WoooHoooo I'm getting excited.

I'm not much of a cook.
I think I may make Garlic-mashed-potatos; people seem to like that.
Maybe I'll bring some wine too.

What are you bringing?
Or is pot luck supposed to be a surprise?

Kenny:

Joy:

This will inspire me as I peruse my cookbooks....

Well, I usually do a dessert. So I walked into my local Costco (I mean one of my local Costcos! Can't believe there are so many in OC) and found fresh cherries from Chile. So I'm making fresh cherry pie (Billy boy, Billy boy).

penny

Fresh cherry pie! Lovely. That's an incentive for coming. I'll make a dessert too.

Well, I'll have a meat lasagna and a veggie lasagna. Additionally I'll have some non alcoholic (diet and regular) drinks. I've also made (yeah, that's right, made!) a chocolate cookie/candy. I haven't eaten them all yet!

Oooooooouuuuuh. I've got Piano Party envy. I'll be thinking of you all.

Good luck JohnC, I'm sure it's going to be a big success. Looking forward to new pictures.

Bernard, I bought a digital camera recently. If I don't totally screw it up we'll have plenty of pictures!

I can't WAIT to hear all about the party! And see the pictures! Kenny - are you bringing your guitar? Jodi

Count me in for a salad. I have some Mandarin oranges still on the tree so I will section them up and bring them as well.

85 degrees today in So Cal, more good weather forecast for tomorrow. Lots of food, new friends, old friends and a Steinway grand.

How can it get any better?

Well, I tasked Norbert with bringing Elton, or Ray Charles back to the party.

What, no Billy Joel? Is Norbert really coming? You guys will love him, he is such a hoot. Wishing I could be there. Jodi

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy party! Let the good times roll , and be sure to tell us all about it!

Norbert will be here!

Well, Elton and Ray are appearing at the Pond tonight in some concert that I think is related to NAMM.

Norbert went to the concert tonight. He has his assignment! He's welcome to bring the Piano Man if he runs into him!

Well?

Updates?

Pictures?

Gossip?

Menu?

Program?

Casualties?

It was the best yet!

Everyone is getting more relaxed as we get to know each other.

The piano was, really, to die for.

More later, gotta run.

Wait till you see what happened under the Steinway!!!!!

I thought maybe everyone was still partying! Or maybe they're still sleeping it off. We left just after 10 (had to get the little ones to bed) and the party was just getting started.

As for the who, we had a lot of PW "members," friends, groupies, a lurker and a European piano manufacturer (I'll keep you in suspense for a while over THAT one!). Norbert was our one member from far away, and he didn't make it until 9:30 or so. I begged him to play before we had to scoot and what a treat! Of the "regulars," there were Kenny and his posse (four friends who don't play but come to admire us no matter how poorly we play), Steve and his daughter Kim, who treated us to the only ragtime I heard that night, Niles, Joy with Rick Clark on arm (what a CUTE couple), Friday with family and me and mine. We were joined by newbie Briguy65 (who had the foresight to bring nametags) and John, a lurker who is about to buy a piano (and just in time, the poor guy can play and deserves a step up from his digital).

The piano was superb, and anyone who's hung around here long enough knows I'm not a huge fan of Steinway. But this is what Steinway can do when treated well. It's a 1901 B restored (and I do mean total restoration including everything) three years ago. It had a very sunny, even tone. Reminded me of my piano (if only I could have the longer bass strings!).

JohnC is a man serious about his pasttimes. He has one heck of a piano and one heck of a bike. My husband didn't know which one to drool over first!

For food, we had lasagnas, garlic mashed potatoes, curried cauliflour, an Asian eggplant dish brought by Joy along with brocolli rabe with oyster sauce (yum), pasta with homemade marinara from Niles (fresh tomatoes, not canned), salad, rolls, some chocolate bars-almond roca-like thingie JohnC made that everyone raved over (they were right), a Snickers cake and a pathetic cherry pie, perfect in every way except for the importe tapioca that would not soften! I scooped out the cherries, rinsed them off and dumped the rest of it down the drain. Oh, the pain!

As I said, Norbert came in late with "Oleg," who very sweetly played a song from "Lion King" ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight") for the two 4-year-olds in attendence. I'm not sure if everyone caught the last name. I believe it was Sauter!

more later ...
penny

Matt,

I'm sure others will fill in various details, and gee, I have no idea what 'gossip' may be floating around- but I will say that for me the highlights were the piano performances by Niles and Norbert.

Who would have thought Norbert was a wailin' Blues man (among a lot of other repetoire)??

Oh, yes, another nice surprise was the appearance of Ulrich Sauter- who accompanied Norbert.

John C was a great host with a great 1901 Steinway that was like new with a new soundboard and everything.

A Lurker even showed up...... buwahahaha.

And it was a gas to realise that I had given advise over the years to a few of the attendees, and I received some very nice comments about the outcomes.

Regards,

Rick Clark

Yes, it was Ulrich Sauter, who, according to my third edition Piano book runs the Sauter family business. What a treat.

I'm off to the show. More later.

Blush, blush, me with my bad spelling (make that hearing!). Should've checked The Piano Book first!

BTW, my husband wants to have the next piano party!!!!!

penny

Any leftovers? I'll pay the shipping!

I'm so glad you guys got to meat Ulrich! What a great addition to any party. Were you all treated with wild bore hunting stories? (he's quite the sportsman you know).

