Florida Keys Piano Bar & Cocktail Lounge

The “Piano Man” has returned to downtown Melbourne.  Piano virtuoso, John Ryan, is now appearing at his own venue, the Florida Keys Piano Bar, located next door to Island Pasta on New Haven Avenue.  John has long dreamed of a place to not only showcase his extraordinary talent but provide an opportunity for others to likewise demonstrate theirs. The bar should prove to be both an ideal location and a state of the art facility for music and entertainment.  Long known for his eclectic repertoire of music, including the classic piano masters, pop, Broadway and jazz, John is the consummate entertainer.  His complex arrangements belie his relying on the printed page, rather he plays from memory with a savant’s ear. This is not to say that John is not conversant with the intricacies of written music for he is a composer in his own right, and his compositions have been performed for international audiences.  In order to have the various facets of his music publishing, recording and performing career under one roof, he formed Ryan Music Inc. (To learn more about Ryan Music, go to www.ryanmusic.com).
 
John’s talents were evident at an early age when he would hear a tune and then pick it out on the family piano. By his teen years he was working professionally around the Space Coast as a much in-demand solo pianist.  However, it’s a little known fact that when he was twenty-one, he became a firefighter with the city of Melbourne and remained with the department for twenty-five years---all the while continuing to perform regularly. The music aside, the lounge in itself is a thing to behold. The building was stripped to the bare walls and the reconstruction was undertaken with the music in mind. With understated taste, the atmosphere is one of quiet elegance--no honky tonk here. The circular bar set toward the rear of the room and the tables and chairs throughout lend an air of sophistication to the surroundings. The custom-designed sound system allows for fine tuning of whatever entertainment may be taking place. The Yahama grand piano, the focal point of the lounge, is located in the front window on a low stage providing every seat an unobstructed view.  Passersby will surely be intrigued by what is taking place within.

And what is taking place within will normally be John at the piano from 7pm until 11pm, Wednesday thru Saturday evenings. The lounge will open at 5pm on those four days and appropriate recorded music will be featured until 7pm. Once a month on a Sunday, there will be concerts featuring a variety of musical genres.  For these events, tables will be removed and concert style seating arranged. Advance tickets will be available. At other times such as off-Sundays, Monday and Tuesday, the lounge will be available for private events.  Florida Keys offers full bar service and features a selection of cocktails specifically tailored to the venue.  Additionally, fine wines are available by the bottle or glass. Without leaving your seat, light snacks may be ordered from Island Pasta next door. For an evening of first class entertainment in a sophisticated setting, there is no better choice than the Florida Keys Piano Bar.


(Featured in the Brevard Dining Guide - www.SpaceCoastDining.com)