Posts Tagged Piano
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December 9, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Harold Budd
Harold Budd has died. The composer and pianist was 84. It’s said he died due to complications from coronavirus. Budd was a poet, an avant-garde composer, a musician for hire and someone who released solo albums and collaborated – including John Foxx of Ultravox and a long-running partnership with Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. He […]Archive
December 6, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 6
Little Stevie Wonder, The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962) Stevie Wonder hated being called “Little Stevie” (and then “Little Stevie Wonder”) but he was 11 and 12 and 13 years old. He was little, and new on the scene – little literally and figuratively. And though he was a wonder – a genius – […]Archive
November 26, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 11
Tori Amos, Under The Pink (1994) It’s been a pretty good year for reappraising Tori Amos. I’ve been back through most of the catalogue, I talked about her live on air (RNZ), I loved her memoirand I got hooked on the old stuff all over again. Someone kindly gave me a copy of Boys For […]Archive
November 16, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Dave Brubeck: Lullabies
Dave Brubeck Lullabies Verve This is Dave Brubeck’s final album – released just now, but recorded a decade ago. It’s a set of charming-enough lullabies, the real weight of them can be measured by the wait I guess – and the timing now of release; early next month it is the jazz legend’s centenary so […]Archive
November 15, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Fred Hersch: Songs From Home
Fred Hersch Songs From Home Palmetto Records Covid records. There’ll be many more to come. What to do when you can’t play a show – when you can’t get together with the full band, when you can’t do your job but need to try to make some money; more than that need to connect – […]Archive
November 13, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Enrico Pieranunzi: Frame
Enrico Pieranunzi Frame Cam Jazz When I last caught up with Enrico Pieranunzi’s playing it was in trio form, a live gig that captured one of drum-legend Paul Motian’s final performances behind the kit. It was a devastatingly good set – one I revisit, but beyond that I’ve forgotten to check in on Peiranunzi, an […]Archive
November 5, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Michael Silverman (w/ Jeff Lorber): Human Spirit
Michael Silverman (w/ Jeff Lorber) Human Spirit Autumn Hill Records Michael Silverman has been a jobbing composer and player of TV themes (Two And A Half Men, The Good Wife) and he and composing partner Jeff Lorber have dabbled in smooth jazz and light pop orchestrations as well as making music separately. Here they combine […]Archive
October 31, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Larry Willis: I Fall In Love Too Easily
Larry Willis I Fall In Love Too Easily Highnote This was the final session for journeyman jazz pianist and composer Larry Willis. He died just shortly after this 2019 set of recordings – released in 2020 as his final album. It’s a beautiful set of tunes from a hugely talented writer and player. In his […]Archive
October 31, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Jerry Granelli Trio: Plays The Music of Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison
The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays The Music of Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison Rarenoise Records Drummer Jerry Granelli has released a couple of handfuls of albums as a leader, he’s worked with others too (saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom) but he’s best known as the drummer for Vince Guaraldi’s trio – specifically then for the Charlie […]Archive
October 21, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
George Fenton / Simon Chamberlain: The Piano Framed
George Fenton / Simon Chamberlain The Piano Framed Shogun Music Ltd British composer George Fenton has worked across all mediums – radio dramas and TV, documentary and feature narrative film, theatre, absolutely the works. And within that there are some longstanding collaborations and connections, with the BBC, for the films of Ken Loach and then […]Archive
October 14, 2020 by Simon Sweetman