Pianist Eric Mintel Charms Crowd

The Eric Mintel Quartet treated the audience at Cheney Hall in Manchester Saturday night to a flavorful mixture of holiday favorites and originals. Billed as “A Charlie Brown Christmas", the concert grabbed the audience right away with “Christmas is Coming" one of the tunes Vince Guraldi wrote for “A Charlie Brown Christmas", the 1965 television special. The quartet's energetic and accessible playing on that tune set the tone for the evening that ended with Dave Brubeck's “Blue Rondo a la Turk" and a standing ovation. The four men ambled on stage wearing dark suits. Still, during their two sets, they played and interacted with each other with a sunny disposition on a crisp night, while some in the crowd came wearing clothing festooned with holiday scenes. Mintel, a lyrical pianist with a sometimes light but always sure touch, had many outstanding moments on stage as he wound his way through tunes such as “What is This Thing Called Love?" and Guraldi's “Christmas Time is Here," which had some of the baby boomers in the audience swooning. Mintel's uncomplicated compositions such as “Hartford" which he played in the capital city last summer, showcased the pianist's fluid playing and the solid work of his band mates, especially Neil Wetzel on saxophone and flute. At the end of the show, Mintel said he hoped to return to the area next year to give another performance. The audience clapped and roared at the prospect.