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David Drazin - PO Box 6442 - Evanston, IL 60204-6442  carseymour@aol.com

Dave Drazin
Here are some upcoming events where Dave is performing. 
If you happen to attend, come on up and say hi.
We'd love to meet you!

Upcoming Performances
  
Dave's latest CD is now available - visit the Recordings page

Dave starts the new year with 16 video clips on our new YouTube channel, soundandscreen. We intend the channel not just for Dave's music, but for anything we have on video that we either of us might want to share. This would include audio for which we might want to seek a wider audience than we've gotten on archive.org, perhaps with a still photo included. Frank Carr did a terrific job setting this up for us. He's doing Dave's VHS clips first, then will do the DVDs after those are posted.


September
 
These two news articles mentioning Dave just appeared
      "Black and White and Scene All Over." The Loyola Phoenix, September 7, 2011
      "Silent Film Era Makes a Brief Return." Skokie Patch, August 31, 2011

September 5, 2011 (Labor Day), 3:00 p.m., Gene Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute, 164 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60601-3505, 312-846-2600, www.siskelfilmcenter.org, EVE'S LEAVES (1926, dir. by Paul Sloane, starring Leatrice Joy), and 4:30 p.m., also at Siskel Center, THE GOOSE WOMAN (1925, dir. by Clarence Brown, starring Jack Pickford, Louise Dresser, and Constance Bennett), both with live piano accompaniment by David Drazin.

September 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2011. Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, IL, annual silent-film month with live piano by David Drazin. All films screened Wednesdays at 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. titles are
    9/7 Orphans of the Storm (D.W. Griffith epic w/Gish sisters)
    9/14 Shifting Sands (Gloria Swanson)
    9/21 A Fool There Was (Theda Bara, the vamp)
    9/28 The Kiss (Greta Garbo) 
check http://www.northbrook.info/events/film for details.

Friday, Sept. 16, 7:00 p.m., Ramada Inn Lakeshore in Hyde Park, 4900 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 773-288-5800. Dave plays keyboards with John (J.J.) Jarrett and the Jazz Masters band in the Main Dining Room for the weekly seafood brunch.

October

October 1, 2011, 3:00 p.m., Gene Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute, 164 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60601-3505, 312-846-2600, www.siskelfilmcenter.org, THE FLOWER OF DOOM (1917, dir. by Rex Ingram, starring Wedgwood Nowell and Yvette Mitchell), plus at 4:30 p.m. , THE CHALICE OF SORROW (1916, dir. by Rex Ingram, starring Cleo Madison).

On Saturday, October 15, Dave will provide piano accompaniment for amateur films at the annual Home Movie Day at Chicago Cultural Center 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL, hosted by Chicago Film Archives, which will run from noon to 5:00 p.m.. Film owners are asked to bring in their films for inspection early in the program; the screenings will be in mid-afternoon. www.chicagofilmarchives.org/

 
October 21, 2011 Dave plays keyboards with the Chi-town Showstoppers band ('60s-'70s R&B and Soul/Funk) in Lisle, IL. Benefit for children of DuPage County at Hyatt Hotel, 1400 Corporetum Drive, Lisle, IL. Dinner & dancing to the music of the Showstoppers begins at 7:00 p.m.

 
October 22, 2011, 4:00 p.m., Detroit Film Theatre of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI, 313-833-7900, www.dia.org/ David Drazin will play live piano accompaniment for a feature film, FOOLISH WIVES (1922, dir. & star, Erich von Stroheim). http://www.dia.org/detroitfilmtheatre/14/DFT.aspx

November December
 
November 11, 2011, 7 pm EST. Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107, 216-226-8275, http://www.lkwdpl.org/film/lpc%20specials%20fall%2012.html SHERLOCK JR. (1924, dir. by and starring Buster Keaton), plus  THE SCARECROW (1920, dir. by Eddie Cline and Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton). Live piano by David Drazin

November 19, 2011, 3:00 p.m., Indiana University Cinema, 1213 East 7th St., Bloomington, IN, 812-855-7632, http://www.indiana.edu/~iucinema/, I WAS BORN, BUT... (1932, dir. by Yasujiro Ozu). Live piano by David Drazin


December 2012

December 17, 2011. Dave plays solo piano for a private party in Romeoville, IL

2012

January

March

Friday March 2, 2012, 8:00 p.m., North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh, NC | (919) 839-6262, http://ncartmuseum.org, Feature film with live accompaniment by David Drazin, title to be announced.
 
Saturday, March 3, 2012, 6:30 p.m., "The General" (1927, directed by and starring Buster Keaton) with live accompaniment by David Drazin
The History Place, 1008 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC  28557. Contact Carteret Arts Forum, PO Box 462, Morehead City, NC 28557 , www.carteretartsforum.com  info@carteretartsforum.com
 
Saturday, March 17, 2012, 4:00 p.m. Detroit Film Theatre of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI, 313-833-7900, www.dia.org/ David Drazin will play live piano accompaniment for a feature film, title to be announced.


