Record Reviews

ARIEL LANYI ~ 31 BARS KADIMA COLLECTIVE 07 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 1st album by Israeli Jazz prodigy Ariel LanyiFind albums by this artist. It is extremely difficult to write anything about this album due to the fact that it probably is the most sensational jazz recording ever, considering the fact that Ariel was only 8 years old (YES EIGHT) when this music was recorded. Of course there are a few well-known piano prodigies in music’s history, but surely none of these played improvised music and free jazz. Ariel plays classical piano since the age of 4 and discovered jazz accidentally (at the tender age of 7) by pressing an Earl Hines link on the Net. He started to take lessons with Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist, leader of the Kadima Collective (a group of Israeli musicians dedicated to improvised music) and soon was discovered to possess exceptional gift for improvisation and a musical attitude of a matured musician. The music included here was recorded on several occasions live and in the studio during the months proceeding his 9th Birthday, when this album was released. The album contains mostly Ariel’s original compositions and improvisations, primarily because composition, free improvisation and Avant-Garde are the main attraction of jazz for him. The few standards that appear here are substantially altered, as appropriate for his genre. Some of the pieces are solo piano performances, others are duos with Israel’s most important improvisers (all of which could easily be Ariel’s grandfathers), like Harold RubinFind albums by this artist (clarinet), Jess KorenFind albums by this artist (sax), Jerry GarvalFind albums by this artist (drums) and Jean Claude Jones (bass). Whatever the starting point of each piece, they all show Ariel’s enthusiasm for free improvisation and his unique mixing of styles, ideas and influences. One thing is sure; nobody in this world would guess, by listening to this music without the knowledge of the facts, that this is a kid. The music is completely mature and exceptionally developed. It’s almost scary to imagine what this kid will be up to in a few years? Check it out for yourself!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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ARIEL LANYI ~ ORIGAMI: PIANO SOLO KADIMA COLLECTIVE 12 (Barcode: 634479580017) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 2nd album by Israeli Jazz prodigy Ariel LanyiFind albums by this artist, 9 years old at the time this music was recorded. This time completely alone at the piano, without any guidance from his older peers, Ariel displays his exceptional talent even more forcefully then on his debut album. Out of the 10 tracks on this album, 7 are his own compositions / improvisations and just 3 are standards (by Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, John ColtraneFind albums by this artist and John LennonFind albums by this artist / Paul McCartneyFind albums by this artist). I really don’t know what to say here, except that this is scary stuff, when a 9 years old person displays the maturity and skills worthy of a fully grown up and accomplished musician. There are no gimmicks here, none whatsoever. Just the kid, his piano and the unbelievable music he makes. There is no way on earth (or above) that anybody listening to this music blindfolded could have guessed the age of the performer. I’m not a sappy sentimentalist, who looks for divine sources for inspiration, but there must be some kind of divine intervention here at work. The stuff Ariel can do at his current age are often never achieved by people ten times older then him who played piano their entire life. I know you don’t believe me – no problem – just listen.

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