Long Island New York

Our visit to Long Island was a LOT of fun.  I was worried about Matt, as he had just had his cast removed from his arm, but he REALLY wanted to perform and said he was fine.  So, I let him.  We had a weekend of events scheduled with The MAX Foundation in New York, an organization that helps special needs children.  Saturday night was a fundraising concert on behalf of The MAX Foundation, and Sunday was a “Concert for Kids” that was SPONSORED by the MAX Foundation.

We had planned to drive to NY on Friday the 28^th, but I was not feeling well, so we didn’t drive there until Saturday, the 29^th…the day of the first scheduled performance of the weekend.  Normally, I would never have Matt travel on the same day as a concert, but he said he would be fine and just wanted me to feel better.  So, we arrived in NY just in time for the sound check at Mulcahy’s (the venue for Sat. night’s performance).  Mulcahy’s is a restaurant/bar with separate areas for concerts/meetings.  They get really big name bands to perform in there all the time.  So, it was a nice setup.  AND they donated the use of their venue for the fundraiser.  There was a reception prior to the concert that was elegant, and we met some of the wonderful folks who help support great organizations such as The MAX Foundation.

Bosendorfer New York, the supplier of Bosendorfer pianos in the area, donated a piano for the concert.  It was a gorgeous 9-foot piano that had just arrived from Vienna a few days earlier and had never before been played!  Matt was the first to perform on it, and boy, did he make it sing!

For those of you who don’t know, Bosendorfer pianos are unlike any piano you have heard before.  They are the “Rolls-Royce” of pianos.  Each piano is hand crafted and finished, and the strings are strung in a different fashion than any other piano to perfect each individual note’s sound.  Oscar Peterson performs on a Bosendorfer, as well as Diana Krall.

Matt’s left arm was still so weak that he had to rest it on pillows so that he could play the piano, but he wouldn’t quit and he still played awesome improvisations (despite my plea for him to ease up).

But, the Trio’s performance at Mulcahy’s was terrific.  And though Matt admitted his arm and wrists were sore after the concert, he was still excited about the NEXT day’s planned concert.

After we had a good night’s sleep, all of us went to brunch the next morning courtesy of The Montel Williams Show.  Matt is scheduled to appear on a future Montel Show, so the producer of the segment, Robin, joined us for the day to film the Trio “Live, In Concert”.  She’s putting together a short “taped piece” on Matt that she plans to show the audience of the Montel show just before Matt goes on stage.  As every wise producer must learn in producing school, people being filmed are at their best after having eaten some great NY cuisine!  A bagel is not truly a bagel unless it is a New York bagel.  I’m told the difference in taste is a result of the water in which the bagel is cooked. ;-)

The Trio then performed at Molloy College in Rockville Center at the “Concert for Kids” sponsored by The MAX Foundation.  Before the concert, Robin interviewed each of us.  The concert was a big hit, and Matt had a FANTASTIC time.  Matt started off the concert with a beautiful solo rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” for all the children to stand and sing.  And there was a little boy and a girl celebrating their birthdays at the concert, so Matt played a special solo “Happy Birthday” song for them.  The boy actually brought along his whole class to the concert and had his birthday party at the event.  The sweet family invited Matt to join the party.  We wanted to, but by the time Matt was done signing autographs, he was tired.

Matt said it was wonderful when the children were dancing.  The best part was when the Trio performed the last two songs (special requests), and the children were given handmade instruments (by, I believe, the Girl Scouts!).  Everyone paraded around the room banging their drums, shaking their maracas, flipping their rain sticks, singing at the top of their lungs.  The whole place was smiling and laughing and enjoying the fun.  I proudly displayed my rhythm skills on my homemade drum, but don’t expect me to join Matt’s band anytime soon! ;-)

And after the concert, Teresa, the director of The MAX Foundation, invited Matt and me and the sidemen to her house for a get-together.  The sidemen couldn’t attend because they had flights to catch and driving to do, but Matt and I went.  We met the most wonderful people there, many of whom had special kids of their own (who of course, came too), and some folks who were just neighbors or friends of Teresa’s.  The children hit it off and played for hours.  The adults just laughed and told stories and ate.  The whole thing turned into a wonderful party.  And EVERYONE had a wonderful time.  Matt and I now have friends in Long Island with whom we will keep in touch.

I have so many thanks to give to Teresa and The MAX Foundation and Bosendorfer and Mulcahy’s and Molloy College and The Montel Show, and everyone else who made our visit possible.  So, thank you all!