He’s Got… High Hopes

So, the solo piano gig at Bistro 221 went exceptionally well last night. I had such a great time playing solo piano that I actually forgot to take a break. I just literally get lost in the music!

But there was one point in the performance where I started getting an itching in my throat and wanted to cough really bad. I don’t know what happened. So, I was playing piano and trying to stiffle my coughs pretty succesfully, and when Danielle (the waitress) walked by I was able to flag her down and she brought me a glass of red wine and a tall glass of iced water! *relief*

One song I really enjoyed playing was something I don’t usually play. It’s “the ant song” from the movie “A Hole In The Head” (1959) by Frank Capra and starring none other than Frank Sinatra. It’s such a simple, catchy melody and very easy to play-by-ear that I had no problem remembering it.

Afterwards, I got a lot of compliments regarding my piano playing, but the thing that pleasantly suprised me was the fact that one couple thought I was just a recording! Like, they were sitting in one of the booths that blocked me from their view, so they did realize there was a “live” piano player, hehe… and I guess when they gave props to the music the owners told them it was “live” and I was playing in the corner there.

Anyways, I got a lot more tips than usual because, well… I’m a solo act!
But it was so enjoyable just playing piano again and I tried to play everything I knew and as much variety as possible… I still had songs I didn’t play because I forgot to bring my big songlist and only played what I could remember off the top of my head.

I even played the TV themes from “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Brady Bunch”…. haha… just for fun, of course just before closing and when most of the people had left.

I played the main theme from the movie “Somewhere in Time” and one of the ladies there sent a waiter to ask me the name of the song. Of course, it’s with Christopher Reeve (Superman) and I overheard the lady ask, “Is this the movie where he became a paraplegic?”, and everyone at that table started laughing. I wanted to laugh out loud too but I was thinking that I better not, so I just smiled.