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 ... at the (official!) website for
30 year Manhattan cocktail pianist
Albert Aprigliano
(... known on youtube as "Jewelyard")
(... here you can find out all about him
& buy his CD's!)
* * *
First hitting the keys at age 7 within three years Albert found himself a student in Juilliard's pre-collegiate division. Considered by many a child musical genius he earned both Bachelor's & Master's degrees in music from Juillard. Instead of pursuing a Ph.D. he embarked on a solo career in 1980 that has gone far beyond the dreams of a young college kid from the out of the way Jersey town of Wood-Ridge.
His Juilliard professors included Madame Ania Dorfmann, a Russian pianist who recorded for Columbia Records in the 1940's, & Armenta Adams, the founder of the acclaimed African-American Gateways Music Festival. He studied music theory with Francis Goldstein & piano with Katherine Parker (under whom he was a fellow classmate with Jordan Rudess, keyboardist of prog-metal band Dream Theater, whose rebellious rock'n'roll nature earned him a place as Albert's pre-college idol). He was also the chosen accompanist for soprano Eleanor Steber in her masterclasses.
Albert's career has included steady work via:
... house pianist for many high class Manhattan restaurants ...
... accompaniment for numerous cabaret acts ...
... regional theater in New Jersey & New York ...
... weddings, receptions & private parties ...
... a unique decade of playing in bank lobbies ...
... private rehearsals with established Broadway & theater performers ...
all the while bending the ear of many well-known celebrities
& with a growing fanbase around the world.
* * *
If you're itching to hear (& perhaps buy) Albert's music, well ...
1. On October 3, 2009 his debut album landed! The first of many albums!
Order your copy via the link on the left.
2. If you're in Manhattan visit the Maestro at the East River Cafe,
a Mediterranean restaurant/bar at 1111 First Ave. (at E. 61st St.),
playing every Wed. through Sat. 7:15pm to closing.
3. A sliver of his repertoire can be seen/heard through
his popular collection of videos on Youtube
(226 videos with over 137,000 hits as of Sept 2009).
(He doesn't have any other gigs currently booked, but if you would be interested in having
Albert play please send an e-mail. He's happy to consider all requests.)
(This unexpected newspaper article featured Albert's non-musical talents,
as recorded by famed gossip columnist Cindy Adams.)
* * *
(And, last of all ...)
Albert has over 1000 memorized songs
& is known for learning a song perfectly by ear after only a few listens,
while adding his unique emotional flavor to the piece,
that defies expectations with unique full arrangements
that can't be found in any fake book & but a rare caliber of pianist,
resulting in "music ... off the beaten path", ranging from Mozart to Meat Loaf.
(which Jane Mangini, keyboardist of O'2L & Trans-Siberian Orchestra
once lovely described as "FAN TAB U LOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!")
* * *
Please enjoy this modest site & feel free to contact Albert, though he's unable to provide sheet music for anything he plays as much of it was learned by ear & are his own (unwritten) arrangements. But, if you have the skills to transcribe and/or interpret any songs you've found through him he'd love to hear about your own inspired musical endeavors & he's happy to give musical advice on anything else.
& P.S. ...
... if you have an hour check out this interview Albert did in March 2011
on the 'Roman Midnight Music CD Reviews & Interviews' podcast
(or search for Albert on itunes) hosted by well-known music critic Aaron Joy.
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