Glad you all had fun, wish I could've been there (especially knowing now that Ulrich was there).

hope to have some pictures soon!

PS: Yes, Ulrich runs the C. Sauter Pianofortefabrik in Spaichingen DE. Still very involved in design, and day to day production of his instruments. Plus he's just a super cool guy!

KlavierBauer

Ulrich is indeed a first class individual. I spoke with him briefly at the party. He is a very down to earth person. He also, as was mentioned, played some for us.

I saw him again at NAMM today and spoke with him. He thanked me for the party. When I thanked him for coming, since he spends all his working hours around pianos, he made the point of saying how great it is to see people gathering to enjoy music such as we did. It is a positive thing for the industry and he very much enjoys seeing it and the chance to experience it with others. He is a great guy.

I also got to see and play some great pianos today. Acoustic music is not dead! Long live acoustic music!

Thank you JohnC for a wonderful party and for the Beethoven, Bach , and the Beatles. Briguy65 was right in saying your piano really sings. I have never heard a Steinway sound as well as yours did.

With the exception of my 4yo daughter and Penny's 4yo daughter, I would have to agree: Cutest couple award goes to Rick and Joy.

The food was yummy. Sorry Steve Cohen; I don't think there are any leftovers to send you. And Steve Miller, you must send me your wife's salad recipe.

I was really looking forward to meeting Norbert. Just when everyone was beginning to think that he wouldn't be attending, he arrives with Ulrich in tow. What timing he has! The housebound was QUITE impressed with Ulrich. Not because he runs Sauter, but because he knows Scorpian of rock band fame. :p

The highlight for me was the "duel" between the German (Norbert) playing American music, and the American (Niles) playing German music.

I am in awe of the talent our little group posses. Everytime I hear Kenny play, I understand why he studies with his teacher. The Lurker doesn't even own a "real" piano, but the music that he pumped out was amazing. And then there's Little Miller...what can I say about Kim, other than SHE is the one I am really envious of.

It was a great party and I'm looking forward to the next one.

A wonderful evening! Thanks John, for hosting it and for allowing us to play your most excellent piano. I hope the neighbors didn't complain - you get a LOT of sound out of your Steinway B and we had the door open part of the time.

Penny's son Jonathan gets my award for "most improved". That boy has a bit of the showman in him, and is to be encouraged at every opportunity. Her husband Mynor has been working hard as well, and he sounded terrific.

Kenny's friends are always fun to be around, and Lynne's art lessons were a real hit. Kim came home with lots of new art project ideas - as if she needed any more.

The food was marvelous as always, and I got to try all sorts of things I have never had before. The baby brocolli (with the vaguely off-color name that I don't remember) was delicious and I probably should not have eaten it all. Apologies to those who did not get any.

Really good to meet folks I had not met before - Briguy, Rick Clark, Lurker John, Ulrich Sauter and of course, our Forum's own Norbert Marten. Norbert is indeed the King of Boogie Woogie and all of the nice things everyone says about him are true.

The best part for me is that Kim came home so enthused about piano that she has decided to resume lessons. Not so much classical this time -she wants boogie and blues!

So - when is the next one?

Oh, man, you guys (and gals) that sounds great! These piano parties rock.

JohnC, so glad it was a success. Congratulations! So you had the door open?! You all should be over here... it's a bit on the cool side if you get my drift.

When should we have it? I left your house after the penultimate party wanting to have a party, but my husband thought that was weird (he didn't go to that one). Now he can't wait! I was thinking March or April. Maybe we can get Lyn (ChemicalGal) or Matt G. or Jim (Palindrome) back to join us??? What are your schedules, guys (gals)?

penny

Well, therein lies the rub for me. Sure, my work brings me out that way once or twice a year, and I know that I will definitely be out there this year, but the when part is always a bit up in the air until about two weeks beforehand. So, unfortunately, I am not in control of my schedule.

As much as would love to attend a party at Penny's, trying to work around my schedule might make things a little too last-minute for most people. Of course, I will let everyone know when I'll be out, but don't make any special concessions on my behalf!

Well, let's see. EB2003 will take place in San Diego from April 11 - 15th, 2003. Was planning to spend a few days before the conference at home, haven't decided how many days before the conference I'll be though. As the time gets closer (and experimental data gets collected and analyzed) I'll let you know for sure when I'll be at home.

Failing that, I always go home in December anyway.

So those of you in NC and surrounding (e.g. VA, TN, GA, SC) states, how about a little Piano Party in these neck of the woods?

Lyn F.

I'm temporarily "unlurking" here to thank our very gracious host and the charming and talented persons in attendance Saturday night.

It was wonderful to connect names to the faces!

As I come closer to my piano purchase -- Estonia 6'3" grand (Norbert talked me into it!) or Kawai RX-5 -- Ill actually have something of value to add to the forum, and will unlurk again to keep you all posted. But first I have to move out of this wretched apartment.

John C: Maybe I'm unclear on the concept, but was it your bicycle frame that was made out of wood, and your Steinway cabinet made out of carbon fiber?

Best regards.

It was fun meeting and talking piano with you, John. Boy can you play!

Ah, you have a nice adventure ahead of you. You'll have the awe of checking out acoustic pianos wherever you go. And just think, there could be a Piano Party no matter where you go -- as long as you keep checking on activities via this Forum!

All best,
Joy