Written by Michael Goldstein for THE ARTISTS FORUM MAGAZINE
Edited by Amos White V for THE ARTISTS FORUM, INC
Photos: Jeff Franzel, Peter Sachon, Sean Harkness, and Elvan McMillen
REVIEWER RATING:
5 out of 5 stars
JEFF FRANZEL & PETER SACHON: LIVE AT THE TRIAD
NEW YORK, NY (February 8, 2018) You don’t need Billy Joel or Adrien Brody to produce a solid tune on the piano. Pianist Jeff Franzel proved this back on January 11th, when he put on a splendid performance at the Triad Theater on 72nd Street.
Franzel, joined by cellist Peter Sachon, brought down the house with a variety of tunes that blur the line between jazz and pop. In addition to some solid improvisation, the duo took the opportunity to remix a couple of good tunes into something that felt like it popped out of the 1940s. Sachon skillfully added extra rhythm to Franzel’s keys. Franzel had originally met Sachon at a gig at the Metropolitan Room. They met again while doing service for the Jewish Community Project (JCP) and the sparks kept on flying. What started off as improv, ending up transforming into something much more, and their showcase at the Triad was proof.
The duo were later joined by guitarist Sean Harkness, who put on an impressive routine of songs filled with a unique combination of Franzel’s jazzy piano sounds conjoined with the crisp undertones of Sachon’s cello. The rhythms made me feel for a moment I was transported to another time period. It’s not hard to see why; Franzel played in a few pop bands back in the ’60s and ’70s, and his tunes have found influence from the likes of Herbie Hancock, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Burt Bacharach, just to name a few.
A good time was had by all, and you could feel the fusion of jazz and pop even after Franzel and Sachon walked off the stage. Franzel has another gig coming up in early March at the Zinc Bar, where he’ll be partnering with fellow jazz-masters Saadi Zain and Vito Lesczak to make more swinging tunes for the masses.
For more information about Jeff Franzel, visit: jefffranzel.com
For more information about Peter Sachon, visit: petersachon.com
For more information about Sean Harkness, visit: seanharkness.com
