the downstairs cabaret, it wasn’t really downstairs
the mighty ampico
Poets of the Piano came to Brighton NY outside of Rochester. the performance took place in a very unusual space, the Downstairs Cabaret. the hall was almost full. following the concert was a reception catered by RIT, it was a high energy event and yes fueled by some beer and wine.
the piano there was quite unusual, actually I had never seen this brand in person, the Ampico. they were based in Rochester, which I did not know, and made player pianos, some rolls are very famous - Rachmaninoff’s in particular. there is a story about Leopold Godowsky playing a concert alternating live performance with the same piece performed by pre-recorded piano rolls, here is a run-down of that unusual event.
i don’t know if Ampico made non-reproducing pianos, but if this was ever a player piano the mechanism was removed. eventually it yielded to my touch but difficult to be honest. i wonder how long this piano has been hiding in the Downstairs Cabaret?