Pianist Terry Waldo sat down at the keyboard at Broadway Baby and opened with Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag." Taken at a fast tempo, notes came from everywhere to startle and please.  "Mamie's Blues" followed, a dirge-like melody by Jelly Roll Morton. Terry Waldo's voice is not meant to work too hard and he knows its limits, holding his singing in a comfortable range that is entertaining. His flawless technique – he was a protégé of the late Eubie Blake –makes the piano ring out with brilliance.

"Tiger Rag," played as a rollicking march, was particularly effective.  The fun Waldo feels with his music is evident in his ease at the piano. The infectious enthusiasm comes across well and captures his audience.

Waldo was followed by Mike Lipskin, another gifted pianist who approaches his music with ease and sureness, and offrering a variety of songs in the stride style which features rhythm from a strong left hand. In his patter, Lipskin spoke of pianists from the past whose work has been the basis of much American popular music since the 1920's.  "St. Louis Blues" was followed with the Gershwin melody, "Fascinatin' Rhythm," an unlikely stride exercise. Lipskin’s wife, Dinah Lee, joined him for one song, the Billie Holliday standard by Johnny W. Green and Edward Heyman, "I Cover the Waterfront," 

Seymour Spilka
Cabaret Scenes
May 9, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org