The Cat in the Cream was filled to the brim Saturday evening for the highly anticipated senior recital of pianist Adam Faulk.
The soft glow of the lights and calm atmosphere made a large group of onlookers feel as if they were at an intimate gathering of friends. As the concert began and the musicians walked on stage with smoothness in each step, the roar of the audience was almost deafening.
When Faulk took the stage, scanning the crowd with kind eyes and a bright smile, calls of encouragement and support rippled through the crowd, impatiently pleading that he begin.

The room was silent as he sat before the piano, but when he began to play, such a glorious sound arose from the keys that the audience erupted in applause and support. The piano was silk to Faulk’s touch, and the notes flowed together like molten gold. At times the piano swelled with joy, and at others crept skillfully through emotion-filled passages.
Accompanying Faulk were some of the most well-known and highly respected musicians on campus: first-year Rob Adkins on bass, junior Calvin Barnes on tenor saxophone, sophomore Jacob Fiss-Hobart an alto saxophone, sophomore Andrae Murchison on trombone, first-year Kassa Overall on drums, and, of course, sophomore Josiah Woodson on trumpet. Jason Brown (OC ’01) returned to Oberlin to show his support of Faulk and accompany him on drums. First-year TreZure Taylor also performed an amazing rendition of D’Angelo’s “Brown Sugar” that almost sent the audience into hysterics.
Other highlights included a beautifully performed “Amazing Grace” and an original piece by Faulk entitled “25” which was a favorite with the audience. Faulk also pulled out a few covers which included “Invitation” by Bronislau, “What’s New” by Bob Haggard and “Time Will Tell” by Bobby Watson.
At the end of the recital Faulk received an instant standing ovation, with his usual endearing charm.
“It was so much more than I expected; I expected just a jazz concert, but this had so much more...feeling,” first-year Zeeba Daruwalla said.