Playing the Apple TV plus premiere

Peter & the Master Keys at the Apple TV plus premiere of “The Morning Show” at Lincoln Center, NY

The quintet in the lobby of David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center

I got a random email about a week ago asking me if I was available October 28th and did I play with an orchestra. What? I said. I don’t play with an orchestra, I have a band. The person responded asking if I had references and I was pretty sure that it was a scam. Pretty soon I found out that it was a real thing and that there was a French composer who was doing a “big” gig here. I looked at his site and IG and indeed, he does a lot of work for big clients: Porsche, Dior, Chanel. They wanted to know if my band would play along with the orchestra, and of course I said yes!

As it turns out, there wasn’t time for all of that. The composer, Thomas Roussel, had only gotten the green light a week before and barely had time to write for orchestra as it was. We would just be playing for cocktails. Then I found out who and what. This was to be for the unveiling of the Apple TV plus streaming service and the premiere of its marquee show “The Morning Show” starring Jennifer Anniston and Steve Carrell.

The orchestra conducted by Thomas Roussel

Never before have I seen so many production assistants running around, not to mention waiters and other service workers. Lincoln Center was a madhouse during the day but it all came together beautifully that evening. My band, dressed in tuxes and black shirts sounded amazing, as always. You know that’s the easiest part, making music!

After they showed the first two episodes of “The Morning Show”, the orchestra, arranged on the balconies overlooking the lobby, played great arrangements of iconic New York songs. It was a thrill to be part of this and a big thanks to Thomas and Ivan for making it happen!