Plus some not-so-live accompaniments:


Dave says:
Here's some great news: I did the music for a talking picture and it's a PUPPET MOVIE!  It's 14 minutes long and is titled "Junk Palace."  It's about the Collyer Brothers, recluses and compulsive hoarders. The filmmaker is puppeteer Lyon Hill.  You'd love Lyon!  He's a great original talent.  The picture is currently a selection of the Full Frame Documentary Festival in Durham, N.C., to be shown Saturday, April 16.  It's produced by Heather Henson, Muppet creator Jim Henson's daughter. Here's a link to the trailer:
http://www.mermecolion.com/Junk_Palace.htm

Dave's appearances at Phil Pospychala's annual Tribute to Bix traditional jazz festival were a success. this year's event focused on female performers of the 1920s/early '30s. Dave accompanied three singers: Barbara Rosene, Jamaica Knauer, and Emily Toops; played in the bus tour's jam session at the historic Washington House, Two Rivers, WI; and accompanied a silent-movie clip of Gilda Gray doing her shimmy dance in "Piccadilly." Check out the publicly available "Tribute to Bix in Racine" Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150117103652645 (jam session) and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-to-Bix-in-Racine/307725818815 (dated March 15 at 7:19 a.m.)

Dec 2010 - My friend Terry Flamm who used to be in a comedy group I'm still in interviewed me for a blog he writes. Chicago DIY Film.


Live Radio Theater group

The Live Radio Theater shows at Joplin's Java in Waukegan on June 11 were a big hit for all who attended. Dave even played a few licks on the violin as Jack Benny! If you'd like to hear recordings of these live shows (and if you missed the Halloween program, those shows as well), please visit http://www.joplinsjava.com/
videos/audio1.php .

Dave was back at Joplin's to give a solo piano concert on November 19, 2010.

Jan 2009 - Idaho author Larry Telles recently published his new book/DVD "A Brief History of the Silent Screen and the World at that Time" (press release: http://www.bitterrootmountainllc.com/bitterroot/?page_id=27), and Dave played keyboard accompaniment on the soundtrack for the DVD that comes with each book. Larry's personal website is www.essanayfilmmfgco.com.
 
Jan 2009 - Dave's piano music is featured on one selection of Chicago singer-songwriter Kathryn Gauthier's new CD "Sunshiny Day: Songs for Children and Cats." It  is available on CD Baby and at Kathryn's website, www.gauthierarts.com.


Dave's DVD & TV releases:

On July 22, 2008 Chicago-area classic video company All Day Entertainment released the 3-disc DVD collection "American Slapstick, vol. 2." The feature presentation is "Charley's Aunt," starring Syd Chaplin, with improvised piano soundtrack by Dave. Check out http://www.alldayentertainment.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.100.exe/online-store/scstore/
allday/slapstick/p-slap2.html?L+scstore+qpth5274ff287928+1225475901

(July 23, 2008) Another company Dave recorded for is Unknown Video, based in the San Francisco Bay area. www.unknownvideo.com. Dave played the piano soundtrack for their DVD of "The Sea Lion" (1922) starring Bessie Love and Hobart Bosworth. The DVD also includes a co-feature, Pauline Garon in "The Average Woman." Ordering details available on their website.

Another of Dave's soundtracks for Unknown Video has been released: "Whiz-Bang No. 1: Action Americana" http://www.unknownvideo.com/whizbang.htm

(July 23, 2008) Watch a 15th-anniversary video of Famous in the Future, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c67tW8ihmmE, the sketch comedy troupe in which Dave has participated as musician, actor, write and director. the video is a montage that includes sketches that were videotaped live and include vintage performances by Dave (often wearing glasses and sometimes playing his cornet).

On July 29, 2008, Kino released a double feature of "A Man There Was"/"Ingeborg Holm." Dave provides the piano soundtrack for Ingeborg Holm, the first significant work by Swedish director Victor Sjostrom.
http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=924 

Turner Classic Movies, THE BUSHER (1919, dir. Jerome Storm, starring Charles Ray, Colleen Moore, John Gilbert, piano accompaniment soundtrack by David Drazin, broadcast at 12:15 a.m. EDT Sunday, October 14, www.turnerclassicmovies.com for further info. One of four baseball silent films to be screened that evening from the Kino release "Reel Baseball." 

VCI Entertainment, WEISS-O-RAMA, (silent-film comedies from Kit Parker Films, 1925, 1927, 1928), www.vcientertainment.com, 2-DVD set, piano accompaniment soundtracks by Philip Carli and David Drazin. 
 

DAVE DRAZIN AT CHICAGO BLUES FEST
June 9, 2007

dave3.jpgfrom Journalist Robert Loerzel of the Underground Bee: 

In the interest of full disclosure, I should say right off the bat that Dave Drazin is a friend of mine. But I can honestly say he's a terrific piano player, and plenty of others will tell you the same thing. Dave's best known for playing piano at showings of silent movies, but he's also an excellent player of old-time blues, jazz and ragtime, and all of those skills were on display during his superb set Saturday afternoon on one of the side stages at the Chicago Blues Festival.

