Inside the St. Andrew’s United Church on Smith Street, two large pianos will face each other. Matt Herskowitz will be sit behind one while John Roney sits behind the other. It’s being advertised as a duel, but Herskowitz doesn’t see it that way.
“Duel gives the wrong impression,” he said. “Nobody’s trying to win.
“We’re making music.”
“There is an element of one-upsmanship,” Roney admitted.
The pianists will indeed be creating a musical experience, but not a typical one. They’ll be fusing classical pieces from Bach, Brahms, and others, with jazz. The performers work in tandem to build electrifying reinterpretations of well-known standards.
“It’s a fun show,” Herskowitz said.
Roney and Herskowitz are part of Piano Cameleons, a musical project they created over three years ago after a suggestion from their mutual friend Oliver Esmonde-White. He brought them together with the notion of fusing classic arrangements with jazz. It took years to develop the idea to the stage, but now they’re ready, touring all over Quebec, Ontario, and New York City.
“It’s not a competition,” Herskowitz said. “It’s a celebration.”
The Cameleons are coming to Yorkton on Friday, Oct. 13 as part of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers Association Convention.
“We were looking for a wonderful piano team,” said Laurel Teichroeb, a director with the association.
The convention will run for two days. It will feature musical performances and workshops.
Greg Chase, a private music teacher, will be teaching three workshops over the weekend. He wants music teachers to reevaluate how they instruct the next generation of students.
“Let them be active learners,” he said. “They want to be involved in their learning.
“There’s more to teaching than putting an iPad in their hands.”
Chase is excited to attend the other workshops and to see the Piano Cameleons show.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I think it’ll be an accessible show.”
The association reached out to the Yorkton Arts Council to help them find performers. The council got in touch with the Cameleons. They’re also performing in Saskatoon.
“It’ll be our first venture out west,” Roney said.
Playing classic pieces with a jazz twist is no easy task. Herskowitz said it’s easy to overanalyze the details. It’s all about staying loose and improvising.
“We have to respond to each other really quickly,” he said. “The jazz parts really have to swing.
“It’s super rewarding.”
Roney hopes the music connects with attendees.
“People like what we do,” he said. “You can feel that energy onstage.
“It’s music for everybody.”
Ticket prices for Piano Cameleons are $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased online at www.ticketpro.com.
