


“Inspired,” “Cool,” “Busy” and “Collaborative” … these are words I would use to describe Nico Muhly. I listen to a wide variety of music — Brahms, The Cure, Stravinsky, Radiohead, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald — with the same enjoyment.  I think this is one reason I appreciate the unique collaborations that Nico Muhly seeks […]

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Cool Winds


In a bustling musical city like Los Angeles, we do not work in a bubble. The musical community is very small and close-knit — especially the community of chamber music ensembles. We’d like to spend some time introducing you to some of our musical friends who we meet out on the performance trail. This week: […]

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Music as a Business


I teach at an arts high school, and one of the classes offered to instrumental music juniors and seniors is called “Music as a Buisness.” That title is different from many other places — most schools just call it “Music Business.” But this makes a clear distinction. Music as a Business. When I was a […]

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