Spotlight: “Hear” and Now and All That Jazz

David Amram & Dick Hyman to Perform Together For the First Time

By Gus Mollasis

While they may not be household names, anyone who really knows good music—really great music—definitely knows who they are. To those who know David Amram and Dick Hyman and their music well, they are known as Pops and Knuckles O’Toole, respectively. 

Elia Kazan, Jack Kerouac and Leonard Bernstein all knew David Amram because they worked or played with him. 

Benny Goodman, Woody Allen and Charlie Parker all knew Dick Hyman because they worked or played with him. 

When your whole life has been music, working and playing is really the same thing when you reach this legendary level of performance as a musician. Both men have received acclaim for working on a Sinatra project. Both have played with Dizzy Gillespie. Amram has played with Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Lionel Hampton. Hyman worked with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones.

They both play a beautiful piano, are accomplished musical composers, and both have achieved acclaim lending their vast musical talents to the silver screen.

Noteworthy is David Amram’s score for Elia Kazan’s Splendor in The Grass, his haunting score for John Frankenheimer’s Manchurian Candidate, and his work on the art house classic beat film Pull My Daisy. 

Dick Hyman’s musical contributions have accompanied a number of Woody Allen films including Hannah and Her Sisters, Zelig, Radio Days and The Purple Rose of Cairo as well as Norman Jewison’s Moonstruck and Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask. 

The list of who they have collaborated with is way too long to list here. 

Yes, David Amram and Dick Hyman have worked or played with just about everybody—BUT NOT WITH EACH OTHER. 

On one night, March 29, 2020, that will change.

That’s when these two legendary musical performers will appear on Sarasota Opera’s stage and perform together for the very first time. 

Now that’s history. 

The kind of stuff that happens once in a lifetime.  Two musical cats who’ve made a lifetime of good music. 

Now you’ve got to be getting all jazzed up with what you know and what you’ve heard about them. How they’ve played in quartets and quintets. Where they’ve played—from small clubs to concert halls. With whom they’ve performed—solo, in a three-piece or with a big orchestra. Scripted or rehearsed or racing by the seat of their pants, pianos and pennywhistles. Improvising their way through all the musical notes in the heavens.   

If you have seen them or heard of them before, it’s safe to say that you probably won’t see and hear them like this again.

This is your chance to hear greatness with two guys who have footnoted the history of American music over the last 100 years by hitting all the high notes, the soft ones and every note in between. 

All the while hitting these notes with respect for the composer, the lyricist, the singer. And always hitting them in the perfect pitch and on time.

When they bring their unique talents together on March 29, it will be to benefit the Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota – a worthy cause that raises important funds for research, education and community care for hearing and ear treatment. And let’s face it. There aren’t too many people your ears would have more gratitude listening to then these two magical musicians.

Amram turns 90 in November while Hyman turns 93 this month. That’s a lot of years of all that jazz that’s made their lives one long jam session worth listening to and remembering.  

David Amram:

“The object I believe is not to build a career, but to build a life. And if you’re lucky to live long enough and stay the course, you can have a wonderful life and even make a contribution doing that.”  

And both these piano men have had quite a life. Amram, who is listed as an American composer, arranger, and conductor of orchestral, chamber, and choral works, many with jazz flavorings, plays piano, French horn, Spanish guitar, the pennywhistle and sings.

Add one other thing to that list—he’s also a big fan of Dick Hyman. Amram has always admired Hyman and longed to collaborate with him.

David Amram: 

“I met him (Hyman) my second week in New York City in 1955 at a party that music critic Leonard Feather gave that I was fortunate enough to attend.  Feather was an early supporter of my efforts. Even at that time Dick Hyman was a legendary pianist. There were other notables there including Billie Holiday. I heard Dick play live that night and I have never forgotten it.” 

“Over the years I’ve seen and heard so many things that he did that I loved and respected. He’s done magnificent performances of Gershwin and his jazz collaborations with so many people are all amazing as are all his excellent scores and his recordings with Charlie Parker. He’s one of those people that does everything well—a true musician’s musician and the consummate gentleman.”  

High praise from a man who has also played with many musical giants over the years.  

Dick Hyman was named National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellow in 2017 and is listed as an American jazz pianist. In a career that’s spanned over 60 years he’s mastered being an organist, arranger, music director, electronic musician and composer. 

And to that list you can also add this—he is a big fan of Amram. 

Dick Hyman: 

“David Amram is so talented. So wide. It’s hard to define him. He’s a wonderful pianist and plays the French horn, which is a difficult instrument, as well as many other instruments. He’s a noted composer and conductor. The man can do everything and he’s played with everybody. I can’t wait for the opportunity to share the stage with him. I’m really looking forward to it.” 

Now these two musical strangers in the night will get their chance to finally perform together. 

And on March 29 one thing is for sure. 

When these two hit the stage and tap their keys, they’ll be getting every honest ounce of energy out of each note that they play.  

If you’re lucky enough to be in attendance on this incredible night, seeing and hearing these two legends play the music of their lives will certainly be a night you’ll not soon forget. 

For tickets and more information, call 941.365.0367 or visit EarRF.org.