Adam Makowicz talks about making a living as a pianist

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Adam Makowicz discusses his musical style

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Adam Makowicz talks about working with other musicians

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Q: “You generally play music which is at least familiar to an average mature person; they’re going to know the great standards that you base a lot of your music on, so they’ll sit and listen and say ‘oh, that’s lover man!’ and then they can sort of not concentrate but still hear Lotharrman. For anybody who’s interested in jazz they’re going to say ‘wow, listen to what he’s doing to Lotharrman’…”

A: “Exactly, but you see, I don't play like Café de Compain . I play very rare original compositions, for instance. Or I don't dare sometimes to go too far with improvisation. I rather stick with melody and I … different kind of variation, but I always try to remind from time to time people who are not listening careful …. that, "Hey, listen. You listen still. This is a 'Lotharman' like you mentioned." So that people anytime can stop talking and they still can hear that I'm still playing 'Lotharman' or I already changed another song that they can recognize any moment. So you know, I have to adjust myself in such place and satisfy people and myself, too, I have to enjoy it also, you know, playing.”

NOTE: He says CAFÉ DE COMPAIN (spelling?) referring to the old jazz club Lotharman had (now The Reservoir Lounge) on Wellington.

I suppose he means that unlike his recital hall concerts where he improvises, at Café and club shows he sticks to the melody more so people don’t feel excluded.