Music Review | Solo Jazz Piano Albums from the 50’s to Today

Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Himself (Riverside, 1957)

“Thelonious Himself” is a solo Jazz piano album by the great and unique genius, Thelonious Monk. The mood of this album is beautiful also mysterious, graceful also funky. The touches are few and polished, it’s his characteristic.

“Round About Midnight”, his own composition, is a very impressive play and minimal, there are repetitions of the theme and phrases. It associates me a scene of “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage” by Haruki Murakami, mysterious Jazz pianist Midorikawa played “Round About Midnight” in a junior high school music room on a mountain. His performance went straight to the heart of the piece and, has the power to physically and viscerally move the listeners. (pp. 63 – 66) I imagine the performance of Midorikawa like this recording.

A unique and highly evaluated solo Jazz piano master-piece.

Lennie Tristano

The New Tristano (Atlantic, 1961)

“Becoming” is a Blues taste improvisation with some technical approaches such as rhythm changes, left-hand pattern changes, and fine and minute right hand plays.

“C Minor Complex” is a high-tempo, Bleus taste improvisation with a left hand walking bass and super skilful right hand improvisations.

“You Don’t Know What Love Is” is a standard Ballad song with a passionate improvisation.

“Deliberation” is a usual Be-Bop improvisational song with a relaxing mood.

“Scenes and Variations” is a passionate improvisational three part suit with complex expansions and piano solos.

“G Minor Complex” is a Blues taste improvisational song with left hand walking bass. Right hand solo is glamorous, sharp and refreshing with his unexhausted ides.

A classical master-piece of solo Jazz piano with a pianist had a great genius of imaginary improvisation. I think Tristano is Charlie Parker of Jazz piano.

Bill Evans

Alone (Verve, 1970)

“Alone” is a solo piano album by Bill Evans, recorded in 1968. This is a usual type solo Jazz piano album adopts seven Jazz standard numbers. Almost songs are mid-tempo Jazz compositions, and Evans’ plays style is modal and elegant, and key touches are many. (So, sometime, I feel bore.) A beautiful, excellent and basic solo piano master-piece.

John Coates Jr.

Alone and Live at the Deer Head (Omnisound, 1977)

“Alone and Live at the Deer Head” is a solo live album by a incomparable and legendary pianist, John Coates Jr. (It’s said that young Keith Jarrett went to his lives frequently.)

“Prologue No. 39” is a Country taste refreshing song associates a summer morning.

“Never Have Known An Esther” is also a Country taste refreshing and not smoky song has a bit of sentimental mood.

“Sketch” is a contemporary and amusing song features a unique theme riff and there are skilful bass patterns and chord play.

“Mixed Feeling”, as the title, this song is a vague improvisational song with complex chord changes and difficult chords. So, listeners can’t grab and explain the substance of this song.

“Homage” is a sentimental mood song features the right hand improvisations like arpeggio.

“Something Kinds Silly” is a Ragtime taste funny song.

“The End of The Beginning” is a melancholic, apathetic also refreshing American Pop taste song.

This music is undoubtedly Jazz but it’s not usual Jazz. The no smoky and Blues taste, it’s very refreshing and bright. Coates’ recordings still sell and can be listened are few. But I can imagine his music in late-60’s and 70’s might be surprisingly new and progressive at that time.

I recommend this album she like George Winston and Pat Metheny.

Herbie Hancock

The Piano (Columbia, 1979)

“The Piano” might be the only solo piano album of Herbie Hancock. It consist of seven tracks. The former three tracks are Jazz standard numbers, later four tracks are Herbie’s original compositions.

“My Funny Valentine” and “On Green Dolphin Street” are played by his bold modal interpretations and skilful technics, and they have his unique mystic and wonderful mood.

“Some Day My Prince Will Come” is also a melancholic but funny interpretation with dynamic rhythem changes and poundings.

“Harvest Time” is a sophisticated bright also melancholic song.

“Sonrisa” is a mystic and passionate Ballad song with a complex improvisation.

“Manhattan Island” is an elegant and melancholic piano improvisational song.

“Blue Otani” is a unique and funky composition, but has a contemporary taste.

