Record Reviews

DAVID ARTHUR SKINNER ~ CUBISTIC BOOGIE LOSEN 140 (Barcode: 7090025831409) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is a solo piano album by British (resident in Norway) pianist / composer David Arthur SkinnerFind albums by this artist. It presents twelve pieces, four of which are original compositions by Skinner and the rest are standards, arranged by Skinner. On the album Skinner pays homage to "old Jazz", playing Stride, Swing and Boogie-woogie tunes, which have been either originally composed as such or skillfully adapted by Skinner to these early Jazz environments. The music is a mixture of good taste nostalgia with a dash of humor, and is a wonderful breath of fresh air in the crazy world we all live in. Skinner plays with elegance and typical British nonchalance, which makes the music sound less formal and limited than it might usually appear, which is doing it a great service. His own compositions blend perfectly into the standards and sound as good as the well-known pieces. Overall this album is a wonderful experience, fresh, entertaining and yet far from being trivial and most importantly doing a great service to the tradition, which gets often forgotten (if not obliterated). Keeping this music alive and kicking is in itself a good deed, and considering how well it is done it deserves our gratitude and admiration. Grab a bottle of good wine, dim the lights, relax and put this music on – it will transform you a Century back in time, when class and good taste ruled.

Updated: 11/03/2016Posted: 11/03/2016

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DAVID ARTHUR SKINNER ~ SKINNER PLAYS SKINNER LOSEN 171 (Barcode: 7090025831713) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second solo piano album on the Norwegian LosenFind albums on this label Records by the British, resident in Norway, pianist / composer David Arthur SkinnerFind albums by this artist. The album, as the title suggests, presents ten original compositions by Skinner, which he, according to the liner notes, treats as if they were standards not written by him. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and was engineered Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, with spectacular sonic result. The music presents a diverse stylistic kaleidoscope of Jazz related sub-genres, which Skinner skillfully applies to his compositions, creating a wonderful, witty and graceful piece of music, which is a true delight to listen to from start to finish. Although technically brilliant, Skinner´s playing is first and foremost about the feel and the soul of the music. His playful touch on the keyboard is simply magical. There is not much more one can say about this album, other than invite everybody to get hold of a copy and enjoy. There are no false pretenses here, no theatrics and no show-off – simply just music, a rare approach these days and therefore even more welcome. Connoisseurs of piano Jazz in general and solo piano recordings in particular should find this album irresistible, entertaining and educational all at once. For the second time in a row Skinner wins using simplicity and honesty, two skills rarely used in Art these days! Well done indeed!

Updated: 16/05/2017Posted: 16/05/2017

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