LOS ANGELES CHAPTER
Special 2017 Multi-Chapter Meeting
January Meeting: Special 2017 Multi-Chapter Meeting
Date: Monday, January
16, 2017 (Martin Luther King Day)
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location:
Keyboard Concepts in Santa Monica
3232 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA
90404
(310) 586-5588
RSVP: (310) 829-4644 or lunatuner@aol.com
Our December meeting was really a party. Not unusual, the month being December. The host and hostess were Mr. and Mrs. Franco Skilan. The party was held at Precision Piano Shop, the same shop where ‘God’ had one of His Steinways rebuilt in 2005 (Ref: PTG Journal February 29, 2005). This was far superior to having a party in a restaurant. Much to our delight, David Weaver (RPT) created a combo to play Christmas songs and other tunes. The players were quite adept at their instruments. Drummer Raul Pineda, from Cuba, had a unique style and could play expressively without being loud. The bass operator, Nando Raio, also played some solos that qualify him for my nomination as Bassist of the Year. The pianist was Steve Welch whose nimble fingers wove some pervasive harmonies on the two Steinway model B pianos. Of course Dave Weaver was the jazz guitar master. Sometimes I think he practices in his sleep. One of the pianos was a new 2016 and the other was a 1920 rebuilt by Franco. Steve Welch had trouble deciding which one was the best. The newer one had a lighter touch and both were very enjoyable to play. They were strangely in excellent tune. Brooks Taylor channeled Louis Armstrong for a rendition of “What A Wonderful World” as well as some Christmas carols. Isaac ‘Agraffsky’ played some jazz improvisations with the band for a short time, much to my delight. There was a wide assortment of culinary delights appropriate to the occasion. I suspect that some of that food was prepared by Franco’s wife. Some of you may have noticed a really tall guy who is not a tuner or a member. He is Larry Gibbs, an erstwhile customer of mine whom I sent to Franco because I couldn’t replace the missing sostenuto rod in his Steinway C. Franco completely transformed the C. Now Franco invites Larry to the shop when we have a party there. Larry is an excellent pianist. Get to know him next time he’s around. (He is easy to spot - the tallest person in the room.)
In January we will have a multi-chapter meeting at Keyboard Concepts in Santa Monica at 10:00 am on Martin Luther King Day (just 3 days before my birthday, but no presents please, I still haven’t opened all the ones I got on Veteran’s Day).