While most of the world takes it easy in August, for Ran it was a busy month. One highlight was his August 31 afternoon show at Goddard House, an assisted living center in Brookline.

Ran played a set of popular songs, including "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," "Take the A Train," and "Dancing in the Dark."

Sensing there were some aspiring vocalists in the audience, Ran took several requests for singalongs after his prepared set. Residents belted out "And the Band Played On," "Summertime," and "Girl from Ipanema."

Ran also was featured in the Goddard House newsletter.

Along with this show, two other events we told you about last month -- the open forum on Shostakovich on August 15 and the Ran & Friends concert at Rutman's Violins on August 24 -- went well. Thanks to everyone who attended or participated in these events.

Ran's got cat fever for the next couple of months as he prepares for the fall student performance October 30 at the New England Conservatory.

Each semester, Ran organizes an evening of performances by advanced students in NEC's Contemporary Improvisation department. The theme for the fall semester show is "Cat People."

The evening will include performances of music from Jacques Tourneur's famous 1942 film of that title and other movies with literal or figurative feline themes, as well as several film clips. Ran hopes the show will prompt the audience to reflect on various cat metaphors, such as "who is the cat and who is the mouse?" and "is the cat the killer or the victim?"

The concert, which is free, is at Jordan Hall at 8 p.m.

If you're wondering, that's my cat Tex in the photo. See you next month.
--Steve