Pianist Jack Reilly’s recital at the Johns Hopkins Medicine Center in Baltimore on November 9 paid musical tribute to the memory of the doctor who saved his life.
The concert of Reilly’s original work was recorded. To see and hear it, click here. Thanks to the folks at Johns Hopkins for providing the printed program.
” THE SILENCE of the HEART”
24 MINIATURES FOR PIANO
Dedicated to the late Dr. Martin Abeloff
BOOK ONE
1) C Major 7) E flat Major
2) C Minor 8) E flat Minor
3 D flat Major 9) E Major
4) C sharp Minor 10) E minor
5) D Major 11) F Major
6) D Minor 12) F Minor
INTERMISSION
BOOK TWO
13) F sharp Major 19) A Major
14) F sharp Minor 20) A Minor
15) G Major 21) B flat Major
16) G Minor 22) B flat Minor
17) A flat Major 23) B Major
18) G sharp Minor 24) B Minor
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
While Dr. Abeloff was indirectly responsible for my cancer healing, it was a staff of 4 radiology technichians, my oncologist Dr. Maria Jacobs, the RN Nurse Linda Gallagher, jazz pianist Andy Fields, Louise the receptionist, primary physician Doctor Gopal Gobaj, my wife Carol Lian, the members of the Eastridge Baptist Church in Lutherville and piano technician Phil Warfield. These people were honored on my CD Innocence, The Green Spring Suite with compositions I composed for them while I was in treatment in 2002 at the Green Spring Oncology Clinic in Lutherville, Maryland.
“The Silence of the Heart” was dedicated to Dr. Abeloff because he was head of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Baltimore and did tireless work for the cause of healing cancer wordwide. He pased away last year, ironically, of cancer. His widow, Diane Abeloff, was in attendence at this concert on Nov. 9th 2010.
I finally managed to listen to Jack Reilly’s “The Silence Of The Heart”. I have been a fan of his for many years – in my opinion he is one of the finest jazz pianists we have. This music is utterly beautiful and I cannot recommend too highly to your readers to watch and listen to the video. I am sure they will find it rewarding.