Hey everybody!
I hope you’ve had a wonderful start to your year! It’s been a while since I had something to say, but I can’t help but share my excitement with you now…
Last month, shortly before Christmas, I finally had the pleasure of meeting famed producer Michael Franklin. We met at an Italian restaurant one Saturday afternoon, and he surprised me with a few early presents! The first was the album Windows of Time by Patrick Moraz, which he personally co-produced. The second was a favorite album of his, The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett. But his final present came when I thanked him as Mr. Franklin, and he said, “Please, call me Michael.” I’m on a first-name basis with him already!
While Michael was talking with my mom and publicist over lunch, I was already researching both albums on my iPad. The restaurant’s ambience was a little noisy, but that made me want to listen to these songs even more closely. I was so focused, I couldn’t eat. Michael must’ve noticed my eagerness, because at the end of this lunch, he invited me to a future jam session at his home studio!
We met again earlier this month, and this time, Michael and I simply improvised to see where the music would take us. I sat at his piano while he played different sound effects from a keyboard for me to emulate. No matter what instrument Michael “played,” I recreated each sound in near-perfect rhythm. Hours passed again, and again I performed as fluidly as a CD on repeat. I don’t think Michael was trying to trick me (he’s too nice to do that!), but if he did, I wasn’t fooled. And neither was he.
Afterward, I overheard that Michael wished he’d recorded this impromptu session! Even if that happened, I’m just happy to personally know him. Performing for Michael is so much fun! I can’t wait to work with him again, and next time, I hope to share some of our musical improvisations with you, too!