Reviews
Seth Montfort's most recent review from Casa Margarita Treehouse in Costa Rica
Seth Montfort has recently made “top picks” and “critics choice” in most of the Bay Area's major newspapers.
Montfort’s Recent Press Quotes:
From a review of Montfort's September 9, 2005 performance of Chopin:
Pacifica Tribune Review of Seth Montfort's November 18, 2005 Pacifica Performance
Zowie Tomatoes! Seth Montfort really can play all that AND he’s playing again Friday night at the Sanchez
By Jean Bartlett
Arts Correspondent
Friday night pianist, composer, arranger Seth Montfort, also founder and artistic director of The San Francisco Concerto Orchestra and International Competitions for Musicians, sat down to the concert grand at Pacifica’s Sanchez Concert Hall and let it rip. Admittedly that is not your typical description of a serious solo piano performance. But then what is typical about a man who can memorize over 100 works, and we’re talking complicated works here, send them from memory to fingertips and then while he’s at it, throw in a heap of astounding technique, showmanship and sensual grace to nearly blow the roof from its rafters? There were rumors that other pianists were going to make guest presentations on Friday night’s stage. They didn’t. Nobody cared. Audience members were too busy shouting, alright calmly demanding, their personal choices from the pianist’s long list of “jukebox” selections.
First composer up – Rio de Janeiro born pianist-composer Ernesto Nazareth (1863-1934). Pieces played: “Odeon” a tango; and “Confidencias” a waltz. Nazareth began his career playing in the waiting rooms of movie theaters. When several of his works were later included in a performance at Brazil’s National School of Music, the self-applauding classical only music crowed went wild in protest and riot police were called. What were they thinking? “Odeon” is like a Joplin rag but with more cheek to cheek piano romancing and high kicking heels. “Confidencias” is a thoughtful waltz, requiring the pianist to offer memories and swirls, right fingered candlelight and thoughtful stops of dignity and question.
The next composer chosen was the son of a slave and was born along the Texas-Arkansas border. His ragtime opera “Treemonisha” published in 1911 was critically hailed but couldn’t find a producer; at least not till 1972, 55 years after the composer’s death. If you guessed Scott Joplin, you’d be right, but give yourself a swift kick for missing this Montfort performance of the “Maple Leaf Rag.” Montfort’s tremendous skill on keyboard poured sass and smoke through an elaborate syncopated melody rhythm accented by shadows and history.
English composer pianist Billy Mayerl (1902-1959), often called the English “Gershwin” is still incredibly revered in England , and frankly by anyone who hears his music. Mayerl also began his career in movie theaters. When he filled in as pianist for the Savoy Havana Band at the Savoy Hotel in London, a legend was born. First Montfort played Mayerl’s “Marigold.” This is what I call “sway” piano because it makes you sway to the rhythm. Sounding light and amusing, requiring oh so complicated fingering; this piece defines courtship. Mayerl’s “Shallow Waters” is a magnificent silver screen epic, beginning in a quiet dinner keyboard and rolling into a farewell to arms.
Chilling piano moves through plague and death chant, along the blazing corridor of hell’s gates then up through the misty peace on the long road to heaven. This piece called “Totentanz” or “Death Dance” was written by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) and it was the next audience selection of the evening. It is an exhaustive, feverish workout for any pianist and threatens to cause spontaneous combustion around every corner. Inspired by artist Hans Holbein’s woodcut portraying Death as a grinning skeleton, Liszt apparently practiced this piece from dawn till dusk in his home apartment while his neighbors pondered his sanity. Unbelievably brilliant presentation by pianist Montfort who then took a break, as opposed to a sedative.
Set Two began with what Montfort labels “Gershwin’s Songbook (transcribed by Gershwin).” Over the next eighteen minutes we heard sterling snippets of: “The Man I Love;” “Swanee;” “Nobody But You;” “I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise;” “Do It Again;” “Fascinating Rhythm;” “Oh, Lady Be Good;” “Somebody Loves Me;” “Sweet and Low Down;” “Clap Yo’ Hands;” “Do Do Do;” “My One And Only;” “S Wonderful;” “Strike Up The Band;” “I Got Rhythm;” “That Certain Feeling;” “Liza;” and “Who Cares?” Montfort played American genius with a skill driven by magical virtuosity that nearly took one’s breath away.
A quick dip into a Montfort composition gave us “Jinglebows.” This is a short witty navigation of a Christmas treasure gift wrapped in astonishing skill. The next composer once remarked that his "only desire (was) to write music in which nothing is missing and nothing is superfluous." Barcelona born Frederic Mompou (1893-1987) was represented by his composition “Cancion y Danza 6” and the audience in turn found themselves stirring to a piano sweetheart rustle with matador footing, senorita stomping and plenty of laughter dancing on keys. Montfort ended his program with the last two movements of “Brazilian Cycle” by Villa-Lobos. In Montfort’s hands this is a keyboard glide on a jungle chariot.
Soul igniting, jewel-studded piano by Seth Montfort. Zowie Tomatoes! He really can play all that.
This coming Friday night, the 25th, Montfort shares the stage with Texan Lisa Cheryl Thomas on piano, Native American flute and percussion. They will be performing famous, historic, but infrequently performed Native American inspired compositions. And don’t doubt for a minute the span of its musical inspiration.
Jean Bartlett of the Pacifica Tribune reviews of Seth Montfort's classical and Americana Human Jukebox concerts and the Orchestra's Competition for Musicians of All Ages events -
2006 International Competition
November 17, 2006 at Pacifica
Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
November 12, 2006 at Pacifica
Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
South Bay Winners' Concert
August 13, 2006 at Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Many contestants in the Competition
January 29, 2006 at Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Sierra Ensemble, Seth Montfort
January 22, 2006 at Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Annette Dimedio, Seth Montfort, Roberto Gonzalez, and the
Orchestra
January 15, 2006 at Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Joffria & Josie-Pearl Whitfield, Tom Orr, James Brewer,
Kelly Ground, Daniel Lockert, Joseph Gold, Deborah Dare, and San Francisco
Concerto Orchestra, Roberto Gonzalez and Geoffrey Gallegos conducting
January 8, 2006 at Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Reuben Moss, Marika & Colin Cotter, Eric Leong, Duane
& Patricia Heller, Sandra Simich, Myrna Setiawan, and Seth Montfort
December 16, 2005 at Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Allison Lovejoy and Sandra Simich in The
Orchestra's Competition for Musicians of All Ages
Seth Montfort as The Human Jukebox
December 9, 2005 at
Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Blind Boy Grunt, Kate Stenberg &
Eva-Maria Zimmermann with Charles Amirkhanian, Ronald Bruce Smith, Marika &
Colin Cotter, Casey Dickey, and Steven Bailey in The Orchestra's Competition
for Musicians of All Ages
Seth Montfort
December 2, 2005 at Pacifica
Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Seth Montfort as The Human Jukebox
November 18, 2005 at
Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica
Seth Montfort as The Human Jukebox
November 11, 2005 at
Pacifica Performances, Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica