Saturday, April 26, 2025
Dr. Bird threw himself a heck of a birthday party. There was a recital first, followed by a party at the West Wind Supper Club. Donna and Benjamin came from the south today to help us move this week. We met at Old Southern BBQ in Hudson. Benjamin went on to MN while the rest of us when to the concert.
It was a really enjoyable concert. Alan Baer (principal tuba of the NY Philharmonic and Gary’s former student and good friend) was there. He is a darned good tuba player and a really nice guy. Gary had his gall bladder out eight days ago and there was no sign it had put a damper on his playing, or on his enjoying the event. Jim Kurschner accompanied Gary and Alan on a difficult duet, and he had his appendix out TWO days ago! Talk about the show must go on!
Alan joined Metro Brass to play the solo on Rumanian Dance #2 as a duet with Gary. It was gorgeous. I heard nothing go awry, but Keith announced afterward that the tuba and piano version has one less bar than the tuba and brass arrangement. And Alan didn’t know that. They had never rehearsed it before performing it, so…. Everyone on stage laughed a lot, but I didn’t hear a thing go wrong.
Could’t be better than this!! Amazing people, amazing music, amazing fun…. Wish we could have cloned ourselves….
I hope you had a great evening as well!