"Basically, music is my life. I have played it for as long as I can remember & I intend on continuing as long as possible. I do it for the enjoyment of others & for the peace of mind that it gives me. Though formally trained, I play as I feel. I may not always adhere to the traditional execution of many of my pieces. I tend to use a lot of rubato & honestly, rhythm is not my strong suit, but it's the emotional content that has always driven my performance." (2009)
Albert can recall over 1000 songs & appears to do so weekly (or at least a few hundred) at Olivia Restaurant (aka East River Cafe) in Manhattan. He's also regularly discovering & learning new songs including his own interests & fan recommendations, while regularly resurrecting & (re-)discovering forgotten gems. His repertoire at any moment may include anything from rock ballads to classical to Hollywood film soundtracks to Turkish music & anything melodically enchanting encountered in between. His debut CD featuring early 20th century pop tunes, or as he puts it "the music heard on the Titanic", is an example of this diversity.
For lack of a better classifer Aaron Joy, owner/producer of the indie label/PR company Roman Midnight Music, decided to call Albert's musical style "F@T music". F@T figuratively referring to his unique full arrangements of robust emotional quality that can't be found on any sheet music. This creative moniker was also chosen to emphasize the fact that his music is all about entertainment, first & foremost, & not about pleasing music critics or attempting to create ground-breaking versions of (already over-heard) piano classics. Nor is he trying to compete with any respected pianist, whether rock or classical, dead or alive.
Albert's repertoire, too lengthy to even begin listing (& he has honestly tried & gotten confused in the process), falls into the following basic & familiar categories:
+ Standards
+ Show tunes
+ Film/TV soundtracks
+ Pop
+ Rock
+ Classical
+ Opera
+ Nostalgia
+ International
& even a little country!
Please contact Albert for particulars of his repertoire or visit his Youtube page to hear/see examples from each of these categories. If you have the opportunity to see him play don't hesitate to make a request, however obscure ... he might surprise you!
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Two songs from his CD "F@T Hits of Yesterday's Journeys Vol. 1" were featured on a 2010 episode of Ragtime America, the leading ragtime radio show, hosted by ragtime expert/musician Jack Rummel.
Albert's rendition of the 1919 lost classic "Three O'Clock In The Morning" received listener chosen Track of the Day Award for 12-7-2009 & the Track of the Week Award for the week of 3-8-2010 on Garageband. Further, it landed Best Mood & also Most Original in the classical category for the week of 1-25-2010.
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His rendition of "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" has become the surprise single off his debut with monthly downloads from England to China.
(Albert shining his beloved smile at the East River Cafe ... where he took over from the famed Irving Fields
as the house pianist in 2004.)
