Jeff Barnhart @ the Lit and Phil - Sept. 16

Jeff Barnhart (piano, vocals)

Pianist, composer, arranger, vocalist, Jeff Barnhart is all of these things and more and today, in Newcastle, he played to a capacity audience at The Lit and Phil’s monthly lunchtime concert series. This was another in the series that sold out weeks in advance and it didn’t take long to see why.

Internationally renowned and playing jazz clubs and festivals all over the world, Barnhart, from Mystic Connecticut, was both entertaining and informative. An authority on early 20th century piano players, the audience was treated to a selection of ragtime,  stride and swing by a virtuoso player who is witty and personable and who obviously gets a kick out of what he does for a living.  He played, he sang, he whistled and he gave a master class in what it means to be an entertainer. At times his left hand appeared to be just a blur and I couldn’t have been the only one in the audience who wondered at times just how many hands this man had!

Each number was preceded by a short anecdote about the piece and I, for one, came away with a much greater appreciation of the genre such is Barnhart’s skill as an educator.

A recent review claims: “When it comes to talent, speed, versatility, creativity, mastery of multiple genres and just plain entertaining zaniness, Jeff Barnhart stands alone”

The ovation he received showed that the full house at the Lit and Phil couldn’t have agreed more. Sylvia

Maple Leaf Rag; The Entertainer; Charleston Rag, I’m Just Wild About Harry;

Frog-i-More Rag; 2:19 Blues; Old Fashioned Love; Ain’t Misbehavin';, Sweet Georgia Brown plus a short piece (who’s title I didn’t catch ) from a beautiful Barnhart composition Peace Prayer.