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CD Reviews: Best of 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009”
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Posted by: editoron Monday, February 15, 2010 - 06:04 PM |
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By: Edward Blanco
The International Jazz Solo Piano Festival of 2009 comprised a three-part concert series held in March 2009 in three German cities. The first two concerts were held at the Steinway-Haus concert halls in Hamburg and Munich. This recording represents the culmination of the series where three piano virtuosos perform three pieces each in the last concert at the Small Hall of Konzerthaus Berlin. Prior to the series, Mathias Claus from Braunschweig, Bob Albanese of New Jersey and Ayako Shirasaki from Tokyo, had never met before but all shared a common bond in their mastery of the instrument and their sparkling interpretations of a classical repertoire—the primary focus of this first international jazz solo piano festival.
Mathias Claus was the first to take the stage performing on the Steinway Model D Grand Piano where he opened the short set with an especially charged original piece in “Hymn For The Lost Souls,” attacking the keys with blazing speed and shifting the mood in the end to finish on the light side to a rousing applause from the audience. His approach to “Old Folks” is more laid back and subtle culminating in a funky twist. The Sigmund Romberg/Oscar Hammerstein II “Softly As in A Morning Sunrise,” happens to be the most ambitious tune of his repertoire and of this series clocking in at nine-minutes plus, this dark colored classical-tinged movement steals the opening act.
The Rodgers and Hart standard “Manhattan” serves as the introduction for Bob Albanese whose turn on the piano was surprisingly short but very sweet nevertheless. His adaptation of this standard is especially warn and inviting albeit short and even jolly. An admirer of the great Bill Evans, Albanese tackles the legend's “Time Remembered,” one of the more somber pieces here where the pianist articulates the mood with elegance and a touch of class. On the final piece, perhaps the most intricate of the three, Albanese performs one of his originals with “Morning Nocturne” in commanding fashion leaving the stage to chants of approval.
Ayako Shirasaki added the final touches to an evening of piano virtuoso expression with an exceptionally playful yet respectful interpretation of Dizzy Gillespie's “Con Alma” then turning in a charming performance on the classical-waltz standard “Someday My Prince Will Come.”
For the finale piece of the set and concert, the lady challenges herself on a complicated rendition of Lennie Tristano's “Lennie's Pennies” running single-note and bass line runs with exceptional ease. Three master pianists and three extraordinary performances in one striking musical package, the Best of 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009 is a must recording for jazz aficionados with an appreciation of classical jazz. Mathias Claus, Bob Albanese and Ayako Shirasaki transform the beauty solo piano with superb technique and unquestioned talent reflective in the graceful music this first festival has produced.
Year:2009
Label: Jan Matthies Records
Artist Web:www.jammathies.com
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