Ambuter Piano Studio takes in Jazz Piano concert

VERNON — Some members of the Cherwyn Ambuter Piano Studio took a field trip to see a professional jazz piano concert this past Sunday at William Paterson University.
The university’s jazz studies program is one of the top three programs of its kind in the nation. In conjunction with this program, Wm. Paterson produces a fabulous series with internationally-known figures and legends performing in its “The Jazz Room” series. Sunday’s concert was no exception, featuring Dick Hyman, the late Benny Goodman’s pianist who started with Goodman at the age of 23. Hyman is almost 90 years old and has performed and grown as a musician along with all the changes in the jazz genre over a tremendously long-spanning career. Performing with Mr. Hyman on some numbers were graduate students in the jazz studies program on vibraphone, drums, tenor sax, and stand-up bass.
Ambuter and students attended the pre-concert Sittin’ In session with Mr. Hyman and Dept. of Jazz Studies chairperson, famed pianist Bill Charlap, who studied with Mr. Hyman for many years. The session began with an interview which included some short example of music played on the piano to illustrate Hyman’s points, and then Mr. Hyman invited questions from the audience. The familiarity between teacher and student lent itself to an easy and enjoyable rapport. During the interview, Hyman shared the benefits of continuing with classical piano studies at the same time as jazz (“helps a jazz musician deal with the ‘form’ of the music”), talked about his memories with Benny Goodman, Lena Horne, Billie Holliday, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Maxine Sullivan, and others. He discussed the absolute imperative to practice daily in order to be consistently on top of one’s game in music instead of being sometimes wonderful, sometimes mediocre. He declared that daily practice is what is necessary to get beyond the struggle with technique to the place “where you can really make music.”
On the drive home, the music students discussed how enjoyable it was to see all the nonverbal communication between the musicians in the quintet, realizing that this is how small chamber music groups (whether jazz, classical, or any genre) must collaborate in the absence of a conductor. Topics also covered the different genres heard in the concert such as “free jazz”, blues, and more; the way it is permissible to clap during a jazz piece if someone completed a solo, and not in the middle of a classical piece; and the difference in feeling when watching a musician who doesn’t move freely vs. one who seems to convey passion in the way they move as they play. All in all, a very educational and enjoyable trip.
It concluded with a stop to an ice cream stand. The piano studio has the goal of developing well-rounded musicians. For more information on the studio, call (973) 862-0668 or visit www.cherwynambuter.com.