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Mark Birnbaum

About Me

Raised in Brooklyn, educated in New York City with a Doctorate in Music Composition from Columbia University, Mark Birnbaum composed and directed the successful off- Broadway show, “A Day Together,” which was funded by the Helena Rubenstein foundation and performed in the five boroughs of New York City in 1983-84.

Dr. Birnbaum was featured as the staff pianist of television's nationally syndicated ”Joe Franklin Show” (WWOR-TV, Channel 9 NY), where he performed in over 500 appearances from 1989-93.

At Manhattan's 13th Street Theater, Mark Birnbaum starred in two one man shows that he wrote, “Ragtime '94” and “Ragtime '96,” that salute the music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and the glory of ragtime and jazz piano.

Mark Birnbaum has been touring regionally in the New York City Metropolitan area, where he performs regularly throughout the five boroughs, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.

“('Mark Birnbaum: This is Entertainment”) I've never heard another CD like it. The Ragtime piano of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, 1920's tunes, Bach, Scriabin, and originals.”

Steve Allen

Seconds Magazine: “The Art of The Interview: Mark Birnbaum - This Is Entertainment” (MJB)”

“Virtuoso piano styling is a lost art these days of inexpensive samplers and grade- school Electronica. Praise hail MJB for Mark Birnbaum, a New York City ivory-tickler with notable degrees of panache and finesse. Many of you are already familiar with Mr. Birnbaum's talents from his work as the staff pianist on Joe Franklin's long- running television show. Now he softly slips onto your stereo with “This Is Entertainment,” a tasty offering of lovely and proficient renditions from the repertoires of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and J.S. Bach.

Birnbaum is to the Steinway what Yankee Stadium icon Eddie Layton is to the Hammond organ - and he's a Mephistophelian lounge lothario deserving of your easy listening. In Hip Hop parlance: yo, he's got mad skillz. Seconds Magazine, 1998

“Classically trained with a doctorate in music from Columbia University, Mark Birnbaum graduated into keeping ragtime alive and serving as staff pianist on the popular Joe Franklin television show. This Manhattan based pianist can play everything, and continues to do so throughout the New York City metropolitan area.” Edward Jablonski, Official Biographer of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin & Harold Arlen.

“Mark Birnbaum is ' Mr. Ragtime,' the piano entertainer for the 21st Century. He's Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and Liberace rolled into one.” Joe Franklin

“As anyone who's caught one of his several hundred appearances on Joe Franklin's television show will know, Mark Birnbaum (who has a Ph.D. from Columbia) is the consummate ragtime piano specialist. He knows all of the classical rags by Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake, Jelly Roll Morton - he can take any song you name (from ”Sh-Boom” to “Amazing Grace”) and convert it to ragtime.” Chip Deffaa, The New York Post

“This is the pianist where Vladimir Horowitz and Liberace meet. Where classical and jazz are one.” Barry Farber, WWOR Radio

“Mark (Birnbaum) is Jerry Lee (Lewis) with a Ph.D. Ragtime jazz piano, Jelly Roll Morton, Debussy, Mozart - he plays it all”

Captain Lou Albano

“Elements of Gershwin on drugs.” Ear Magazine

Scheduled for release in early 2004 is Mark's new cd, “Hot Piano: Ragtime, Jazz & Blues.” Check website for more details.

Tour updates are posted regularly on website: http:// www.ragtimemarkbirnbaum.com