Drew Tretick
Drew Tretick
Odds are, if you have walked through Downtown Disney in Anaheim on a Friday or Saturday night, you might have seen or heard a violin performance in the space in front of the Naples restaurant. The performer? That’s him above.
Drew Tretick is not only a very gifted musician, he’s one heck of a nice guy. It seems like he takes time to chat with every person who approaches him between performances. Signing autographs or personalizing compact discs, he’s a genuine find.
I came to discover him here several years ago while staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. Our room faced Downtown Disney and was almost directly above the gate into the hotel. Coming back to the room after a day in the Park, we were looking to relax for a while before heading off in search of dinner.
Opening the sliding glass door to the small patio from the room, I was captured by John Barry’s haunting melody from the soundtrack to “Dances With Wolves” performed on a violin. Now I am an admitted motion picture soundtrack junkie and he had my immediate attention. Drew’s performance took me right back to the ride to Fort Sedgewick with John Dunbar riding across the Dakotas.
Needless to say, I ended up sitting there on the patio for more than a few minutes. Got a glass of something refreshing and just took in the melodies. Dinner came a bit later than planned that night, but it was well worth the time listening to Drew.
Check out his web site for selections from his compact discs. Among my favorites, other than Dances With Wolves, are Somewhere in Time (also by John Barry), the Paganini Rhapsody, The American President, Ave Maria, Phantom of the Opera and what most people think of as Drew’s signature performance, Con te Patiro or Time To Say Goodbye. That piece has been used by Olympic Gold Medal Champion skaters, including Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002.
He has three compact discs currently available with another coming out this summer, with more movie soundtrack selections. From his web site - www.drewtretick.com, “Drew's much anticipated film album with the London Symphony Orchestra is scheduled for release in 2007. Drew collaborated with Bob Krogstad (a gold album arranger for Michael Crawford, Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, and others) and recorded with the LSO at Abbey Road Studios.” And he’s also been thinking of other albums for the future. Some thoughts have included a Christmas album and maybe even one with a Disney theme.
Check out his web site for all of his CD’s and more. And if you’re in Downtown Disney on a Friday or Saturday evening, be sure to stop by and say hello!
Like You To Meet...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007