Keys to Resilience: John Bayless

Episode SummaryMy special guest for this episode is pianist John Bayless, whose story is featured in the incredible documentary Left Alone Rhapsody: The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless. In our conversation, John reflects on life before and after his stroke.  Post-stroke, John's resilience shines through as he embarks on a remarkable path of self-recovery and discovery. Teaching himself to play with just his left hand, he defied the odds and embraced a new chapter. John's story and music  make this episode a must-listen, just as the documentary is a must-watch.About John BaylessJohn Bayless is an internationally renowned concert pianist, composer, improviser, and prolific recording artist.  A protégé of Leonard Bernstein and a Yamaha artist, John is a crossover artist known for how he blends classical training and piano technique with popular music in imaginative improvisations. Despite a debilitating stroke halting his illustrious 30-year career, John refused to surrender. Instead, he embarked on a second act, teaching himself to play with just his left hand. This story is brilliantly shared in Stewart Schulman's documentary Left Alone Rhapsody: The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless. From This EpisodeLeft Alone Rhapsody: The Musical Memoir of Pianist John BaylessWatch the trailer for Left Alone Rhapsody.Watch at Reel Abilities Film Festival in New York City on April 4th, with a live performance by John Bayless on April 8th Free Tickets HereWatch at the Sarasota Film Festival on April 10th Tickets HereWatch at the Jewish Film Festival of Pittsburgh on May 2nd, with a live performance by John Bayless Tickets HereWatch the Long Island Premiere on May 9th at the Jeanne Rimsky Theater , with a live performance by John BaylessThe John Bayless Fund for Brain ResearchYamaha's DisklavierMusic featured in the episode:Circle of Life, from the album "Circle of Life: The Music of Elton John in the Style of Bach"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,  from the album "Circle of Life: The Music of Elton John in the Style of Bach"  Find and Follow Carole and Wisdom Shared:https://www.caroleblueweiss.com/Subscribe to  YouTube channelFollow and send a message on FacebookFollow and send a message on LinkedInFollow on InstagramFollow on TikTokFollow on ThreadsThe Wisdom Shared TeamAudio Engineering by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting WorksCo-Producer and Marketing Coordinator: Kayla NelsonProduction Assistant: Becki Leigh