Fairbanks Packs House; Records Live Album
CINCINNATI, Ohio – 23 August 2008 – Roger Fairbanks is at it again, this time in front of a live audience. On August 23, 2008, Fairbanks invited a crowd of 50 friends and family to his home for a private concert. The Cincinnati weather was hot and muggy, but that didn’t stop the enthusiastic fans from attending, even after some minor difficulties with the air conditioner.Fairbanks provided guests with beer brewed in the home countries of many of the composers that would be featured that evening, including Poland, Russia, France, Austria, Belgium, Argentina, and the United States.
As people sat down with their beers of the world in anticipation of a great show, Fairbanks got things going with some contemporary favorites by the Beatles, Chicago, and Charlie Chaplin. “Songs like these are always fan favorites,” said Roger. “People know the words and tend to sing along in their heads. It keeps them excited for more, and before they realize it they’ve become entranced by the classical pieces.”
The contemporary pieces were followed by a familiar tune, heard recently in an Xbox commercial for Halo 3. It was Chopin’s famous Prelude in D-flat Major, better known as the Raindrop Prelude.
Music enthusiast Joseph Valentin says, “Mr. Fairbanks dazzles audiences again with his latest release, Live in Cincinnati. On his newest disc, Fairbanks displays unusual versatility, bringing to life everything from the nostalgic melodies of the Beatles and Chicago to some of the repertoire's most difficult riffs from Debussy and Rachmaninoff. Live in Cincinnati will keep listeners interested from start to finish and promises to bring audiences back for a repeat performance.”
For this special event Roger invited his piano teacher to stop by to play a few pieces. Judith Fleitas is a Doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her musical genius was demonstrated tonight as she performed some classical pieces by W. A. Mozart and Alberto Ginastera. She wowed the crowed as her fingers moved magically along the keys, producing a sound that Ginastera himself would have appreciated. A quick biography about Judith can be found at the end of this release.
Between Fairbanks and Fleitas, the night was a huge success. After the concert was over the fans erupted with applause, standing up and asking for an encore. Roger’s CD will be release to the public in the next few weeks, but in case you can’t wait, digital downloads of the individual pieces can be found below, or as a zip file.
01 Intro.mp3
02 Smile.mp3
03 Colour My World.mp3
04 Yesterday.mp3
05 Girl.mp3
06 Prelude in D-flat Major (Raindrop Prelude).mp3
07 Sonata In F Major, II Movement.mp3
08 Prelude I (To Bill Daly).mp3
09 Intermission Jam 1.mp3
10 Intermission Jam 2.mp3
11 First Arabesque.mp3
12 Clair de Lune.mp3
13 Cuyana.mp3
14 Criolla.mp3
15 Nortena.mp3
16 Prelude II (Blue Lullaby).mp3
17 Prelude in C-sharp Minor.mp3
Press Contacts:
Jonathan Lepolt
Fairbanks/Lepolt Recording Studios
lepoltje [at] gmail [dot] com
Judith Fleitas is a Cuban American pianist. Ms. Fleitas is completing her Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her repertoire includes most of the Classical composers and her specialty is Latin-American Classical music. Besides that, teaching is also her passion. Roger Fairbanks is one of her adult students, and one of the most dedicated and entrepreneurial ones. Mr. Fairbanks has been taking lessons from Ms. Fleitas for several years, and this performance was one at his house, where several friends and music lovers gathered and both, teacher and student performed in an informal atmosphere for fun.
About the pieces: Alberto Ginastera was one of the most famous Argentinean composers of the twentieth century. The piece performed by Ms. Fleitas is from a set of three dances titled “Tres Piezas.” The earlier piece is the second movement from W. A. Mozart’s beautiful piano sonata in F Major K. 332. If you would like to contact Ms. Fleitas, please do so at: fleitasjc [at] hotmail [dot] com.