We prepped the Baldwin SD10 for Mr. Brubeck at Wildwood on three separate occasions - all during the 1990s.
After his third concert he was reported to have said that the Wildwood SD10 was the best piano he had played during his entire career. Not the best SD10, mind you. And not just any year. The best piano. That year. That performance.
Every other year or so, the Little Rock Baldwin dealer would sell the Wildwood SD10 and replaced it with a new one. Mr. Brubeck's "best piano" was purchased by an African-American Church in downtown Little Rock, where I believe it remains to this day.
What follows transpired during the last of the Wildwood concerts.
After his third concert he was reported to have said that the Wildwood SD10 was the best piano he had played during his entire career. Not the best SD10, mind you. And not just any year. The best piano. That year. That performance.
Every other year or so, the Little Rock Baldwin dealer would sell the Wildwood SD10 and replaced it with a new one. Mr. Brubeck's "best piano" was purchased by an African-American Church in downtown Little Rock, where I believe it remains to this day.
What follows transpired during the last of the Wildwood concerts.
Time: 6:00 pm, one hour to show time.
Place: Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. Little Rock, Arkansas.
Scene: Rehearsal for evening performance. Stuck on one song.
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the performance is at 7:00 p.m., and we usually open the house at 6:00 to let the audience in."
Brubeck: "We should be finished in a few minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay, we'll hold the house."
Brubeck to musicians: "Okay, let's try it again..."
Rehearsal continues.
Brubeck to musicians: "No, that's not right..."
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the show begins in 30 minutes."
Brubeck: "We just need a few more minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay."
Brubeck to musicians: "Lets try it this way..."
Rehearsal continues.
Brubeck to musicians: " No, that's still not it."
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the performance starts in 15 minutes. Folks are waiting to get in."
Brubeck: "Sorry. We just need a few more minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay."
Brubeck to musicians: "Let's do it again..."
Rehearsal continues.
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the performance starts in 5 minutes. The audience is still waiting."
Brubeck: "Sorry. We just need a few more minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay."
Rehearsal continues.
Brubeck to musicians: "That's better, but not quite..."
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, it is 7:15."
Brubeck to musicians: "It will be a miracle if we get that one right!"
(Laughter.)
Wildwood to gate: "Okay, open the house."
(In memory of Dave Brubeck. December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012)
BOB WIDDING
PIANO TECHNICIAN
2014.
Place: Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. Little Rock, Arkansas.
Scene: Rehearsal for evening performance. Stuck on one song.
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the performance is at 7:00 p.m., and we usually open the house at 6:00 to let the audience in."
Brubeck: "We should be finished in a few minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay, we'll hold the house."
Brubeck to musicians: "Okay, let's try it again..."
Rehearsal continues.
Brubeck to musicians: "No, that's not right..."
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the show begins in 30 minutes."
Brubeck: "We just need a few more minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay."
Brubeck to musicians: "Lets try it this way..."
Rehearsal continues.
Brubeck to musicians: " No, that's still not it."
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the performance starts in 15 minutes. Folks are waiting to get in."
Brubeck: "Sorry. We just need a few more minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay."
Brubeck to musicians: "Let's do it again..."
Rehearsal continues.
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, the performance starts in 5 minutes. The audience is still waiting."
Brubeck: "Sorry. We just need a few more minutes."
Wildwood: "Okay."
Rehearsal continues.
Brubeck to musicians: "That's better, but not quite..."
Wildwood: "Mr. Brubeck, it is 7:15."
Brubeck to musicians: "It will be a miracle if we get that one right!"
(Laughter.)
Wildwood to gate: "Okay, open the house."
(In memory of Dave Brubeck. December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012)
BOB WIDDING
PIANO TECHNICIAN
2014.
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