About Carl

PHILOSOPHY | WORK HISTORY | BACKGROUND | CONTACT

 

Carl is a dynamic and versatile entertainer--whether performing a formal classical recital, singing in a piano bar or serenading with his accordian, backing up broadway style production shows, accompanying headline entertainers, playing in an intimate jazz trio or a full-sized big band. He also plays a wide variety of instruments: clarinet, drums, guitar, and a variety of keyboard instruments (organ, marimba, melodica, harpsichord, accordian, etc.) Outside the realm of performing, he composes, arranges and transcribes scores ranging from piano to full orchestra. He can connect with any crowd, not only with panache, but in several languages as well--Carl is fluent in Italian and German, and can converse in Spanish and French.

Philosophy --

 

My goal as an entertainer is to share the joy I get from music. The very thought that I can share, that I can transfer the passion I feel in music is extraordinary. To that end, I try to perform in such a way that I am really in touch with the audience. Being able to 'read a room' is one thing, but having the versatility to perform for any audience is another. I don't perform from a disconnected stance, I don't aim to be a portrait to be observed; rather, I try to make my performances interactive and engaging. For the listener, however much they want to be a part of the experience, they can be! When I have to take center stage, I'm there to command the show. When the venue calls for the music to add ambience or flow perfectly under conversation, I've got it all under my hat. Having a wide repertoire and a casual, friendly report with my audience helps me to create an aura of welcome and comfort--whether in a lounge, hall, theater, anywhere!

 

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Work History --

 

Cruise Ships and contracts away from home:

 

 

Boston and New England Area:

 

I play for weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Functions and holiday parties in and around Boston, MA through Wilson Stevens Productions 1999 - present. Please contact Tim at Wilson Stevens to book me for a function!

 

 

Resident Pianist

 

William Tell Restaurant, Waterville Valley, NH 2002-2007

 

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Background --

 

This is a bit of a landmark year for me, as I've been playing piano for 25 years! Starting private lessons at home (in the Boston area) at the ripe age of seven, I was inspired by my older brother, Mark, who was learning Beethoven's Fur Elise. After a fitful start, I eventually gained momentum and soon began excelling at piano studies. I started performing 'gigs' around the age of 13, first at nursing homes and small functions. I began playing with ensembles in the middle school bands in my home town of Burlington, Massachusetts. In high school, I had the priveledge of studying under Matt Lovell. With Matt, I had four years of the best music theory and composition training anyone could ask for. As well as teaching music theory, he was also the school's band director, and soon I found myself playing drums in the marching band for football games, in parades and even through the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. I then started playing clarinet for the school's concert band.

 

For university, I spent four years studying music at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Altough technically my concentration was in 'music technology', it would be safe to say my emphasis was on piano performance. I had the honor of studying under Dr. Carleen Graff, with whom I still maintain a wonderful friendship. Throughout my time at University, I worked playing piano and waiting tables at one of the best restaurants in New England--the William Tell Restaurant in Thornton, New Hampshire. It's sadly no longer in business, but during it's heyday, it was a truly special place. Serving fine Swiss cuisine, and having a team of exceptional employees, it was a wonderful place to work. I started to learn more and more songs playing the piano in the lounge, and began to develop my stage persona and style.

 

Throughout university, I would escape the cold winters during break times for sunny vacations. From the time I started studying at PSU I had had the idea of working on cruise ships in the back of my mind. After a few cruise vacations, the idea became all too tantalizing. After graduation from Plymouth State, I put together a portfolio sent it off for review to a talent agency in Canada. To my surprise and delight, I was booked from the day my package was received! My first cruise ship gig was a three-week spot on the Island Princess, playing and singing in the Bayou Cafe'. It was great. It was also there that I was asked to cover for a pianist in the showband. I had no idea what I was getting into--I had never heard a 'click track' before, never played a piano on a moving track, never sight-read a production show the night of a performance. However, what came of this fortuitous move were two exciting years roaming as a showband pianist. Following my carreer in the ships' orchestras, I returned to my solo career playing piano for the inaugural season of Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, giving classical recitals and playing piano throughout the ship. Since then, the last six years have been spent in a piano bar setting, entertaining crowds young and old all over the world with a wide variety of musical styles.

 

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Contact Carl

Email: carl@carlspiano.com

Facebook: Carl's Piano: Facebook

YouTube: www.youtube.com/crwishneusky1

SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/carlspiano

Cell Phone: +1 (781) 608 - 5009 (USA)

 

 

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