How does performing in Philly differ from, say, tearing the house down in Tokyo, Japan?
Philly crowds are very lively. At a Melody Gardot show in Philly, you can hear a pin drop during the songs. They respect the music by listening so intently. While at a West Philadelphia Orchestra show the crowd will drive the band to play with so much verve. They dance and sing all night. It’s quite a sight! It differs from Toyko or Molde, Norway because there is a sense of reservation in expression. They like it but they show it differently. In Norway for example, the audience will clap together in time after every song. It gets a little faster and faster. They seemed to like being organized. If you could play with any artist, dead or alive, who would you choose to rip the stage with? Right now I would say Nicolas Payton. He is an amazing trumpet player. If I were to perform with him, he would play circles around me but I would learn so much. He can play what he hears and makes it look effortless. What’s the “vibe” like when performing with the West Philadelphia Orchestra? The West Ph
