Big Ben's Babble

G.R.A.S.S. live at SoHo Apple Store

2011-03-22T17:03:00.001-07:00

G.R.A.S.S. live at SoHo Apple Store

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G.R.A.S.S. live at SoHo Apple Store

2011-03-22T16:54:00.001-07:00

G.R.A.S.S. live at SoHo Apple Store

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The Sounds of Taraab at Barbès

2010-09-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Music of Zanzibar

A little over 100 years ago, the Sultan of Zanzibar sent his court musicians abroad to study. They returned at 'Taraab' was born. A spicy blend of East African Rhythms, Arabic modalities, and Indian influences, 'Taraab is sung in Kiswahili and is popular in the coastal cities of Tanzania and Kenya. "The Sounds of Taraab" features vocalist Alsarah accompanied by oud master Haig Manookian, Ismail Butera on accordion and vocals, Michael Hess on violin and nai flute, and a duo percussion team of Tiye Giraud and Nicole Lecorgne.

http://www.myspace.com/soundsoftaraab

2010-07-14T17:45:00.001-07:00

Press about Jazz at Fried Chicken Fridays at Aretsky's Patroon Restaurant

2010-04-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a roundup of links I could find about my gig at Patroon on Fridays. There's a fair amount of duplication in actual content, including a persistent, less-than-accurate description of my music as "honky-tonk." I'm still working on that. It's been more jazz standards with a stride, bluesy, or New Orleans touch. Come listen and decide for yourself.

New York Social Diary

Joonbug: Cultivated

Thrillist

Travels in Taste

Travels in Taste (again)

TimeOut NY

Glide Magazine: Hidden Track

Trespiece: Fri 19 Fried Chicken Night

Fashionista Diaries: (Always) Alanna - Best NYC Food

I've been playing with Daniel Foose on bass and we've had guests Tom Abbott, Joseph Perez and Bob Curtis on clarinet and/or saxophone.
Come join us on Fridays 6-11pm 160 E. 46th St. btw. Lex/3rd.
More gigs on benjaminhealy.com

In a Sentimental Mood

2009-09-22T09:06:00.001-07:00

Killing some time between lessons, working on this great Ellington ballad. Played on my student Alan's Steinway.

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Ben at Garage Wed. & Puppets Fri.

2009-08-11T19:36:00.001-07:00

Benjamin Healy will perform at

Garage Restaurant & Café

with the Andrew Hadro Quintet

Wed. Aug. 12th 10:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
99 Seventh Ave. S., New York, NY 10014
garagerest.com

Puppets Jazz Bar
Benjamin Healy Trio

Fri. Aug. 14th 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
481 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11215
puppetsjazz.com

Please visit my website for upcoming performances and information about private lessons (now accepting students)
Subscribe to my calendar

Stout & cheesecake

2009-06-24T03:16:00.001-07:00

At the Sometime Jazz Club in Kichijouji.

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KFC

2009-06-24T00:36:00.001-07:00

Wa-fu chicken cutlet. Much better than American KFC!

Aika and Wake

Aika and her dad. She has a book we gave her.

Atsuko and Mitsuki

Mitsuki, daughter of our friends Wake and Naoko

Noodle chef

Slicing udon

Yumiko

Yumiko ordered clams.

Performer

Entertainment at Koshigawa kourakuen

Bridge

Strolling in Koshigawa kourakuen

Wake and Aika

2009-06-21T23:15:00.001-07:00

Atsuko and I visited our friends Wake and Naoko in Kamakura this weekend. Here is Wake and his oldest daughter Aika, who is holding a book we gave her about visiting New York City (subtle hint, you might say).