See more photos of Dave Drazin at the Festival.

Source:  ROBERT LOERZEL,  Underground Bee 
Hear Dave on YouTube!
Dave performed for a short silent movie made by Wisconsin Bioscopes (film students at the University of Wiconsin - Madison). 
Don't miss "A Visit With Grandmother" on YouTube. See it now.
Visit Wisconsin Bioscopes for info on more of their fascinating film activities. Other Bioscape videos include "Rent Party" (Dave appears onscreen briefly) and "Cosmo's Magical Melt-aways."
Check out this review article about Wisconsin Bioscape. (Yep, it mentions Dave's piano work, too).

Dave's first "official" jazz festival appearance, at the Tribute to Bix in Racine, Wisconsin took place in March. Dave played a dynamic impromptu solo-piano set, followed by his appearance with the Ten Carrot Ragtime Orchestra. A brief video clip of Ten Carrot is at http://blip.tv/file/1899538/.

Dave has been playing regularly at the University of Chicago's First Friday jam session at the Quadrangle Club on campus. Watch a video of Dave in action at the Quad at Here is the page with Dave's video:
http://www.archive.org/details/JazzAtTheQuadrangleClub.


 

Recordings: DVD & television

New DVD:
Dave's first soundtrack recording for Kino on Video, "Reel Baseball," was released April 3. He played piano accompaniment for the shorts HIS LAST GAME (1909) and THE BALLPLAYER AND THE BANDIT (1912, starring Harold Lockwood) plus the feature film THE BUSHER (1919, dir. Jerome Storm), starring three of the silent film world's greats: Colleen Moore, Charles Ray, and John Gilbert. 

Laughsmith Entertainment, FORGOTTEN FILMS OF ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE, DVD release May 24, premiering on Turner Classic Movies Monday, April 4. 
1:00 p.m., FATTY JOINS THE FORCE; 
1:15 p.m., A FLIRT'S MISTAKE; 
2:15 p.m., LEADING LIZZIE ASTRAY. 
(Dave also accompanied an Arbuckle-directed short, "CURSES," starring Al St. John.) 
Further info: www.laughsmith.com

Milestone Films, LURE OF LABRADOR and SWILIN' RACKET, bonus shorts on WHITE THUNDER
documentary DVD released Dec. 7, 2004. Also on Milestone, CUT TO THE CHASE:
THE CHARLEY CHASE CLASSIC COMEDY COLLECTION, to be released on DVD later this year and 
premiering on TCM Monday, April 4. Dave's soundtracks are on the following: 
7:00 A.M., ISN'T LIFE TERRIBLE?, 
file:///Users/admin/Desktop/arsc123jeroldfrederic.pdf 7:30 A.M., CARETAKER'S DAUGHTER, AND 
11:30 A.M., MAMA BEHAVE.

On July 29, 2008, Kino released a double feature of "A Man There Was"/"Ingeborg Holm." Dave provides the piano soundtrack for Ingeborg Holm, the first significant work by Swedish director Victor Sjostrom.
http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=924 

We're happy to announce that Dave has been chosen to be included in the 2006 60th diamond anniversary edition of Marquis "Who's Who in America." Who's Who profiles the careers of a select group of men and women from all significant fields of endeavor - from business and politics to healthcare and science to entertainment and the arts.
 
 

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Articles

"Black and White and Scene All Over." The Loyola Phoenix, September 7, 2011

"Silent Film Era Makes a Brief Return." Skokie Patch, August 31, 2011

Summer 2010. "Pianist Jerold Frederic Reunited with Unique Recordings" by David Drazin in Asociation for Recorded Sound Collections issue 123.

The Sounds for Silence (newsobserver.com) Fri, Mar. 13, 2009 [PDF]

The Man Who Laughs (www.indyweek.com) 11 Mar. 2009 [PDF]

Adventures of a Pordenone Silent Film Fest Guest Pianist
Dave was asked to play for five film programs in Italy in late October. We had an event filled trip which Dave writes about here. Some pictures, too. Fayetteville, NC Observer newspaper article about Dave's performance at the Sunrise Theater, Southern Pines, North Carolina.: _www.FayObserver.com/article?id=258519_
(http://www.FayObserver.com/article?id=258519) 

The Sounds of Silents - review of Dave's work in Evanston Review from Pioneer Press (August 5, 2004).

Cineblog March 29, 2003 Entry: David Drazin Interview with Greg Dunlap.
 

MilestonesFilms.com White Thunder - review of new film about early filmmaker Varick Frissell. Bonus mention of several films made by Frissell, two of them with music by David Drazin.

Movies Without Malls - review in Evanston Review from Pioneer Press (January 8, 2004) mentions Dave.

Lights, Keaton, 'Cameraman' - Evanston Review article (April 8, 2004) mentions Dave.

Jazz Hands - Dave was interviewed for "Better Magazine," July 2008 issue, a project of the students at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism].
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