A Hidden Treasure Home For Music In A Very Interesting Village

Every year for almost three decades, Chris Murphy, born and raised in the hamlet of Pearl River, who now lives and operates his thriving musical headquarters in Southern California [Santa Monica] makes an Annual East Coast Musical Tour and Family visit. Chris is a Composer and virtuoso instrumentalist of violin/fiddle music of multiple genres - folk, Bordello blues, gypsy jazz, hobo jazz, Irish, blue grass, old fiddle music,

For Chris, one of his solo performances must be at the Turning Point Music Cafe in the Village of Piermont. Why ? Because it is the "Home of Great Music" and where Chris' musical life's journey began.

Serendipitously, the Village of Piermont is also history rich and an appropriate "Home' for the "Home of Music". Both are what might be described as of perfect size.

Anybody can walk the entire Village from the Hudson River on the Village's East Coast to the Tallman Mountains on its West border to see many historic sites. My very favorite is its Hudson River Pier.

This is from the Village's Posts on the internet ->" For 1.3 million World War II American soldiers, Piermont, NY was their last stop in the country before they sailed across the Atlantic to join the war in Europe. They were housed in nearby Camp Shanks, and on the day they left America to join the war, 40,000 men a month walked down the pier, and boarded either a ship to France or a ferry to New York on their way to England. For many, the walk down the Piermont pier was their final walk on American soil".

The Turning Point has less solemnity but more metaphysically. It is a few steps below the street level under a restaurant on the first floor. I'm guessing it has less than 50 seats, but with a full Bar just steps away] so every note of Chris's violin music can be clearly heard. Another comfort asset of the space is its design more as a restaurant than a stadium or theater which permits the convenience of tables on which drinks and food can be served during the performance -comfort and convenience !

From its web site, I learned that this "Home Of Great Music" has existed since 1978 at this location. The list reads of performers is long and impressive: Arlo Guthrie, Kris Kristofferson, Dave Mason, Poco, Orleans, Bela Fleck, Bill Monroe, Joan Osborne, Christine Lavin, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Richie Havens, Janis Ian, Rick Danko just to name a few, shows with over 47 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Because it's not a huge venue like a theater or stadium, it is a space where great music artists wish to share their artistry eye ball to eye ball. Chris prefers to do solo performances where the music he composes is so shared. His offering embraces and invokes almost the entire spectrum of string instruments. It invokes the quote "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence". The ticket price, like the Turning point and the Village size, are just right in size - $21.20.

Chris will be performing on Wednesday April 6 at 730 PM. Call for reservations at 845-359-1089.

Masks will not be necessary, but proof of vaccination will be.

I close by mentioning the Village has quite a few different eateries, all wonderful and within walking distance, which makes for a pleasant mid-week escape.