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Hans Martin Fleischer and Viola Manigk performed at Marina Gallery
Berlin singer Viola Manigk and guitar-player Hans Martin Fleischer share a long friendship and one favorite piece of music stands out for them in particular: East of the Sun (and West of the Moon). In their concerts, the two musicians open almost every night with that song.
The duo performed at Marina Gallery in Cold Spring on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10. On Sunday, they were joined by local percussionist Mike Larocco
East of the Sun has something very relaxing. "If you've played that song all stage fright is gone," explains Fleischer.
One day he tried to find out more information about the composer of the song - Brooks Bowman - only to learn that there was almost no information at all.
Brooks Bowman, a passenger, died in a car crash outside of Garrison off Cat Rock Road on Oct. 17, 1937. Only 4 days before his 24th birthday.
His only song known by a larger audience is East of the Sun. In the Autumn of 1934, Bowman then a 21-year-old Princeton student, composed the tune for the musical production entitled Stags at Bay. Some months later, it became a number-one hit in the United States.
The standard has been covered by all the greats, including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday and Diana Krall.
A friendly reply to an email inquiry made to Princeton University sparked Fleischer's historical obsession. On two extended trips to the US, he visited the scene of the accident in Garrison, researched some almost forgotten songs at Princeton and spent time in Salem, Ohio - Bowman's home town.
Hans then persuaded his long musical partner, Viola Manigk, to perform tributes with him in Europe and the U.S.
Viola, has studied jazz in Berlin and, among other accomplishments, can be heard singing with Berlin's renowned Swing Dance Orchestra directed by Andreij Hermlin.
"Of course Bowmans early death is a sad thing" declares Fleischer "But it is also fascinating to see how powerful his music is and how it survives the decades."
To quote Bowman himself "Long, long after we've gone, love will live on."
The concert was sponsored in association with Red Wally Music and Marina's Gallery
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