The big secret about the Flying Karamazov brothers is they are a bunch of really smart guys. I am privy to many of their offstage accomplishments and academic achievements, because [disclaimer here] – they have been customers of mine for over 30 years (see my connection here and here.) Knowing this about them, it will come as no surprise to see an old tag line: “Juglito ergo sum” – I juggle, therefore I am.

What is no secret is that they are also very talented performers. They are not brothers, they do not fly (only the objects do), and they have no connection to Dostoyevsky, although their character names are based on the novel: Alexei (Mark Ettinger) is their resident musician, composer and conductor. Pavel (Rod Kimball) is the master juggler. Dmitri (Paul Magid) is the writer, director, and founder. Maximov (Nick Flint) is media savant. Zossima (Stephen Bent) is exceptionally tall.

The show is well-crafted, and the members are highly skilled jugglers as well as musicians/composers and writers. This has been the case throughout their long career, which has included a number of cast member changes.
The troupe was formed in 1973 on the streets of Santa Cruz, California. Paul Magid is the only remaining original member. The other original members were Howard Patterson, Tim Furst, and Randy Nelson. Read more about them at their website here.

The award-winning troupe has performed internationally, with credits too numerous to list here, including Lincoln Center, Broadway, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, TV, and film. They have produced a number of shows, all built around their juggling and musical skills. One show, built completely around music, Sharps, Flats and Accidentals, was performed at Lincoln Center.

One routine which builds throughout the show is known as the Terror Trick. Over the course of the program, nine objects are introduced (a cleaver, a torch, a salt shaker, a ukelele, a skillet, a fish, an egg, a block of dry ice, and a bottle of champagne) and juggled as the finale – with the fish and the egg ending up in the skillet and the pouring of the champagne into glasses.

The other perennial favorite is the The Gamble, in which “the Champ” (Dmitri) will attempt to juggle any three items provided by the audience. This challenge is well known to many attending their shows – they have seen just about everything, and the Champ is rarely stumped. The three objects are chosen by the audience’s applause from the collection on stage. There are rules, however. The object:

Must weigh more than an ounce (28 grams)
Must weigh less than 10 pounds (4.5 kg)
Must be no bigger than a breadbox
Must not be a live animal
Must not be able to stop the “Champ” from being a live animal
The Champ is also permitted to make up to three modifications to the selected items (in total). If The Champ can juggle the items for ten continuous throws (in three tries), he wins a standing ovation from the audience; if he fails, he gets a pie in the face.

Their routines are peppered with wordplay and clever references, because, as we know, they are a bunch of really smart guys 🙂

Note: The photos are from their current show, 4Play, which is playing at the Minetta Lane Theatre in the Village. It runs until March 7, 2010.

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. I am not against planning, nor do I fully embrace an unbridled, reckless, impulsive lifestyle. However, I do believe that, especially in New York City, being spontaneous can be rewarding and lead to some pleasant surprises. I highly recommend occasionally wandering this city with no agenda. Looking through the postings I have done on this website, the majority of the most interesting experiences were the unplanned. One of the most remarkable was my running into a major street healing with internationally renowned preacher Todd Bentley. Of course, planning the unplanned is itself a tricky proposition and can lead to forced spontaneity, with results perhaps as unsatisfying as overplanning.

With none of these thoughts in mind, and just meandering the streets on a warmish evening, my steps led me to Terra Blues. I thought I would take a quick peek inside. It was after 11 PM. There is no cover charge at these times, so I walked right in. Typically, this club is quiet on a week night.

I was rather shocked to find the place jammed, with the feeling of a religious revival meeting. The leader of the band, who I was later to learn was Slam Allen, was walking and working the audience, shaking hands and greeting everyone in the middle of his music set. Extremely amiable – Slam appears to make bonding with an audience the absolute center of his performances. At one point, a woman started singing to him in a voice which, if not trained, was startlingly confident. In New York City, any performer should be prepared for this – I have often seen talent in an audience which is greater than that of the performer.

Many performers would give something like this a lukewarm reception and patronizing approval, perhaps feeling upstaged. But Slam was wowed, not threatened or competitive at all, and, without hesitation, insisted she join him onstage. They did a number together – the photo is a still image from a short video I took – you can see the one minute clip here. Be forewarned – the quality of the video is rather unpolished, as the spontaneous often is…

NOTE: Slam Allen is a singer and guitar player who does a blues/soul fusion. His pedigree and career are quite notable, playing with greats like James Cotton.

I am always surveying and scanning for photo opportunities and stories as I travel this city. While driving across 57th Street on Sunday, my eye caught Steinway Hall at 109 West 57th Street. Looking more closely, it appeared that even though it was Sunday, there might be activity. My companion was unfamiliar with the building, so I now had a dual motive. However, as every student of the murder mystery knows, there must not only be motive but also opportunity. So the thought of us both investigating was purely academic, as the prospect of finding a legal parking spot at 57th Street and 6th Avenue is all but impossible.

I intended to make a quick jog across the street, leaving my friend to mind the car while I investigated. Forces were with us, however – there was a legal spot right across from Steinway Hall. I made a quick trip across the street alone and found a performance being held on the ground floor. A sign indicated that entry was allowed during breaks, so I ran back to my car, fetched my fellow traveler, and returned with perfect timing between music pieces, to enter the Steinway Hall rotunda. A flight of stairs took us to a balcony for an excellent view of the performers and audience. Various individuals were taking both photos and videos, so I snapped away (see here for some additional photos of this magnificent room).

I learned that the Greenwich International Conservatory of Music had scheduled a recital on December 19, 2008 which had been cancelled due to snow and rescheduled for February 1, 2009. The director told me that Sunday performances were not typical here. Apparently I was being gifted with a fortuitous string of events to see this so easily.

The place was abuzz with virtuosic children and their attentive, beaming parents. I have played some music off and on both as a child and an adult, and I am awed by the enormous talent and work needed by classical musicians to hone their craft. The competition is absolutely fierce, the standards are impossibly high and the nuances extraordinary.

I only began listening to classical music very late in life – the genre was completely unknown to me growing up – so I am both surprised and pleased to see young children listening and observing so attentively, as did this young girl in today’s photo. The program had 39 student performers with a repertoire that included works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Beethoven, Fauré, Schubert, Smetana, and, of course, Chopin.

Very few will join the ranks of professional musicians, but no matter. The focus and discipline learned will go far in any endeavor. Most importantly, children will learn that not all good things are subject to immediate gratification or can be had with the click of a mouse…

Note: Steinway & Sons is one of the most remarkable businesses and fascinating stories in the history of New York City. Steinway pianos are still being made in their factory in Queens. I will do a story on them at a later time.