Benjamin Engeli - Serenade - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Van Veen - 24 Minimal Preludes [COMPACT DISCS] date 08/26/2016

Bob Mover is one of the legends of the modern jazz alto saxophone. After stints with Charles Mingus and Chet Baker, he went on to become one distinct voices of his instrument as well as a mentor to many. Bob Mover and pianist Tony Castellano began playing together in Miami in 1968, when Bob was 16. In fact, Bob considers Tony to have been an important mentor during his growth as a jazz musician. Their friendship and musical camaraderie continued, including gigs in New York and several tours of Europe, until Mr. Castellano's untimely death in 1999, a year after these recordings were made, at the age of 64Both Tony and Bob were strongly influenced by playing with Ira Sullivan and by Tony's twin brother Dolph, who is also a great pianist (featured on another Soul Kid Jazz , SKJ-3269). One might term this duo to be what is called tunesmiths, based on their shared affinity for truly beautiful, yet neglected songs, which is reflected in their choice of material for InchOne SoulInch. The dynamic range of the music goes from a quiet whisper to a thunderous storm, with all the passion and intelligent taste that two masters of their craft can produce. This session was recorded on a snowy night in December, 1998 by master engineer Patrick Lo Re in Manhattan, New York City at his One Soul Studios on E. 31st Street. The magnificent Centennial Steinway D piano purchased for the studio had just arrived the day before so this was the first time that this refurbished Vintage Steinway had been played. Along with Castellano's beautiful playing there is the added treat of having an instrument like this recorded by Mr. Lore. An engineer who truly understands the subtleties involved in the recording of Acoustic Music. Notably Lol Re successfully captures the real warmth of both Castellano's delicate touch and the organic breathiness of Mover's saxophone tone. I am sure all listeners will

Anyone wishing to engage with Johannes Brahms' piano music must first let go of any notion of virtuosic brilliance or superficial effects and subordinate themselves to the depths of the composer's emotional world. In the case of Brahms, a series of questions that form only one of several important interpretative criteria for other composers emerge as the performer's principal task What emotions are expressed in the score? How does the musical structure hold it all together? What are the interconnections between the motives? How much interpretative freedom is required or, in some places, permitted? These questions arise almost everywhere in the score, which makes playing his music so very exciting and fulfilling. Brahms places exceptionally high demands on the performer, and yet, the greatest difficulty lies in navigating the tension between the overwhelming emotional intensity on the one hand and an ever-present clarity of form on the other. As a member of the award-winning Tecchler Trio, the Swiss pianist Benjamin Engeli has become a sought-after chamber music partner and song accompanist in all-imaginable formations worldwide. Even when he plays alone, he always plays outstandingly, which he proves on this, his first solo album.