A good solo Jazz piano album. You can fully enjoy Hancock’s excellent modal interpretation and mystic play.

Mike Nock

Piano Solos (Timeless, 1980)

A New Age and contemporary tastes piano solo album. There are Fusion, Jazz, Country, Traditional tastes. And the music is similar to George Winston, but this is undoubtedly Jazz has improvisations.

“California Country” is very refreshing and gentle song associates a travel to a harbour town and a cool summer sea breeze.

Keith Jarrett

Paris Concert (ECM, 1988)

“Paris Concert” is the recording of a solo piano performance by Keith Jarrett in Paris, 1988.

“October 17, 1988”, the title is the day of the performance and the recording of this album. This track is over 38 minutes length. In the beginning, to around 6:00, Jarrett plays Bach and his fugue like melodies with Jazz improvisation. From 6:00, the play become left hand chord backing with Classicism melodies associates Beethoven or Brahms. From 11:00, his play gradually become abstract and hard. At around 17:00 the taste changes contemporary and melancholic Ballad. From 20:00, his play become a Traditional and Romantic taste elegy associates Schumann or Chopin, by few touches. From 23:00, the play gradually become hard, abstract and free improvisation by his virtuoso techniques. I felt his passion and anger by this part. Around 29:00, the play become more and more abstract. Jarrett plays very fine, aggressive and wide range arpeggios like a huge cascade. From around 33:00, the mood become refreshing and gentle. He plays fine left hand arpeggios and right hand sophisticated melodies and phrases. In the end the song become slow with a calm also solitary mood by few touches, and closes the performance.

“The Wind” is contemporary also nostalgic New Age taste song.

“Blues”, as the title, is improvisational and abstract Blues improvisation that is played by Jarrett’s ultra imagination and techniques.

You would find Jarrett’s style or this performance is influenced by Jazz, Classical Music, Traditional, Blues and New Age, and his great total musical genius, vast imagination and super virtuoso techniques.

The Melody at Night, With You (ECM, 1999)

“The Melody at Night, With You” is the rare and only standard solo piano album by Keith Jarrett. In 1998, the time Jarrett had been suffered chronique fatigue syndrome (CFS), he recorded this solo piano album his home studio in New Jersey. This album adopts standard numbers including George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Oscar Hammerstein II and so on. There’s a gentle, calm, delicate and sophisticated atmosphere, not eccentric and avant-garde. Also there’s New Age and Country Music mood like George Winston or Ludovico Einaudi.

It’s a very very sweet and precious album.

Dave Brubeck

Just You, Just Me (Telarc, 1994)

“Just You, Just Me” is the first piano solo album by Dave Brubeck since “Plays and Plays and….” had released in 1957. There’s the 37 years gap.

The plays by the East Coast and Cool Jazz are beautiful and sophisticated also stable and standard. A usual good solo piano album. But “Strange Meadowlark”, Brubeck’s composition in his quartet master-piece “Time Out”, is a funny and elegant, very good song.

Hiromi

Place to Be (Telarc Jazz, 2009)

A solo Jazz piano album by the Japanese super strange genius girl released in 2009.

The first track, “BQE” is a high tempo improvisational song. It begins a serious contemporary mood with hyper skilful arpeggio, in some parts the song expands a gentle and nostalgic mood.

“Choux à la Crème” is a Ragtime and Boogie-woogie based funny and funky song by her ultra imaginative and technical play.

“Berne, Baby, Berne!” is a melancholic and aggressive Bohemian taste song features the impressive theme and riffs. Her play is incredibly passionate, complex and super.

“Cape Cod Chips” is a song has a serious Blues taste but funny.

“Island Azores” is an American or Californian taste refreshing and bright song with piano body tappings.

“Viva! Vegas” is an amusing, strange and sunny three part suit. The part three “The Gambler” is a refreshing and aggressive song by Hiromi’s ultra passionate and imaginative play. The song and improvisation expands freely and boundlessly beyond our imaginations.

“Place to Be” IS A lyrical, solitary and tender Jazz Ballad song has the New Age taste.

To listen to this album, you can dive into her passion, miracle piano genius and, imaginative and boundless music. Also I confirm the her talent of composition can write excellent songs in various styles. She must be today’s Thelonious Monk, Lennie Tristano and Keith Jarrett.

