Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear & Kinky Boots

Great experience playing for Cindi Lauper & Harvey Fierstine's Chicago auditions for Kinky Boots.

Lightbulb Jokes---the only true American art-form

How many lepers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?  Just one, but he might need a hand.

How many ladies of the evening?  Just one, and she better be pretty small.

How many Chicago real estate developers?  Just one, plus 25,000 lightbulbs for the alderman.

Jesting with Art---I'm having a fling with Scarlatti Sonatas

 “Whether you be Dilettante or Professor, in these compositions do not expect any profound learning, but rather an ingenious Jesting with Art, to accommodate you to the Mastery of the Harpsichord … Perhaps they will be agreeable to you; then all the more gladly will I obey other Commands to please you in an easier and more varied Style. Show yourself more human than critical, and thereby increase you own Delight.”

DOMENICO SCARLATTI

Rummy in the Corner---new song

Rummy in the Corner:  lyrics copyright, Creative Commons

Hot summer night, northside of Chicago

A bunch of hipsters laughs and roars, and goes out for the night.

There in the corner, an observer scarcely noted:

The Rummy in the Corner, lets his thoughts take flight.



You think you seen it all, you shits, you think you got it made;

Let me tell you, just you wait and  you'll feel history's blade.

Your friends will die, your jobs will fail, your flesh will fall, your loves will bail:

And there's nothing you can do about it,

Says the Rummy in the Corner.



Your home-dyed blondes will duke it out, for the Slobo's on the corner;

And hope that it don't rain, before the rent is due.

You cannot acknowledge, that you made a bad, bad bet.

But the Rummy in the Corner, will lay it out for you:




He saw it in the 30's, when Hitler meant prosperity,

He saw it in Iran, when the mullahs took control;

He saw it in the 80's, when Reagan sold our soul---

He's seen it all his life, and all he can say is, "Skol!"


So, drink your beer, fraternity boys, and you skeezy businessmen;

And you girls who wave your hands around, and say, "Like, I'm so wasted!"

When you've done this for thirty years, you will have scarcely tasted:

The cup of bitterness this life can be;

Then you may come and sit here by me;

And you'll know what it is like to be:

The Rummy in the Corner.

Who did Hitler's opponents compare him to?

"You...you...
Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg!"  
Ouch!

ComedySportz LA in town for Championship

yea!  Tonight at 8 at the Atheneum!

Altadena Academy of Music---hooray!

Congratulations, Theresa, on taking over the Altadena Academy of Music.  If I wanted musical instruction in the greater Pasadena area, I know where I'd go!

Living in Chicago is like an abusive relationship

Last week never happened, or if it did, it was my fault.

Band Practice

This is how I spent my morning:
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/d47d344157ac5dcb520d1ac82442487e74ff4ec7

No waiting around for the drummer to show up, no beer to buy.

Boogie Woogie Chicago Pianist Tom King Clear at Grant Park

Yes, I went to Grant Park the other day.  The Festival Orchestra was rehearsing its Independence Day program.  The Fanfare for the Common Man was very thrilling; maybe look at that title, it's a little condescending, in my opinion.

Tenderly--- Ebb Tide mashup

Just for fun:
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/7bd849b217d443fa1b96ebc6b0e67b7f753950b9

The 34 Club

My favorite place to perform in St. Louis!  Long I hope may that tiny piano stay in the window....

"Thou lookest like Antichrist in that Lewd Hat"

Thank you, Ben Jonson!

"Egypt---Gift of the Nile"

Miss B's class at Chicago Montessori scored an immense triumph with "Egypt--Gift of the Nile."
Check out the recording at soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/search?q%5Bfulltext%5D=%22Tom+King+Clear%22

(Two tunes are from Mozart and Verdi, all other stuff by me!)http://soundcloud.com/search?q%5Bfulltext%5D=%22Tom+King+Clear%22

"Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear and MTV!"

At the Gallery yesterday, a location scout from MTV dropped in for their new reality series about broke hipsters. Casey Brown favored us with an authentic Indian blues harmonica duet with
"Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear"!

"Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear at the Zebra Lounge"

I went by the Zebra the other night, after the party with Kendell: Reminded me of
Fred Sasaki's Dil Pickle event there that I played for. That was quite an evening.

"Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear at the Hideout---AGAIN!"

Yes, I may go by the Hideout today and have a Miller High Life.

"Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear--at the Gallery Cabaret"

That title sez it all: Every Thursday of the world, 6--8 pm,
with Casey Brown's Cupcake Comedy Cabaret. NO COVER---
NO MINIMUM---FREE CUPCAKES.

"Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear---It's a Wonderful Life, directed by Rachel Rockwell"

Here's the Jingle Bell Polka, arranged and played by yours truly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPBUe7HobJU

Boogie-Woogie Chicago Pianist, Tom King Clear at the Hideout

Yes, I finally found the Hideout----nice piano!

Bacon Boogie on Youtube

Go to youtube and search
"Bacon Brothers, Gallery Cabaret."
Get it while it's pre-viral!