Posts Tagged Piano
Archive
October 25, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
St. Vincent: MassEducation
St. Vincent MassEducation Loma Vista I rather like St. Vincent’s music – but just recently, I watched her rather amazing performance at Austin City Limits (a highlight, topped only by Sir Paul of Macca) – and commented that it would be nice if she had some songs. That’s where it all falls over. Art as […]Archive
September 1, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 378
Keith Jarrett, The Survivors’ Suite (1977) Some days I feel like if all that was left in the world, music-wise, was albums by Keith Jarrett then that would be just fine. Hit and miss, a little bit, sure, but the hit-stuff is just so fucking ON. So good. Here’s an example. Killer quartet – his […]Archive
August 19, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Tom Rogerson with Brian Eno: Finding Shore
Tom Rogerson with Brian Eno Finding Shore Dead Oceans Tom Rogerson is from the British experimental rock trio Three Trapped Tigers. Where, in that context he was vocalist and keyboardist here he submits his piano offerings – with some synths and electronic ideas – to ambient-music’s overlord Brian Eno. It’s collaboration in that Mercurical Eno […]Archive
July 31, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Roger Eno: Dust of Stars
Roger Eno Dust of Stars Painted World Music Roger Eno – the Mike McGear of Ambient Music? The Pat McEnroe of line calls? It’s a churlish chap that mocks this master pianist, I reckon. He’s not only been involved in some of his brother’s great recordings, he has made plenty of his own. Laugh if […]Archive
June 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
James Rhodes: Fire On All Sides
Fire On All Sides James Rhodes Quercus James Rhodes, the classical pianist with rock’n’roll swagger, is a prodigy-level player that’s not there to please the purists but is – in his love of the music and his ability as conduit for it – far closer to being a purist than any of the snobs he […]Archive
June 3, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Nils Frahm: Encores 1 [EP]
Nils Frahm Encores 1 [ep] Erased Tapes Earlier this year Nils Frahm delivered his new album, perhaps his finest and one of the best by anyone this year. All Melody was the first delivered results from his newly created home-studio, though now we have the proof that those sessions served up an embarrassment of riches […]Archive
May 7, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Five Albums I’m Loving Right Now: Anna van der Leij
Anna van jer Leij works with “the fantastic folks at Chamber Music New Zealand”, and they’re touring The New Yorker music critic and author Alex Ross with New Zealand mezzo soprano Bianca Andrew and STROMA – an ensemble made up of a selection of NZSO players and pianist Emma Sayers. They mostly perform modern chamber […]Archive
May 3, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 114 – Roy Brown
Welcome to episode 114 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and Le Petite Chocolat. I had a chat with Roy Brown – he’s a Hawke’s Bay musician and runs the legendary venue, The Cabana. Roy’s own music career has seen him record albums as part of bands and as a solo act, he’s […]Archive
April 6, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor has died. The legendary pianist recently celebrated his 89th birthday. What a legend. What a legacy. He took what Art Tatum started and freed it. That’s a simple description – but it’s how I’ve always heard him. Taylor – along with Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler and John Coltrane was one of the towering […]Archive
March 18, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Alan Brown: Composure
Alan Brown Composure (Independent/alanbrown.co.nz) Auckland-based composer and musician Alan Brown has been part of various scenes including some jazz/fusion/funk and now solo/ambient. In 2014 he recorded a three-hour session of solo piano – just him and a Steinway in the Concert Chamber of the Auckland Town Hall. He added some synths, some very subtle treatments, […]Archive
March 15, 2018 by Simon Sweetman