Purnell Steen has been a fixture on Denver's thriving jazz scene for decades, playing piano in venues such as Dazzle and the Burnsley Hotel. At 73, he is old enough to remember the jazz heyday of Five Points, where the Rossonian Hotel served as both venue and second home to America's touring jazz greats.
Raised in Denver by his father, a Pullman porter, and mother, a caterer, Steen has lived here most of his life, save for some time during his youth in California and 5½ years in Europe during the 1970s.
He took up the piano at age 4 and hails from a musical family: His relatives include renowned bassist Charlie Burrell, Grammy- winning vocalist Dianne Reeves, pianist George Duke and the late sax player Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson.
A history major at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Steen was active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
Engaged to be married once, he stayed single. "I guess I'm married to my music," he said. "That's my real long-term relationship. All the women were jealous of the piano."
One of Steen's favorite places is the upstairs performance salon at Onofrio Piano on South Broadway. The shop was opened by the Onofrio family in 1900. Today it is run by Joe Onofrio, Steen's friend.
A small stage in the salon holds a gleaming black Bosendorfer baby grand, one of the world's great pianos. "Of course, you'd have to win the lottery to own one," Steen said.
Fortunately, he has visitation rights. A recent afternoon found him working his way through "A House is Not a Home," the 1964 Dionne Warwick hit written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
"I'd never played this song before today," Steen said. "But I woke up at 3 a.m., and it was in my head."
The Bosendorfer boomed and trilled. Steen has visited the factory in Vienna. "The piano case actually vibrates, and is built using the same guiding theory that went into Stradivarius violins," he said. "If you put your hand underneath the piano
Denver pianio great Purnell Steen loves to play the Bosendorfer baby grand in the salon at Onofrio Piano .
"Whenever I get the opportunity to play one I just revel in it."
Q: What is your current state of mind?
A:Euphoric. I'm living my dream.
Q. What is your favorite way of spending time?
A:Playing music. It takes me everywhere. I hear music all the time. It's so natural for me to sit down at a piano and start to play. A melody will crawl inside me, and the only way to unleash it is to play. I'd love to play every American song that's ever been written, but that's impossible.
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A:My piano. It's an upright, called a "bungalow grand." My parents bought it from Joe Onofrio's granddad in 1955. Only three other people have played it: George Duke, Errol Garner and Mrs. Annette Graves, who played when my mother passed. It's my best friend.
Q: What is your greatest fear?
A:I guess it would be that I'd never be able to perform again.
Q: What is the trait you most dislike in yourself?
A:My bossiness. I'm an Aries. I was born on tax day. I'm stubborn and hardheaded.
Q: What is the trait you most dislike in others?
A:Bigotry.
Q: What is your greatest extravagance?
A:Good food. My mother was a professional cook, and she taught me to appreciate a great meal.
Q: Your favorite journey?
A:I lived in Europe for a long time and would like to do that again. But if you're asking for a specific place, it has to be Florence, Italy.
Q: What do you most dislike about your appearance?
A:I need to lose 15 pounds. But I always wanted to have white hair and now I've got it.
Q: On what occasion do you lie?
A:If it really would hurt someone to tell the truth.
Q: What word or phrase do you most overuse?
A:Love you madly. I say it all the time.
Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
A:I would become more patient in difficult situations.
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
A:I guess that would be bringing joy to people through music. My crowning moment was singing a solo in the Olympic stadium in Berlin when I was in the Army and singing in its chorus. My mom was there. Out of 80,000 people I heard this voice go, "That's my son!"
Q: What is the quality you most admire in a man?
A:Integrity.
Q: What is the quality you most admire in a woman?
A:Maternal love.
Q: Which living person do you most admire?
A:President Obama, absolutely and unequivocally.
Q: What do you value most in your friends?
A:Sincerity and loyalty.
Q: How would you like to die?
A:Actually, I'd love to die playing music. I had a friend who was a great gospel pianist and that's how he expired.
Q: If you were to be reincarnated as an animal, what do you think it would be?
A:I'd love to be a cat. You know, cats are independent but they're also very loving. And they're always in control.
Q: Words to live by?
A:Just treat everyone with kindness, dignity, respect and love. And learn to love your enemies. Let me tell you a story. A few years ago I was in a production of "Ain't Misbehavin'." They hired a limo to take us to Colorado Springs, and the only white person in it was the driver. We stopped at a gas station in Castle Rock and this girl drove up and started using the "N" word. Just really abusive. We stood in a circle around her car, started singing gospel music and praying. And eventually tears were streaming down her face. I'd like to think we got her thinking.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by William Porter: 303-954-1877 orwporter@denverpost.com
Read more:People & Places: Denver pianist Purnell Steen at Onofrio Piano - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_20022762?source=rss#ixzz1nDDOrj00
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
0 Comments:
Post a Comment