Avram Lavinsky

Music Bio

• Began music training with the Suzuki method for violin at age four, utterly mastering “Hot Cross Buns.” Was unable, however, to pronounce the violin teacher’s name, Mrs. Wartley, until many years later; it always came out “Vuttley”.
• Briefly attempted group drum lessons at age nine, but was quickly relegated to the “dummy table” at the back of the room due to mild dyslexia.
• Studied trumpet from age eleven with jazz veteran Bill Faffley, section leader with Harry James and Doc Severinsen among many others. Learned all anyone needs to know about life from Bill’s smile.
• At age seventeen, as a self-taught pianist, played keys with the highly successful Westchester cover-band, Crimson Rose. Felt pretty cool to be taking home fifty dollars a night at a White Planes bar until the guitar player’s older brother brought a “click and count” to a gig and calculated that the owners were taking in $10,000 at the door alone, doubtless much more at the bar. The band still performs on occasion, and guitarist Doug Grean can be heard on Sheryl Crow’s super-smash-hit single, “Soak Up the Sun.”
• At age nineteen composed for the Stanford University Jazz Band and was a featured soloist. Made futile attempts to be called Dave and get a deep tan.
• Dropped out of Stanford University in sophomore year to play keys for the original rock band, Dreamspeak. With Dreamspeak, played some of the more prestigious rooms on both coasts including New York’s The Bottom Line, San Francisco’s The Stone, New Haven’s Toad’s Place, numerous theaters, and universities around the country. Co-billed or collaborated with multi-platinum successes from the fertile New York City rock scene including Blues Traveler, Joan Osborne, and The Spin Doctors. Made absolutely no money.
• At age twenty-one took a day-job as a piano technician for world-renowned Steinway and Sons, a highly unionized piano manufacturer. Lasted one week.
• Tuned and maintained pianos at the music department at City College of New York in Harlem. Resolved to try to find gainful employment other than piano tuning before eyes became permanently crossed due to the uppermost register of the instruments.
• While finishing up a BS at SUNY New Paltz, wrote and successfully produced the musical, Double Blind in upstate New York. At the same time performed R&B covers for fun with local heroes The Gig Newtons and performed original music throughout New York as the principle writer and vocalist for Scratch Baxter. Often caught studying for exams in car between sets while others were getting drunk and laid.
• While pursuing a master’s degree in physical therapy, wrote, arranged, and played keys for singer Danielle Champoux. The ensuing disc, “Say No More,” received great critical acclaim, and remains a mainstay attraction for the vermin in the artists' basements.
• Having completed a master’s degree in physical therapy, joined Boston’s Performing Arts Physical Therapy and became active in healing injured performers in Boston’s sizeable music community. Provided psychological comfort and suicide prevention tips during the period following the Grammy Awards.
• Reviewed local music for New England’s Performer Magazine. Never panned anyone.
• Was bamboozled into giving a free piano lesson to an amazing hottie named Priscilla. Two years later they were married.
• At age thirty, awarded a gold record for string arrangement on Blues Traveler’s CD, “Travelers and Thieves”. It could go platinum at any second.
• Just over a year later, still age thirty, took first piano lesson with Berklee School of Music Professor Dave Frank, and after playing two minutes of piano, immediately was informed that “everything you just played is wrong.” Was able to maintain confidence for a full year of lessons with Dave.
• Switched piano teachers to international stride master and decorated ragtime phenom Dave Barnhart.
• Performed solo stride piano at upscale venues such as Boston’s World Trade Center. Sometimes managed to overcome lounge-lizard self-image.
• As a duo with the great John Popper, recorded “This Christmas”, a superb thirteen-track stride and boogie-woogie holiday project which may even be released some day.
• Several years later, still age thirty, completed the 2004 solo release, Cellar Dwellers and Other Forgotten Songs
• Wrote article on nerve injuries among musicians, which appeared in the December, 2004 issue of the national publication, Strings Magazine.
• Transformed into the evil Dr. Hyde in a tragic laboratory accident, began work on a Halloween album, The Big Halloween Spookathon, with a band comprised of monsters of his own creation, The Jeckylls.