March 20, 2008 – The Forum brings pianist Henry Haid and saxophonist Michael Bomwell at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 5, to the Prior-Jollek Hall, Antilles School campus. The program will feature the music of Billy Joel, George Gershwin, The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elton John.
Haid was originally introduced to the island when his mom and her husband moved here to help with the rebuilding after Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989. A meeting with Freddie Rabuse led to an introduction to Pat LaCourt. He became the pianist-in-residence at the Fiddle Leaf Restaurant. Since then, he has had 25 years on the club scene playing "Piano Bar" and "Dueling Pianos" and in bands such as "Strange Brew," "Straight Up" and "Only in America."
Haid has worked with bass player Will Lee (David Letterman's band), drummer Liberty Devito (Billy Joel's band) and alongside producer Hack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, Lou Grahm). He has appeared on the "Dick Clark Show" as well as many other national and local shows. His expertise in the studio working as an engineer, producer and programmer, has earned him recognition among many top recording artists. The musician has been a full-time professional all his life. His musical abilities cover the spectrum, playing and singing in styles like Van Morrison, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Al Green, and his original compositions reflect those styles.
After spending years playing in piano bars near his home in Long Island, New York, as well as bands in New York City, Europe and the Caribbean, his audition for the musical "Movin' Out," choreographed by Twyla Tharp, came as no surprise. Having been hand-picked by Tharp to perform the lead, his entire focus and dedication for two years was given to Billy Joel's Broadway musical production of "Movin Out." His performances as the "Piano Man," Billy Joel, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City received rave reviews.
Michael Bomwell plays saxophone, flute and clarinet. Since arriving in New York City in August of 2001, the Canandaigua, N.Y. native has performed with David Liebman, Clarence Clemons, Sandy Duncan, Charli Persip, Edison Woods, Olivia Newton-John, Ken Peplowski, and the Motor City Horns. He is featured on two jazz recordings, released in the fall of 2001: "Basement Vibes" by the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra and "Paris Blues" by The Bird of Paradise Orchestra. He also appears on a release from the contemporary chamber group, Phoenix Ensemble, entitled, "Relive the Magic," featuring Tony Amore, and on the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble recording of "Low-Down." Bomwell earned degrees in both jazz and classical saxophone from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He also has a classical chamber group, the Euphonique Saxophone Quartet, that programs many new works for saxophone by some of the best composers on the contemporary scene. Michael resides in New York with his wife and soon-to-be-1-year-old daughter.
Tickets are $30 and $10 and are on sale at the Reichhold Center for the Arts, Dockside Bookshop, Interiors (Fort Mylner), Island Video (Nisky) and Home Again (Red Hook). For more information, call 693-1559.
This is the last concert in the Forum season. The seventh Forum Film Festival will begin in May.
