Record Reviews
1 Review Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | HOWARD RILEY ~ LISTEN TO HEAR
SLAM 2106 (Barcode: 5028386706724) ~ UK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017
This is a solo piano album by the British Jazz pianist / composer Howard RileyFind albums by this artist. It presents nineteen relatively short pieces, all but two composed by Riley, with the last two being two takes on the same standard.
Riley aged 80 is now in his seventh decade of activity, being a living legend as far as British Avant-Garde / Free Jazz / Improvised Music are concerned, with dozens of albums to his credit, including some of the most iconic recording of these genres in the late 1960s / early 1970s. But he continued to record wonderful music throughout the years and I have always considered him as one of my favorite British Jazz musicians, even if his music always involves intellectual effort and patience, not to mention open-mindedness. This quite recent recording marks (almost) the 50th Anniversary of his debut album.
Solo piano albums are the ultimate challenge for Jazz pianists, and most pianists avoid recording solo or do so reluctantly. Riley, however, loves the solo piano idiom and his recorded legacy offers quite a few of solo piano recordings, each of them being a superb document of his immense talent. Perhaps the immediate vis–a-vis with the piano allows him the perfect opportunity to express himself without inhibitions and limitations. Whatever the reason might be, his solo piano recordings are all absolute gems.
Despite the fact that Riley plays Free Jazz / Improvised Music, his expressionism always strikes me as completely melodic, as absurd as this might sound. The short melodic sequences and chord progressions in his performances are always (at least for me) absolutely logical and coherent. As a result, even if his music might be considered as difficult, it is never alienating or cacophonic, as often can be the case with Improvised Music.
Overall, this is a wonderful album of Free spirited, but exquisitely performed music, which strikes directly into the heart and soul of the listener, if only allowed to do so. The album’s title describes perfectly its contents, as Riley is literally creating note after note, like a painter or sculptor might do, when creating his Art. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 05/05/2023Posted: 05/05/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
|
