Marc Geelhoed (of Deceptively Simple, and my Time Out Chicago counterpart), in reponse to a blog entry by Daniel Felsenfeld (of Felsenmusick) wondering just who Marc is, took a moment today to answer Danny’s question. In the process, Marc gives a shout out to his partner, piano phenom Amy Dissanayake.

Felsenfeld, meanwhile, posted with great vigor and enthusiasm this afternoon regarding the music of prodigious composer David Rakowski.

Why is this a scintillating pas de deux? Because Dissanayake, it so happens, is one of Rakowski’s most ardent supporters and gifted interpreters. Danny even reviewed one of her two marvelous recordings of Rakowski’s etudes in TONY, almost exactly one year ago to the day. (I couldn’t retrieve that review on the flashy new TONY website tonight, but you can find it at the halfway point of this page on Rakowski’s site.)

Danny, meet Marc. Marc, Danny. Meanwhile, I’m just trying to decide whether this construes one degree of separation, or two?

Playlist:

Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky – Danse russe from Swan Lake; Aram Khachaturian – Nocturne from Masquerade; Camille Saint-Saëns – Havanaise and Introduction et Rondo capriccioso; Dmitri Shostakovich – Romance from The Gadfly; John Williams – Main Theme from Schindler’s List; Ralph Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending; Maurice Ravel – Tzigane – Janine Jansen, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth (Decca)

Marcus Schmickler/John Tilbury – Variety (A-Musik)

Daniel Kelly Quartet – Duets with Ghosts (as-yet unreleased)

Mary Halvorson/Jessica Pavone – Prairies (Lucky Kitchen)

Johann Sebastian Bach – Goldberg Variations – Simone Dinnerstein (as-yet unreleased)