James Booker -- Professor and Toy Piano Genius!
342633
Folks down in the Crescent City have a particular way of describing a piano player that embodies the rhythm, soul, and funky boogie woogie that permiates every steamy inch of New Orleans.  That person becomes known as a professor -- the most famous example being Professor Longhair.  James Booker -- eye patch, narcotic nature, wickedly talented, and dead too soon -- is the premier professor.  And this record, recorded, I believe, in Los Angeles, is a remarkable testiment to Booker's professorial prowess.
Put the record on, and, after a brief bit of atmospheric studio hum, you'll be treated to the opening rollicking notes of a radical reworking of the Ledbelly classic, Goodnight Irene.  True, there are other recordings of Booker laying into this tune, but none of them feature the backing of a swinging unit of crack New Orleans musicians -- saxophoist Lee Allen and percussionist Didimus, among others.  And let me tell you, the tune swings, bringing together the pain and joy of the blues.  As Albert King used to say, "if this doesn't get to you, you've got a hole in your soul!"  I dare you to not get up and dance.
Every track lives up to this standard.  Check out "Feel So Bad" -- and when Booker sings that he feels like "a ball game on a rainy day" you'll feel it to.  Or the New Orleans second-line rhythms and old time parlor melodies of "African Gumbo" and "Tico Tico" -- the band wails, Booker deftly dances across the keys, playing off the melody and improvising lightning, soulful runs with his right hand, and you'll feel a strong urge for a libation, some red beans and rice, and a good place to dance the night away.  Tired of the long, overdone, guitar-wanking, Allman Brothers-inspired takes on "Stormy Monday"?  Check out the "Hound Dog/Stormy Monday" medley for a return to the tunes simpler roots.  And, of course, not one, but two versions of the New Orleans standard "Junco Partner".
And last, a note about the piano featured in this recording.  Legend has it that Booker had a roomful of grand pianos to choose from for this recording -- and instead chose an old upright toy piano (perhaps a "piano forte" is a better description).  The producer of the session tried to talk him out of it; but you'll be glad Booker stuck to his guns, for the piano sound on this record is positively joyous -- just what you'd expect from the bluescape and parlor of a great Professor.
Booker's gone now, far too soon.  But if you buy this record, shake a leg, raise a glass, shout out "Irene" with the chorus of Goodnight Irene (and you will), I think you'll understand.  And who knows -- maybe somehow Booker will know and he'll raise his eyepatch and wink at you.  I guarantee it's worth a shot!
2466387
Previous reviewers have commented on the talent that Dr. John exibits - a lost art for sure. If you like piano music, this one is a must!
2426602
This 2-CD album featuring the pianism of Maurizio Pollini is an extremely fine presentation of a variety of piano works by the outstanding Italian pianist.  Armed with brilliant technical prowess, Pollini re-creates these masterpieces with vitality, spontaneity, and great clat.  Although some find the emotional content of his playing somewhat lacking, Pollini makes no apology for his performances, and I believe he wins the day ultimately.  The emotional content of this music is written into the scores by the composers, and in playing them scrupulously the pianist renders all due feeling.  I find nothing lacking in these performances, but rather an impactful presentation of this generous and varied selection of works.  From Beethoven and Schumann through Chopin, Liszt, and Debussy to Stravinsky and Webern, Pollini brings us magnificently performed and appropriately interpreted music which affords us all the aesthetic delight we can ask for.

The recordings by Deutsche Grammophon's technicians date from 1972 to 1998, and the sound is excellent throughout the 150+ minutes of music included here.  I recommend this recording most heartily to all lovers of piano music!
2583654
Call this one an important lesson in the key of life. To celebrate the 300th birthday of everyone's fave instrument, author James Parakilas has written a book at once awesome and astounding, a stunning cultural history, told in vivid detail and ample anecdotes and stunning color photographs, of the musical and social roles that the piano has played in its long and amazing career. (It became so popular, for instance, as the result of not just ingenious mechanical design but also ingenious marketing.) An important book whether your tastes run to Beatles or Berlin, Liszt or Liberace. Tickle on!
1128984
I never thought I would be able to learn to play piano! I have severe dementia from a childhood injury and I never understood how to play piano until I found this book. playing these tunes is the most fun I have ever had in my life! dear author I want to thank you for writing such an amazing book! it really improve my life!
