Montauk Pioneer - August 8, 2008 - Jane Leslie Performs

Last Friday night, Composer-Pianist Jane Leslie gave a stellar performance to a group of forty attendees at the Library. The Concert was called "Music For A Small Planet."

When Carolyn Balducci, the Library's Program Director, handed out the evening's program, I was impressed by the list of songs Ms. Leslie has composed.

What I liked most about the artist's opening song called "Joy" was the upbeat mood that it brought. I found myself swaying from side to side, imitating the ripples of the ocean with an occasional big wave that stopped the rhythm. Her second song, called "An American Song" was even better.

Ms. Leslie surprised the audience by playing "Southampton Sunset" behind a screen accompanying a video called "Dress Rehearsal" directed by Andrea Wozny. Filmed at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Ms. Leslie, out of sight, cleverly played the same song while we watched her on film, dressed in formal attire without an audience. It was her first attempt and she succeeded. A gentleman asked, "How did you synchronize the movement of your fingers to match yourself behind the screen when you can't see?" To which she replied: "Did I?"

After a brief intermission of cookies and tea, Ms. Leslie changed the mood by playing Mozart's "Rondo alla Turca."

Ms. Leslie closed the program with "Three Dances," again composed by her, with three pieces called "Sunrise," "Graceful Dance," and "Wild Dance."

After a standing ovation, Ms. Leslie graced us with an encore called "Celebration," a fitting song to end the wonderful evening. What truly left me in awe was the fact that Ms. Leslie played all thirteen songs by memory. Her effervescent smile and her friendly disposition made the evening even better. I asked her what method she uses to compose a song and she told me that she just plays the piano and her mood determines what direction the song will take.

Ms. Leslie holds two degrees from the Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Manhattan School of Music. She has been a member of the music faculty at Nassau Community College and is currently a pianist, composer and piano teacher in the New York area. She has been honored with ASCAP Awards and Meet the Composer grants for her compositions. She has a CD called "Dreamsongs" and a second to be released shortly. Both will be available at Barnacle Books in town.

On September 4, 2008, Ms. Leslie will perform at the multimedia event called Artmosphere at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, C.W. Post College, Long Island University in Brookville. There will be musicians, dancers and magicians performing simultaneously as she plays the piano.