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Koishigawa kourakuen

2009-06-20T03:32:00.001-07:00

Park at center of Tokyo

Travel log: Flight and arrival

2009-06-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

I arrived at the airport with plenty of time, so of course there was
very little wait time for check-in or security. After sitting at the
gate for awhile they announced that the flight would be making an
unscheduled stop in Los Angeles to get more fuel. Apparently a volcano
had erupted on Friday north of Japan on a Russian island and the ash
it was spewing was in our flight path. An alternate route would
require more fuel. A few minutes later it was announced that the
fueling would be done in Atlanta. I boarded the plane, but we just sat
at the gate. Then it was announced that the flight was cancelled.
A special flight would be made the next day, all bags would be kept on
the plane, and accomodations arranged at the Ramada Inn. I wasn't sure
if it would be easier to go to the hotel or just go home. I settled on
the hotel so that it would be easy to get back the next day.
The hotel experience was not the best, but the breakfast buffet was
decent and it was easy to return to the airport. Of course, check-in
and security took much longer this time. After some more anxious
moments waiting on the Tarmac we finally took off. I watched movies
the whole way, about six of them, as the flight was 17 hours.
Atsuko met me at the airport and we took trains to Musashi Koganei
where her father picked us up. He drove me to Big World 21, a hostel
in Fuchu. The place is painted very colorfully, which gives it a
certain charm. The room is small but comfortable. The bathroom down
the hall is quite smelly, and the showers are only on the first floor.
Still, the place works well for me as a cheap rental (we had to
reserve it for a month, even though I'm only here for two weeks, and
it's still cheaper than a hotel). I took a shower, ate a bento box and
slept through the night.

Rolf & Meghan's Wedding

2008-12-29T08:34:00.001-08:00

My high school buddy Rolf Jacobson married Meghan Funke at Grace Lutheran Dec. 28, 2008.

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2008-12-07T19:15:00.001-08:00

Duck at Chiboust

Lamb at Chiboust

Ben & Atsuko at Chiboust

Atsuko at Chiboust

Weathervane

Stables

Lawn and Stables

Atsuko takes a break

Lyndhurst Mansion, towers

Lyndhurst Mansion, view from West

Bowling lane building

Ben and bowling lane building

Ben and bowling building

Atsuko and Lyndhurst

Ben and Lyndhurst Mansion

Atsuko and Lyndhurst Mansion

Atsuko and greenhouse

Hudson River

from Lyndhurst lawn
Ben at Lyndhurst

Atsuko at Lyndhurst

Atsuko at Lyndhurst Mansion

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Liberty Science Center

2008-12-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

Atsuko and I took a rare trip to New Jersey to visit the Liberty
Science Center. It took three trains to get there, each requiring a
different kind of ticket. First the subway to Manhattan, then the PATH
to New Jersey, and finally the light rail to Liberty Park. Though
it's right across the bay it took nearly an hour and a half and felt a
world away. The Science Center is a giant, gleaming silver building
surrounded by parking, bordered by the expressway, the light rail,
park and water. The canyons of New York City streets make you forget
how much space there is between things in most parts of the world,
even right across the river.

Though the Science Center is mostly for kids, we found plenty of
interesting things to do. I think it's mostly the adults who read
what's on the displays and faithfully follow the directions while the
kids run around and push buttons, pull handles, and make up their own
games.

We actually spent a good share of the visit sitting and watching
movies, which was just fine (nothing like pacifying the little tykes
with a giant IMAX screen). We saw "Mystery of the Pharohs" which put a
decidedly positive spin on the removal of the famous pyramids and
Egypt. All for the greater good, in the name of science, as studying
the mummies could further our understanding of the evolution of
disease. An intersting film, though not one you'd necessarily need to
see in IMAX.

The other flic was my first 3D movie experience. Pretty cool, though I
was somewhat disappointed to learn that advances in technology have
eliminated the need for blue and red lenses in the special glasses.
Still, the shades made us look sufficiently ridiculous. "Fly Me to the
Moon" was a CG animated version of the first lunar landing shown from
the perspective of some fictional flies that hitch a ride inside the
astronauts' helmets. The 3D effects saved it from being Saturday-
morning-cartoon quality.

The exhibits featured a section devoted to animals and insects that
use various devices to hunt prey or avoid being eaten. Camoflaged bugs
and snakes were not among Atsuko's favorites, believe it or not. We
also explored machines demonstrating alternative energy sources. I
learmed some new things about hydro-electric. One exhibit I would
have liked to spend more time in dealt with communication, including
everything from cellphone technology to ancient Chinese calligraphy.

It was a fun day trip and a destination I can recommend to all ages.
--
Benjamin Healy

Piano Performance & Instruction
http://www.benjaminhealy.com

Wynton Marsalis on The Colbert Report

2008-10-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

"Jazz is a music of integrity, and it teaches us to listen." -Wynton Marsalis

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Wynton Marsalis

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

Riding the train to Greenwich

2008-09-20T13:25:00.001-07:00

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Camilo says hello

2008-09-19T15:27:00.001-07:00

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Wedding gig in Greenwich, CT

2008-09-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

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Station 23

2008-08-08T00:06:00.001-07:00

Stone Temple Pilots@Jones Beach

2008-08-06T19:37:00.001-07:00

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Grilling with Matt

2008-08-03T17:27:00.001-07:00

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A beautiful day in Brooklyn.

