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SRQ DAILY Sep 11, 2015

Friday Weekend Edition

Friday Weekend Edition

"There's so much you can do with sound when you look at it from the Classical sense."

- David Hicken, composer
 

[Music]  David Hicken and The Art of Piano
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Beginning piano at the age of three and achieving the highest-level diploma from the Royal School of Music in London at age 12, international pianist and composer David Hicken’s tenure as a professional musician has taken him across the world, his work performed under the vaulted ceilings of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, within the storied walls of the Westminster and Canterbury Cathedrals in England and, just this past June, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where a choir of 80 singers brought his “Adoramus Te” to life. Now, to the delight of the Suncoast’s classical connoisseurs, Hicken and his prized piano have pulled stakes and landed in Sarasota, where Hicken plans to set up a “base of operations” to complete his latest record and continue perhaps his most ambitious work, The Art of Piano.

Raised on Bach, Rachmaninoff and their kin, Hicken retains a life-long love of classical music, encouraged by the rich history of the works, the composers and the instruments themselves. Not to disparage rock or popular music, he said, “but how much can you really do with a singer, bass player, drummer and guitar?” Hicken prefers the multitudinous possibilities of arranged ensembles and quartets, orchestras and choirs. “There’s so much you can do with sound when you look at it from the Classical sense,” he said.

With his first record contract at age 18, Hicken has in his time released a number of albums, but none quite as popular as 2013’s Carols of Christmas, seeing the pianist offer his own arrangement of 12 seasonal classics, providing his signature contemporary edge. One track in particular, “Carol of the Bells,” the Ukrainian folk tune-turned-American yuletide favorite, proved to be a hit in the United States, leading Hicken to plan a follow-up currently in the works. He hopes to complete the 12 tracks in Sarasota before this Christmas.

But while the carols will come quickly, Hicken said, his other project, The Art of Piano, is a bit more trying. Classically-based and with elements of a contemporary sensibility, The Art of Piano and the final 12 tracks comprising will be Hicken’s statement to the power and continued relevance of the instrument. Each a technically demanding composition for the solo piano, the record is currently half-complete, with “Incantation” standing out among the tracks currently available, its driving rhythm and rising sounds imparting a sense of storytelling usually reserved to the more overtly narrative arts. “The Art of Piano is saying, ‘Look, this is what you can really do with a piano if you want to write your own music,' ” said Hicken. “If young people would simply open their minds, they could discover a wonderful world.” 

Though surely piano-centric, Hicken says he’s toying with the idea of adding accompanying instrumentation to Art of Piano and perhaps drawing from local talent for percussion or string work.

“I see this as being a permanent home,” said Hicken as he waits for his piano to arrive at his Sarasota address. “I have a lot of plans for touring and performing—a lot of traveling—but I see this as being home base.” 

David Hicken Official Website

[Daily Shop]  Shoe Stoppers

The classic black satin of this style by Jon Josef is spiked with mixed-metal allure. Collective metal embellishments give edge to the traditional low heel style. You can get the pair at T. Georgiano's, a locale familiar to any Sarasota show lover. $240, T. Georgiano’s Shoe Salon 

$240, T. Georgiano's Shoe Salon, 1409 1st St, Sarasota, 941-870-3727

See more shoe finds in the September issue of SRQ.

[From The Chef]  Shrimp From The Micronutrient Masters
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Even your diet plan can be local. Sarasota couple Jayson and Mira Calton have put out a new diet tome, The Micronutrient Miracle, offering a 28-day plan to lose weight and address the “hidden crisis of micronutrient deficiency.” If you just want a taste, try this new recipe, shared especially with SRQ Daily. 

