Piano was a festival that took place to celebrate the restoration of the Western Front piano. The event was curated by Hank Bull.
Performances spanned from March to April of 1985 and included the following performances:
Gordon Monahan (Canada), Earthspin – A Timescape 03/08/85 Experimental solo piano.
Audio Recording duration: 01:09:51
Digitized audio of this concert is available through the Western Front Archives upon research request.
Anthony Davis (USA) 03/09/85 Solo piano.
Wayang #4 (Anthony Davis); Crepuscule of Nellie (Thelonius Monk); Evidence (Thelonius Monk); Ballad (Anthony Davis).
Audio Recording duration: 01:47:52
Digitized audio of this concert is available through the Western Front Archives upon research request.
Remastered archival recordings from this performance are also available on the Western Front’s 2016 archival vinyl release past • piano • present.
Al Neil Quintet (Canada) 03/22/85 Piano. Carole Itter, Howard Broomfield, David Lee, Martin Bartlett, and Alex Varty, improvisation using pre-recorded tapes, slides, costumes, and readings.
In the Still of the Night; Lennie; solo piano; What is a Piano; Free Blowing; Rare Bird Report - Sir Horation Humbolt Finch; Free Blowing; God Bless This Child; TBA Blues.
Audio Recording duration: 03:24:11
Digitized audio of this concert is available through the Western Front Archives upon research request.
Remastered archival recordings from this performance are also available on the Western Front’s 2016 archival vinyl release past • piano • present.
Michel Petrucciani Trio (France) 03/26/85 Petrucciani on piano, with Eliot Zigmund, drums and Palle Danielson, bass. “Historically important as the first event sponsored by the recently formed Coastal Jazz and Blues Society. There were two shows, both sell outs, and an extremely humid atmosphere. The Western Front had never seen such a crowd. Quite a night!” - Ken Pickering
Audio Recording duration: 02:02:16
Digitized audio of this concert is available through the Western Front Archives upon research request.
Ken Pickering – Paul Plimley Octet (Canada) 03/29/85 Piano. Original compositions and arrangements for big band jazz. Members include Graham Ord, Coat Cooke, Gordon Bertram (saxophone), Kevin Lee (trumpet), Ralph Eppel (trombone), Paul Plimley (vibraphone), Paul Blaney (bass), Buff Allen (drums).
Audio Recording duration: 01:44:59
Digitized audio of this concert is available through the Western Front Archives upon research request.
John MacKay (Canada) 04/05/85 Solo piano. 20th century piano works, including Ballet Futurista (John Mackay); Tracking (John Celona); Darmstadt Tryptych (Owen Underhill).
Audio Recording duration: 01:38:53
Digitized audio of this concert is available through the Western Front Archives upon research request.