Three Dazzling Instrumentalists at The Blue Note, WNYC

I had the privilege of seeing the first performance by a dazzling new trio made up of Mark O'Connor, John Patitucci & Julian Lage last night at the Blue Note. It was stunning music, with each player pushing the next to new heights. As with all things O'Connor, this was a night of American music, blurring the boundaries between folk, jazz, classical, and other worlds. One minute one heard an Appalachian moan, the next a western theme, followed by something from the streets of New Orleans, gypsy music, and, of course, modernist New York music. I was blown away.

This afternoon the trio appeared on WNYC's Soundcheck. Here they are with host John Schaefer, who begged them to find a name. I nominate the one their parents gave them: O'Connor, Patitucci, & Loge has a ring to it, in my opinion.



They're at the Blue Note tonight and tomorrow as well. My advice? Do not miss them since these are the only dates currently planned with this incredible trio.

O'Connor & Strings

Mark O'Connor, virtuoso musician, tireless educator and scholar, skilled composer and more, stopped by the office last week. We got to discuss and learn about O'Connor's chock-a-block schedule for the next six months. Here, he poses in front of a recent Strings Magazine cover story focused on his new, insurgent violin method (recently written about in the New Yorker) with some of the PR team, l-r: Andy Silva, Matt Amoroso, Nick Baily and Nancie Martin.