2008-08-03T12:13:00.001-07:00

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CellSpin text upload

2008-07-29T23:22:00.001-07:00

Testing out CellSpin.

CellSpin upload

2008-07-29T23:21:00.001-07:00

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My first iPhone blog post

2008-07-28T20:11:00.001-07:00

Though at this moment I am within ten feet of my computer, I'm
determined to try every trick this iPhone can do. So, here's a useless
posting that may or may not turn me into a mobile blogger. Nerd alert!

Sent from my iPhone

Met Opera in Prospect Park

2008-06-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Friday night I attended the Metropolitan Opera's summer concert in Prospect Park. This was one of those performances that makes me so happy to live in New York. I've been to outdoor concerts in Central Park, but being a Brooklyn resident, there's always something special about walking to a show in Prospect Park. This year's show featured soloists Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, with the orchestra conducted by Ion Marin. There were works by Verdi, Bizet, Catalani, Alagna, Donizetti, Puccini and Delibes. The set up for this production was absolutely incredible. There were speaker towers and giant video screens positioned all along the Long Meadow. Atsuko and I arrived an hour and half before the show and managed to get a pretty decent view of the stage, though by concert hall dimensions I'd estimate we were in the third balcony at least. Still, the giant video screens brought the performance close, so I felt thoroughly engaged. The sound was also very good, clear without being too loud. I was absolutely entranced by the soloists, Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna. I have never really considered myself a fan of opera, but seeing a live performance, particularly in such a lovely setting, was truly a moving experience.

One of my favorites was the solo "Air du condamné" sung by Roberto Alagna. It was explained on another page in the program that this piece is based on Victor Hugo's novel The Last Day of a Condemned Man and was written by Mr. Alagna's brothers. He describes it as "a very moving piece with a powerful message of humanity, tolerance, and respect towards life."

Angela Gheorghiu was so powerful and yet in complete control of her voice. Truly amazing. She is very expressive and I was glad to be able to see her face on the video screen to catch the nuances of her performance. She sang an encore (I didn't catch the name) where she read some of the rapid verse lyrics, but then soared into the chorus. It was perhaps a little more towards the pop-era end of things, but I couldn't help but get caught up in the melodrama. It was heart-breakingly beautiful.

There were many encores and I didn't catch the names of the pieces, but the performers were obviously having a lot of fun with them. There was a very jubilant atmosphere about the whole performance which really inspired me to celebrate the arts. I hope they do this again next year.

BAMTalk w/Paul Simon & Philip Glass

2008-05-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Obviously I've been taking advantage of all opportunities to see Paul Simon at BAM. Perhaps I am obsessed, but it's not often that one of your favorite artists makes so many appearances, in so many different guises, only minutes from your door. So, there I was, watching two amazing artists discuss the creative process. Unfortunately, I did not have the presence of mind to bring a notepad. I'm sure that most of the things they said weren't particularly profound and would not necessarily warrant taking notes, but I would like to try and remember a few things if only for my own reminiscing. So I'll scramble to get some things written down before I forget...

Paul Simon opened by asking Philip Glass a very broad question about composers in the 20th century. They eventually found ways to make it interesting, talking about Charles Ives and how to enjoy music on a conceptual level. Glass seemed the more humble of the two (not a big surprise), often giving praise to Simon's songwriting talent. Simon spent a good deal of time talking about his compositional process, which I'm guessing is a common topic for him. They illustrated their differences in the compositional process of bringing words and music together. Simon found a way to work with "Graceland" by starting with the music and setting words to it, whereas Glass usually starts with words (usually some else's). Simon attributed this to coming from a classical tradition of tone poems.

Simon talked about the importance of engaging the listener with music, rhythm in particular, and then holding their interest with the lyrics. He mentioned the art of using musical and lyrical clichés to give the ear a rest and the listener a chance to process. Simon explained the importance of a rhythmic conversation between the lyrics and music, and the significance or irony that conversation can convey.

Glass had a good quote about spending the first thirty years of your life trying to find a musical identity, and the rest trying to lose it. He talked about musical collaborations as a means to break free. Some of the most interesting stories came from their collaborations, and how communicating about music with people from other traditions challenged their concept of music and music vocabulary. Being forced to let go of terminology such as "G Major chord" or even naming a note "B" was a fascinating challenge.

Glass spoke about his commitment to performing music, and the significance of the performer's interpretation. Simon mentioned Aretha Franklin's performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as being the interpretation he had in his head when he wrote the song (though he did highly acknowledge Art Garfunkel's version as well).

