Former Warde Classmates Performed with Singer-Songwriter Dan Swartz at Ferguson Library

AWHS 1976 classmate and professional musician Tony Procaccini recently performed selections from the American Songbook with singer-guitarist Dan Swartz at Stamford's Ferguson Library, as part of the library's Adult Reading Summer Club's activities called Novel Destinations.

By a fluke coincidence, another AWHS 1976 classmate, Stephan Lang (pictured below right), also participated. Lang was not originally scheduled to perform but, upon arriving at the venue (with his long-time friend Procaccini), Steve found a string bass available, and simply added himself to the mix!

The multi-talented Swartz (pictured above) is a resident of Cos Cob (Greenwich) and is well-versed in the American songbook. He and Procaccini met fairly recently while attending a performance of the well-known Jazz artist Chris Coogan of Weston, and have remained friends since then. This was their first performance together.

Elaine Krikorian of the library was instrumental in organizing and promoting the show, which elicited a full house and numerous compliments both on the concert date and afterwards. Young magician Kyrian Friedenberg dazzled the audience during the intermission.

"It was such a great day, from start to finish," noted Procaccini, who first performed at the Ferguson in November 2007 with acclaimed soprano Krista Adams-Santilli. "I felt like I was home again, playing on a fine piano for a crowd which loved the music we played. I hope to return soon."

Procaccini, a Sinatra historian, also sang two Sinatra favorites, in addition to a piano solo on the theme from "Alice in Wonderland." After the program, an elderly attendee recounted to Procaccini his story of seeing the 1943 movie "Higher and Higher," a Sinatra staple of which Procaccini spoke and that was one of his vocal selections on this day. "I was so happy to connect with this man," Procaccini mused, "and find a true, living connection to the past and this great music of ours." He is pictured at the piano below.

Swartz's vocal selections came from composers and lyricists such as Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. The audience sang with some of them (lyrics provided), while one individual sung in duet with Dan, and another danced with him, appropriately enough, during Procaccini's singing of "Come Dance With Me."

"Linda Colucci, newly appointed President of the Connecticut Playmakers Musical Theatre Company, was the person I chose to dance with for Surrey With the Fringe on Top," said Swartz. "I had no clue she was that good a dancer." They are pictured below.

Swartz added, "Larissa Friedenberg danced during the song Come Dance with Me (pictured below with Procaccini at the piano). She is a trained professional classical pianist who teaches in Old Greenwich. Her son performed as the card magician. He is also a talented musical performer. Thanks, Tony, for your expertise and for agreeing to perform with me." 

A great time was had by all, and many expressed the wish of a future concert by the same participants.