Peter CIncotti Photo

From: Photo Coverage: Peter Cincotti Is A LONG WAY FROM HOME at The Cutting Room

Put Lang Lang, Billy Joel, and Harry Connick into a piano blender and you will create something approaching the excitement of Peter Cincotti. Add in a dose of Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles and you're getting close to the final product. To my ears there is nothing better than the special bonding and coordination a singer pianist has. The fingers know exactly how to wrap around the vocal chords and Peter can do that extraordinary well .but last night at The Cutting Room it was a Long Way From Home which is the title of his newest album. Peter has a huge fan base and the exuberant demographically diverse audience were joining in on some of the new refreshing songs coming from this innovative composer/singer/pianist. The exhilaration and musical arousal created by his piano playing reminded me of the description of the effect the great classical pianist Franz Liszt had on his audiences who on occasion could not control their enthusiasm. I must say I was taken by surprise at the start of Peter's performance. A tall thin guy sneaked onto the stage who I thought was the best looking piano tuner I'd ever seen. It looked like he was about to prepare the strings for the hammering they would soon endure, but it was Peter who put his hands on the keys and the brilliant overwhelming technique and creativity let loose. This was a show in every sense of the word.