2857825
This was a great  purchase !  A gift to the ears,  and soul !!! Thanks Maestro Antonio Adolfo for putting this CD  together,and for your always wonderful piano !  A marvelous mixture of sounds , and music, fantastic musicians and the always beautiful voice of Carol Saboya. This is a CD to listen over, and over !!!
390482
I have purchased many different classical piano collection books for "easy" piano and this one is BY FAR, the best!
My sincere thanks to whoever made it all happen.  I highly recommend it to anyone who is or has students in their late-2nd/3rd year or intermediate level piano skills.  Just hope it isn't another Hal Leonard book that the binding will fall apart (probably will, but I'll deal with it!)  I am having all my advanced beginners purchasing this book for themselves.  Again, my sincere thanks!
4140578
It has often been said that Liszt conquered the piano, while Chopin seduced it.  Similarly, a great classical pianist was once asked what was more difficult to play--a bravura Liszt piece or the slow sections of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.  His response--the Liszt, despite its overt virtuosity and blizzard of notes, was easy to play, whereas the slow pieces such as Moonlight were extremely difficult to play well.  German composer Hans Otte's "The Book of Sounds" seduces the piano in such a fashion that Chopin himself would surely be pleased.  This fragile, delicate, often ethereal, but deeply affecting work places enormous value on each and every note, and utilizes passages of silence and space between notes to astounding effect.  At times, it is somewhat reminiscent of the best work of jazz pianists Bill Evans and Paul Bley, both of whom created works in which what is not played is as important as what is.  It is works such as this that refute the juvenile notion that loudness and a high dynamic level are necessary to create intensely felt music.  Sometimes, the slowest and most covert music has the greatest emotional impact.  ECM and Herbert Henck deserve plaudits for providing wide exposure for this unforgettable music, and we can only hope that the composer's follow-up to the Book of Sounds referenced in the liner notes will soon appear on disc as well.
1627629
I bought this CD because i needed to confirm my judgement that this outstanding pianist could bring some fresh air by playing Listz with such a great talent? In a previous review of the Aldeburgh Recital by Perahia  (Sony SK 46437) i was totally impressed by his interpretation of the  hungarian rapsody number 12, asking why he did not record yet the Complete  Hungarian Suite. The judgement is confirmed when listening the Rapsody  Espagnole which has less degree of complexity compared to the more famous  & traditionnal Hungarian Masterpieces... Nevermind,  the rythm,  thematic melody and emotion are still present and Perahia made a fantastic  play, keeping the music integrity without unnecessary artifacts. And some  congratulation for Sony having recorded this piece with a perfect high  definition sound!  Particular attention from the third minute when the  major theme is coming again and will return in a brilliant final. Perahia  is outstanding there and will stay as such with an incredible  facility  going crecendo. Then will start the right hand "trille" in a  pseudo waltz sequence.....then at the tenth minute come some deep sound  waves before reaching the major theme again in a amazing final.  In Annees  de Pelerinage the perfection & interpretation by Brendel seems to be  superior but difference is so small! Mephisto Walz (from Faust Them) is  another achievement in the record. Franck & Listz are close in their  education, they got same music teacher and both were influenced by religion  culte and J.S Bach! This prelude choral by Franck has definitely some  analogy with Listz and Perahia gives a full dimension of the musical  creativity of both talented composers.  But if the CD needs a special  award, it is with the Listz's Spanish Rapsody! Bravo Mr Perahia, We may  recommend this record as a must buy because it really deserves it.....
1704933
Rob is one of the most gifted piano players and composers in the game. Anything he puts out is magic and this latest release is no exception. I highly recommend it!
4553491
More proof  of what I have been saying, more proof his is our modern day piano master . Classical musicians may have a problem with that, but that is where he gets his skill set from in the first place. anyone interested in learning funky riffs as we say in the guitar word from a classically trained master. Here;s your first baby step. where you go from here is on you. Me I love this stuff, okay i am biased.
2911862
I loved every song in this book, and you will too!
