This one is rather about music-biz relations and record store's sense of place in teh global…read moreindustry. One thing i do religiously when on tour is go to record stores and check whether they have copies of my work and when they don't, try to sell them some directly. (sidenote: I'm not obliged to, there's distribution in most places, but I like to do a little extra where other acts won't, you also get a much better feel when you actually meet the people and talk to them). The function of the record store as a hub for discovering new music is perhaps long gone, but i have met some wonderful music nerds like myself while record store hopping and managed to place copies in some remote locations where distribution wouldn't have reached otherwise. Some record stores owners, on the other hand treat you like scum, assuming if you approach them you're clearly a charity case. Yesterday for instance, i've been to Hanover's 25 Music and the owner (such a lovely fella! :S) dismissed me with ''not interested'' before i even made an introduction, then when i asked whether he might at least want to know what it is, did a monologe explaining that there's lots (of us people) coming from the street and he can't help us all, since I'm actually not at all obliged to go to the stores myself, the situation was a little amusing - but isn't the function of little record stores, their owners and employees, at least according to what i've always thought - is to be curious about things they don't yet know (or reconize. he might have actually known my name had he asked). There's also the question of class, had i actually been ''someone from the street''... etc.. The big chains will always be able to offer chart music for less, but if you're an owner of a small record shop, you should at least care about music (and show some respect, if not humility to the people who make it). if you only care about what sells in numbers and available on every corner, sell underwear or I-phones, but not music.

In the beginning there was one idea…read more Gerhard Hummer was in England when Andrei Ivanovitch performed "Pictures at an Exhibition". For Gerhard Hummer who's friends with both pianists - who could not be more differnet - for ages, one thing was certain: These two had to meet each other. Many cross-country flights, overseas phone calls, emails and months later, all three knew that they were going to meet - here in Soßmar! The two musicians never met, they were never playing together and never ever tried anything similar. Andrei Ivanovitch - strict Orthodox, raised in Russia, classical music, classical composers, sheltered by the regime. Eyran Katsenelenbogen - raised in the jewish faith, grown up in America, modern music, modern composers, satiated by outside influences of every kind. For Eyran Katsenelenbogen it began with notes, now he only jammes in his easy-going nature, giving us some kind of leitmotif - an essence of what was once on the sheets. His fingers are sometimes drumming and sometimes fondling the claviature, his feet tapping the pedals - his eyes facing the point where once were his sheets. For Andrei Ivanovitch music is - from A to Z - made of notes. His eyes are fixed on the notes, every off-key stroke will be remarked. His fingers are gently flying over the keys, his feet are vibrating on the pedals as he glances on his fingers. The two of them have only one thing common: Their day starts with music, music accompanies them through their day, and their day ends with music. How could a concert work, where both of them play simoutaneously, or in turns interpret their pieces of music? Andrey already came to Soßmar on October 2nd. With visible impatience he passed his time - of course on the piano in the concert hall. When Eyran Katsenelenbogen turned up on October 3rd, the tauntness dissapeared and both felt sympathy for each other. Right from the start it was clear, that they will work together very well. As Andrei Ivanovitch says: "We come from comepletely opposite directions and are now working to meet in the middle. It's nice and we have a lot of fun." We had to explain to Eyran Katsenelenbogen that Soßmar's not a town but a mere village with 777 Inhabitants (as at January 1, 2007). Both were not only impressed, Eyran Katsenelenbogen was also amused - for one thing flashed into his mind: The view of a slot-machine in a casino showing "7-7-7"... According to Gerhard Hummer, both concerts in Soßmar are completely sold out - and so is the concert in the "Forum" in Peine on October 12th. But that's not the end - in the meantime, Mr. Hummer arranged for more concerts: - Wed, October 10th 20°° Bechstein Centrum; Hamburg; Europa Passage; Ballindamm 40; Tel.: 040-32129980 - Sat, October 13th 20°° Kanapee; Hanover; Edenstr. 1; Tel.: 0511-3481717 - Sun, October 14th 19°° Kanapee; Hanover; Edenstr. 1; Tel.: 0511-3481717 - Wed, October 17th 20°° St.Andreas Kirche; Seesen (Harz); Tel.: 05381-47474 oder -942920 - Thu, October 18th 20°° "Theater am Spalterhals"; Barsinghausen A real highlight will be the concert in Seesen, the acoustics of the time-honoured St. Andreas-Church will surely convince every sceptic that "two world class musicians have met and will offer us something extraordinaryl" Could that work?