On the Baldwin

We had a chance on Sunday night to hear Lara Driscoll tickle the ivories of the Baldwin grand over at the Iron Post. Lara is quite a virtuoso. She plays jazz piano in a very wide range of styles, and she is good! She's a lovely young woman with long slender fingers and an air of relaxed and friendly elegance. There is none of that style of sullen pouts about her that is, unfortunately, rather common these days. And she likes all kinds of jazz tunes: old standards, including some corny ones, originals, contemporary jazz, slow heartbreaking ballads and hopping hot pieces alike.

We were treated to a lovely rendition of the Charles Trenet tune "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?" (English title "I Wish You Love") and the beautiful Sarah Vaughn favorite "I'm Glad There Is You." We love the old standards best, of course, because we've become sort of old standards ourselves (n.b. it can happen to you!).

Lara was playing with a bass and drum backup on Sunday, but she also appears in duets with horn players, in a quintet with Mikael Templeton, and playing solo piano as well in a number of venues about town. We've enjoyed her gigs at V. Picasso, which is, sadly, closed now. I hope the new owners (whenever they emerge) will include live music with whatever food they're offering. Downtown Urbana is a great place for music.