Like many early fans, I first learned about “Hamilton” from watching Lin-Manuel Miranda perform a version of the opening number at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word.
I’ll never forget how much I loved Miranda’s alliteration and delivery of what would soon become a musical theater classic. But what I loved just as much as his words was the accompaniment by the piano player Alex Lacamoire.
By the time of the legendary White House event Lacamoire had already won a Tony and a Grammy for his work on “In The Heights.”
That night, he played with a mixture of unabashed exuberance and steady professionalism. His skillful playing of the opening chords was actually the first thing about the video that let me know I was in for something special.
As the years went by I learned a lot about Miranda, but also a lot about Lacamoire.
He was the music director and co-arranger for “Wicked.” He was the music director, orchestrator and arranger for “In The Heights.” These would be the roles he would later fill on “Hamilton,” in addition to playing the keyboards and leading the band for live performances.
Lacamoire has a lot of responsibilities as the arranger/orchestrator. He decides what instruments play certain parts of the score, as well as the feel of the songs and their tempo. He does all of this in collaboration with Miranda and the other members of the “Hamilton” team, and in this capacity he has helped define the sound of this exceptional musical.
He was the one who saw that “You’ll Be Back” would work well as a British Invasion style pop song. He chose a banjo to play the guitar part in “The Room Where it Happens,” one of the most delightfully original musical aspects of “Hamilton.” All of the sheet music the “Hamilton” band plays is orchestrated by Lacamoire.
Perhaps most importantly, he was the one who suggested recording the “Hamilton” original cast album over a longer period of time than most cast albums. This helped make the album more sonically pleasing and complex. If you’ve never seen the show, but greatly enjoyed the layered cast album, then you have Lacamoire to thank.
One of my favorite things about Lacamoire is his optimism. He wears a smile in every video I’ve seen him in. He gives the impression he is in love with his craft and wouldn’t want to do anything else.
Sometimes, I think of members of the “Hamilton” team as Peanuts characters. To me, Miranda is Snoopy. He has a ton of energy, and excitedly dances around as he creates great work.
I think of Lacamoire as Schroeder, and not just because of his skill at playing the piano. The other Peanuts characters can’t dance without Schroeder's playing.
In “Hamilton,” when everybody's dancing and the band's top volume, it's because of Alex Lacamoire.
jpastern@indiana.edu | @jessepasternack