Quick Tandoori Shrimp

Ingredients: 1 tsp organic chili powder; 3⁄4 tsp organic curry powder; 1⁄2 tsp organic ground cumin; 1⁄4 tsp organic cinnamon; 1⁄4 tsp unrefined sea salt; 1⁄2–1 tsp organic ground red cayenne pepper (optional); 1 1⁄2 lb medium to large wild-caught shrimp, peeled and deveined (you can also do a tandoori mixed grill; by cutting other protein into bite-size pieces for broiling); 1 medium organic onion, thinly sliced into rings; 10 sprigs fresh organic cilantro, chopped; Juice of 1 lime

Raise the oven rack to just 6 inches from the broiler. Preheat the broiler. Combine all the dry spices in a bowl. Toss the shrimp and onion rings in the bowl to coat them. Arrange the coated shrimp and onions on a baking sheet. Cook the shrimp and onions until pink and opaque (approximately 7 minutes). Remove the shrimp from the oven and sprinkle them with the cilantro and lime juice. Serves four. 

[Opening]  Livengood Launches Eclipse Agency

Kim Alexander Livengood has opened The Eclipse Agency, a firm specializing in public relations,  marketing and events. Her goal is to create ways to promote businesses through local and national media exposure and fun events. She was formerly director of Public Relations and Events at Tervis and was the owner of Hotel Ranola, Willow506 Boutique and Eclipse magazine. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Magazine Journalism.  Her office is located in the HuB in Sarasota.  

The Eclipse Agency

[Acquisition]  Insula Buys Altamonte Apartments

Insula Companies, a Sarasota-based firm specializing in apartment community acquisition and revitalization on behalf of private investors, announced the recent acquisition of Charter Pointe Apartments in Altamonte Springs for $23 million. This purchase marks the eighth for Insula Companies in 2015 and the 24th since 2009. 

Insula Companies

[Congress]  Iran Deal Threatens Security
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan

The U.S. House is expected to vote this week on one of the most important nuclear weapons accords in history. I will vote against this deal because it jeopardizes the security of America and the world. Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism and has a clear history of cheating on international arms inspections. This agreement includes secret side deals, makes no allowance for on-the-spot inspections and contains a massive economic boost to Iran that will be used to further spread terrorism and destabilize the Middle East.

The American people understand that the President’s agreement with Iran is bad for our nation. They oppose this deal by a 2-1 margin because they do not trust Iran—nor should they. It is deeply troubling that, by lifting economic sanctions, we will be pumping tens of billions of dollars into a government that has shown nothing but vehement hostility towards the United States and publicly called for the annihilation of Israel.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei openly chanted “Death to America” in a hate-filled diatribe earlier this year in Tehran. Shortly after the nuclear deal was announced in July, Khamenei vowed that his country would “trample upon America” and that their “policy toward the arrogant U.S. government won’t change at all.”  

Allies in the region, who would be on the front lines of a nuclear-armed Iran, have deep concerns. Earlier this year, I met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  While these two men may not always agree on Middle Eastern affairs, they both warned me that Iran cannot be trusted. In fact, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vocally denounced this deal, saying “Iran is going to receive a sure path to nuclear weapons.”

I also have strong doubts about Iran’s compliance. The country’s long history of cheating on international nuclear agreements has been well documented. There is no reason to believe this time will be any different. Yet the deal does not provide for “anytime, anywhere” inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities and allows for a 24-day delay before these inspections can take place.

Moreover, it is not clear that we know everything that the agreement encompasses.  Initially, the State Department denied the existence of “side deals” between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to skirt these already-weak inspection requirements. Pressed by the media, the White House reversed course and in fact acknowledged there are unpublicized side deals with Iran—further undermining the credibility of this pact. Perhaps most troubling is the potential for this to set off a nuclear arms race in the region. Iran’s continued support for terrorist groups and march towards a nuclear weapon could lead other nations in the region to seek a nuclear weapon.

In dealing with the Soviet Union, President Ronald Reagan famously adopted an attitude of “trust but verify.” We already know we cannot trust Iran.

The deal to be voted on in Congress provides no reliable way to verify that Iran will halt its nuclear ambitions. This is why members of Congress from both political parties—including the top Republican and Democrat on both the House and Senate foreign affairs panels—oppose this deal.

The U.S. must stand strong against any regime that calls for death to our nation.We should reject any deal that leaves the door open to the continued pursuit of a nuclear weapon by a rogue regime such as Iran. 

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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