Larry Vuckovich

Maria and I saw Larry Vuckovich play at PianoForte last Saturday. It was a very pleasant performance. Vuckovich plays in a rather standard jazz style, which Maria appreciated especially. He talked quite a bit between the songs, introducing them and adding some of his personal history. We both liked how he included some music from his native land, former Yugoslavia, in addition to many standards. His playing reminded us both of Vince Guaraldi.

The show was nearly overshadowed by some remarkable displays of rudeness and tactlessness among the patrons. This is a small, intimate performance studio where people go to listen to the music in a way that can't be recreated in a larger space. And yet the audience, which was certainly fewer than 40 people, included:

• The woman in the back who fidgeted with a noisy plastic bag, over and over again;
• The woman chomping on her gum, open-mouthed; and
• The woman who arrived late, pulled a chair up to the front, and then got out a book and read it during the show!

Mr. Vuckovich, on behalf of those of us who actually came to listen to you play music, I apologize. I hope you did not notice these transgressions, and if you did, kudos to you for continuing professionally with your performance.