“I can’t even perform that any more, it’s too difficult!” he says, laughing. He dismisses himself as a terrible time keeper (“I have to play everything rubato”), and in bands he would use his piano to convey songs to the group before gradually reducing his part. So he was apprehensive about how Van Gogh producer Billy Conway — an esteemed drummer — would respond. “I thought he was going to shit. But he said, ‘Do more of that, open it up, just hit a chord, let there be silence. There’s too much information on most records now.’ ”

For the Lizard Lounge shows, Berlin has invited 20 different acts (solo and bands) to open for him each night — everyone from Amanda Palmer to Mittens to people he played with all those years ago in Orchestra Luna. Each will perform a song of his or her choice; Berlin will follow. “If it’s 20 people, seven minutes each, starting at 9, that puts me on at 11:30. And then what do I play? I’m still trying to figure that out.”

Rick Berlin & Friends | Lizard Lounge, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge | Jan 27 + 28 | 617.547.0759

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On the Web:

Rick Berlin: //www.rickberlin.com/