A Little About Arnie Himself
For piano players in New York City, Arnie Abrams should immediately come to mind. This Manhattan pianist began playing the piano when he was about 5 years old. There was always a piano in the house since his father was a fine pianist, originally from the Bronx, and played every day of his life.
Arnie’s dad, Howard Abrams, who was a self-taught piano player, played exclusively by ear, and knew literally thousands of songs. Arnie inherited his dad’s passion, style, and much of his repertoire, and is what he is known for in the area today. He is also known for his talented ear for picking up songs incredibly quickly and playing them after just hearing them a few times on the radio.
Having studied classical and jazz piano in Connecticut and later in Buffalo, New York, Arnie’s musical specialty is the Great American Song Book and all of those terrific standards, which were the most wonderful songs that were so popular during his father’s musical era. And since he grew up in the 70’s, Arnie really enjoys performing the folk and classic rock numbers of this era as well.
Combining his classically-trained technique with the style, enthusiasm and “heart” that his father passed on to him, the end result is this New York piano player’s gift for performing many of the most popular tunes produced over the past century.
A Musician Growing Up in the ’70’s & ’80’s
Having grown up in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, so many of Arnie’s favorite artists are from that period, including terrific piano players like Billy Joel and Elton John, as well as great artists like Harry Chapin, James Taylor, Eagles, Chicago, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Carole King, Simon and Garfunkel, and Dan Fogelberg, just to name a few.
Arnie’s musical versatility is the cornerstone of his talent, and as one of the most popular piano players in New York City, he offers musical options to everyone. His influences include those wonderful artists and performers mentioned, as well as the great styles and songs performed by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Nat King Cole, and George Gershwin.
His love for the classics also shines through when he plays selections by Chopin and Beethoven. Among Arnie’s favorite songs are those by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, big band & swing era performers, as well as the more contemporary artists performing those great American classics like Michael Feinstein, Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael Bublé.
Performing throughout Manhattan and the entire metro New York area, Arnie Abrams has a love for Broadway show tunes, especially those of Phantom of the Opera Les Misérables, Cabaret , and many of the classic show tunes of the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s, like My Fair Lady Camelot Fiddler on the Roof Paint Your Wagon West Side Story Oklahoma South Pacific The King & I