There was some other good stuff.... but I'm getting sleepy and my brain is turning to mush. Hopefully I'll remember some other things tomorrow.

Twitter in Plain English

2008-05-05T19:41:00.001-07:00

I recently started using Twitter more often. If you have no idea what that is, check out this video, then click the "follow me on Twitter" button on the left:

Embedded Video

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Paul Simon at BAM: American Tunes

2008-04-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

This was the third concert I've been to this month. I was going to say it was the best of the three, but I think it's better to think of it as one long show, perhaps presented in three acts. Paul Simon sure has covered a lot of ground in the course of his career. This show seemed a little hectic in that he was drawing from many different albums, including some songs made famous when working with Garfunkel, and featuring a lot of guest artists from a wide variety of musical genres. I liked the guests in this show more than those in "Under African Skies." They each seemed stronger performers in their own right. I was pleased to be introduced to Grizzly Bear (Brooklyn product!), Amos Lee and Gillian Welch. David Rawlings, performing with Welch, was a definite highlight. He's a great guitar player, and they sing together really well. Josh Groban sang "America," "Silent Eyes," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The girl next to me was snickering through most of "America." I understand Josh Groban is perhaps too mainstream, syrup-pop for hip Brooklynites who were conceived to "Mrs. Robinson," but really, give the guy a chance. He has a great voice, even if it's been mostly spent on "O Holy Night" and "You Raise Me Up." Anyway...
Interesting fact: I was talking with Juanita, mother of my student, Meilei, about the show. Juanita works in Paul Simon's office and helped me get these tickets. I was telling her about Grizzly Bear's version of "Mother and Child Reunion" and how it was rather dark and foreboding, in contrast to the bouncy and buoyant original. She gave me the inside scoop on the lyrics: Mother and Child Reunion is the name of a special dish at a Chinese restaurant Paul used to frequent. The dish contains chicken and eggs. It's only a motion away.

Paul Simon, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform "Sound of Silence"

Paul Simon and Josh Groban perform "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Cherry Blossoms@Brooklyn Botanic Garden

2008-04-27T21:28:00.001-07:00

Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV: Grand Piano with Internet Connection

2008-04-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

NYTimes Review

I'd like one of these for my birthday, please. (Anybody got a spare $42,000?)

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Paul Simon at BAM: David Byrne steals the show with "You Can Call Me Al" & "I Know What I Know"

2008-04-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I went to Paul Simon's "Under the African Skies" concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It was the second in the series of three that Simon is performing at BAM this month. The first show I saw was music from "The Capeman," Simon's short-lived Broadway musical. That show was an exciting introduction for me to a side of Simon's music I hadn't yet explored, a mix of salsa and doo-wop. I wish I could have seen the show on Broadway. "Under African Skies" was all the music I had grown up listening to on the albums "Graceland" and "Rhythm of the Saints." It was wonderful to see it live. I remembered seeing Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Northrop Auditorium on the U of M campus back when I was probably eight or nine years old. My Dad used to play "Graceland" while doing the dishes, and my brother and I would dance and run around the house. That album has the most infectious energy. Every time it got to the bass solo break on "You Can Call Me Al" I'd try and spin around on the tile kitchen floor, break-dance style.
So, it was a little hard for me to enjoy some of the singers that Simon brought in to cover his songs. Vusi Mahlasela fit the bill, and his voice carried well over Ladysmith and the band. Kaïssa was also entertaining, but I often lost track of her voice in the lower registers. It may have been the sound man's fault. Luciana Souza was a good fit for "Born at the Right Time," being that she was five months pregnant. Her duet with Simon was also very touching. However, the overall energy of the show was very low-key until David Byrne showed up to cover "You Can Call Me Al" and "I Know What I Know."
There were a few twenty-something women sitting near me that seemed like they were going to fall asleep near the middle of the concert. When David Byrne came on stage, they perked up. Once Byrne was featured, everybody was dancing in their seats. He really stole the show.
I love Paul Simon's music, and I like his relaxed approach to performing. I understand that not everyone's attention is held by the music alone. I was going to say since he's getting older maybe it's good to have some other artists pump up the crowd, but David Byrne ain't no spring chicken at 56. Kudos.
I wouldn't call myself a Talking Heads fan (I heard "Burning Down the House" on the radio, that's about it), but I thought Byrne was a perfect fit for these Simon tunes. He successfully honored the spirit and sound of the original performance and at the same time infused the song with his own unique sound and expression.

Just me, just you

2008-04-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yet another corner of the web in which I can pile some stuff. This one's just for you guys.