Shackley's arrangements are richly written and interesting to play. These songs are also just sheer fun to play, probably because he uses the whole keyboard from the lowest bass notes to the highest sparkling treble keys. My listeners are amazed at the sound and always enjoy his arrangements because they stand out! Some songs are trickier to play and need some practice, but it's so worth the effort!
3294129
07-07-2014  it seems to me that Alfred Brendel could produce a terrific recording with even the "Liverwurst Philharmonic," if required to.  L.O.L. !!  this is, to me, THE finest pianist of the 20th Century, as his Beethoven and Schubert and Mozart clearly demonstrate, but his Liszt is a sleeping jewel, if jewelry sleeps, that is--Ha Ha!  I first heard this great artist in this Concerto in Chicago back in 1972 0r 73, as a bachelor.  I was mesmerized then as I still am now.  His technique and his amazing key pressure are stupendous and defy any serious competition, even from the likes of Pehria, de la Rocha, Richter, Kempff or Gilels, et al------et ALLLLLLLLLLLL!!  Take my word for it and pick up this el cheapo Vox Box TODAY!  Not another minute later, as it is currently  at a very low price here.  Hopefully, you'll be one of the lucky ones to get it for the money.  You won't be disappointed, trust me.
  Included are the 2nd Concerto and the Totentanz plus both the b-minor and Dante Sonati and a smattering of misc. pieces,  all for which I paid a hefty $4.96.  the Orchestral accompaniment is supplied adroitly by Michael Gielen and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic's step-child, although I  suspect several players from one work for the other.
1748917
A Dear Friend Told Me About Kevin Kearns after Finding out My Passion for George Winston. Plus Liz Story's, "Solid Colours" CD.I became enraptured of the Threads that Lead From One CD to Another. Not Many Artists have that Gift of Not Losing Their Audience by Making Un~Necessary Changes. K.Kerns is One Pianist that Knows Restraint. Even tho'I had hoped to become a Pianist One Day, Alas My Talent Was Primarily For My Own Enjoyment and Friends. Lucky for Me, I can Live My Dream Via Artists that Are Magnificent. Geo. Winston, Liz Story, Kevin Kerns are just 3 that Make a Piano Sing as Beautifully as Enya Does Sing! When first told this was "New Age Jazz",I scoffed. Mr. Mel Torme,Miss Ella Fitzgerald,Miss Pearl Bailey, now They Were Jazz. Lest Not Leave Out THE SCAT MAN HIMSELF,Mr. Louis Armstrong! Yet, Piano is a fickle judgement of Personal Tastes. Diana Krall Moves Me as Well. Yet, a Soothing Piano not in a 'deminished fifth arrangement'has me at "Hello".This CD, Beyond the Sundail is Older, yet still listen on Amazon and You Can Hear that "Thread" I Mentioned. Mr. Benny Goodman looked for that Sound and finally captured it and we hear it still today. Enjoy Amazon and Their Passion Along with Music Partners that Deliver the Goods.
4224341
I love jazz and Billy Taylor is my favorite pianist.  He not only went to the same college as I did but the had the same theory professor, Dr. Undine Moore!  Great collection.
3265840
This Dvd was spectacular! I read the reviews before I bought this Dvd and I am so happy with my purchase! This dvd is so great to watch or even just to play to listen to the music (although I really highly recommend you watch it). The styles that he uses is unique, the energy is mindblowing, and the ways he plays on the piano using all the other parts but the keys is genius. I highly recommend this for any Jamie Cullum fan!
1521957
I loved every minute of it and was delighted and charmed by Feinstein's keen intelligence and analytic abilities.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time!  His meeting with Ira Gershwin turned out to be a huge gift to our own musical legacy.

The loss of George Gershwin at such a young age is right up there with the loss of Mozart.  Heaven only knows what they would have accomplished.

A few years ago, I was visiting the Reynolda House Museum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  They had an Aeolian-Skinner organ-on the same principle as a player piano.  At regularly scheduled times, it would play.  i was in the top part of the house, in the same room with the organ pipes, when it launched into "S'Wonderful".  It was euphoric!  I purchased three Aeolian-Skinner cds in an effort to find a copy, but to no avail.

I love Gershwin.  I love the Houston Opera version of Porgy and Bess better than any other.  I love Michael Feinstein, and I am hugely grateful for this wonderful book.