Ernie Byrd “I cannot NOT sing”

Originally published in "The North Shoreian," Volume II, Issue 4 - May 2009

Ernie Byrd has been singing for over 50 years. He’s played both Carnegie and National Halls, and now he’s playing the North Shore as Music Director for Grasso’s restaurant in Cold Spring Harbor, a comfortable and intimate setting perfectly suited to this jazz great.

Ernie performs every Wednesday and Saturday evening at Grasso’s. Wednesdays, he is joined by Wayne Sapella on piano as they experiment with show tunes, older songs, and jazz treatments of songs by the Beatles, Ray Charles, and more. Saturdays, the pianist is Dr. Dave LaLama, a professor at Hofstra University who has influenced many up-and-coming jazz musicians. Both evenings Noriko Ineva rounds out the trio on bass. Ernie beams that Noriko is “an old soul” who “plays standards like she wrote them.” Byrd, LaLama, and Ineva have been playing together for six years and their familiarity allows them great musical freedom as they perform. Ernie enjoys the spontaneity of playing with these and other musicians. The creative dialogue that unfolds between the players, each song a unique experience, is what brings him the most satisfaction.

Ernie cites a litany of influences. “I’m in awe of the ladies: Tony, Frank, Billie - I appreciate their accomplishments,” he says before continuing,” Carmen McRae, Ella, Sara Vaughan, Gloria Lynne, Etta James, Nancy Wilson.” Phrasing and storytelling are a hallmark of these ladies’ style, the way Ernie sees it, and his style is built on emphasizing those qualities, too. “Lyric is more important than the song,” says Ernie, and the lyrical narrative is what attracts him to songs. Like a stage director finding the through-line in a play, Ernie makes decisions with every phrase, trying to tell the story of the song. At times he gets visibly lost in the words and in the moment.

Ernie’s ecstatic expressions and lost-in-a-dream stage presence demonstrate that he enjoys singing as much for himself as for the audience. “For the love of the music” is not far off in describing his approach. Ernie takes you on a journey, word-by-word, to a place populated by you and he. The familiar and personal way in which he handles musical phrases, punctuated by cadences that are like a slow-motion moment in film, make the listening experience a guided tour through an emotional landscape.

Ernie’s voice sometimes gets lost in the din for a short while and, though it might not be possible to make out his voice audibly, in those times it seems as though it can still be felt. Music making is such an intense personal experience for Ernie, and his intensity engages the audience so, that at times it does seem that his performance is felt rather than heard. Ernie’s audience gets immersed in the story with him as he shapes the phrases and explores the lyrics of each song. In a sense every song is uncharted territory – the land both familiar and new at the same time.

“The familiar and the new” would be a great subtitle for Ernie, as he greatly enjoys introducing musicians to new audiences and to other musicians. “I love making musical introductions,” he says with a smile. Each player brings their own style to the performance and Ernie gets no small enjoyment from hearing how different musicians combine to make a unique sound. Grasso’s is very good to their musical guests, Ernie says, and so it is wonderfully suited to make these acquaintances. “Musicians love the way we treat them,” says Ernie. He gets calls from musicians from all corners of the globe letting him know that they’ll be in town and would like to drop by. Old friends and new, Ernie enjoys having musical guests. Some of his old acquaintances are regulars at Grasso’s now. On Tuesdays, he invites Lou Messana, a solo guitarist who, Ernie explains, has “been around forever but hasn’t made a mark.” Ernie gives the stage to former high school classmate and pianist/singer Frank O'Brien (with Bass) Thursday nights. And, of course, each Friday evening Ernie invites a different world-class musician to perform at Grasso’s.

There’s an irreplaceable quality that Ernie lends to the setting at Grasso’s. A familiar face, he’s greeted and hailed by patrons the night through. And his performance, while not stealing your attention away from your plate or your guests, seems to round-out the dining experience. A thoughtful and enthusiastic performer, Ernie’s satiny-smooth voice and lyricism make dinner at Grasso’s in Cold Spring Harbor a relaxingly intimate event.