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Reseña Musical | Obras de Ralph Towner

Tríos / Solos de (con Glen Moore, ECM, 1973)

«Trios / Solos» es el álbum debut de Ralph Towner, tal y como reza el título de este disco. En este álbum participan el bajista Glen Moore, y los intérpretes de tabla Colin Walcott (pista 1) y oboe Paul McCandless (3 y 8).

«Brujo» es un tema de improvisación de sabor latino a cargo del trío.

«Luz de invierno» es un tema de guitarra solista de ambiente solitario.

«Noctuary» es un tema extraño, abstracto y de aguda improvisación a cargo de guitarra, oboe y contrabajo incluye toque de arco.

«1 × 12» es un tema contemporáneo de guitarra solista. Towner utiliza armónicos, golpes corporales y ruidos mediante punteos duros.

«A Belt of Asteroids» es un solo de bajo improvisado por Glen Moore.

«Suite: 3 × 12 I» es un contemporáneo también Jazz gusto improvisación pistas por solo de Towner. «II» es un tema de improvisación de guitarra dura y hábil de estilo Country. También «III» es un tema de improvisación dura y técnica de guitarra solista de ambiente Blues.

«Raven’s Wood» es una canción de Folk, New Age y Jazz interpretada por el trío con un apasionado oboe y arpegios de guitarra.

La característica de este álbum es la «improvisación libre», pero no es vanguardista y salvaje como el Free Jazz. Es un álbum de Fusión acústica sofisticada de gusto urbano y contemporáneo es similar a John Zorn en los años 80.

Diary (ECM, 1973)

«Diary» es el álbum debut en solitario de Ralph Towner publicado en 1973. Towner tocaba la guitarra, la guitarra de 12 cuerdas, el piano y las percusiones y las pistas se grabaron mediante doblaje(s) de multipistas.

«Dark Spirit» tiene un sabor moderno y un estado de ánimo neutro e impreciso, improvisaciones de piano y guitarra hábiles y libres.

«Entry in a Diary» es una canción de improvisación de guitarra solista de gusto también Folk moderno.

«Image Unseen» es una canción de improvisación dura con un juego apasionado, armónicos, punteos y algunos ruidos de guitarra.

«Icarus» es una famosa canción de Paul Winter Consort, compuesta por Ralph Towner. En esta grabación la canción tocada por guitarra apasionada y piano con humor transparente contemporáneo.

«Ogden Road» es una canción de improvisación a dúo de guitarra y piano, refrescante y abstracta, apasionada y hábil.

«Erg» es una canción de sabor latino con improvisación de guitarra, ruidos de golpes en el cuerpo de la guitarra y algunas percusiones latinas.

«Silence of Candle» es una canción New Age de piano solo, sentimental y refrescante, en la que participa George Winston.

Un sabor New Age álbum de Jazz Fusión acústica tiene el estado de ánimo sorprendentemente contemporáneo, urbano sofisticado y reseco en ese momento.

Recursos y enlaces

Official Website of Ralph Towner

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Wikipedia (EN)

All About Jazz

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Recensione musica | Opere di Ralph Towner

Trios / Solos di (con Glen Moore, ECM, 1973)

“Trios / Solos” è l’album di debutto di Ralph Towner, come recita il titolo dell’album. Questo album vede la partecipazione del bassista Glen Moore, del suonatore di tabla Colin Walcott (traccia 1) e dell’oboe Paul McCandless (3 e 8).

“Brujo” è un brano di improvvisazione dal sapore latino realizzato dal trio.

“Winter Light” è un brano di chitarra solitaria.

“Noctuary” è una strana, astratta e appassionata improvvisazione di chitarra, oboe e contrabbasso, che include l’uso dell’arco.

“1 × 12” è un brano di chitarra solista dall’atmosfera abile e contemporanea. Towner utilizza armonici, body tapping e rumori di pizzichi duri.

“A Belt of Asteroids” è un’improvvisazione per basso di Glen Moore.

“Suite: 3 × 12 I” è un brano contemporaneo di gusto jazzistico improvvisato da Towner. “II” è un brano di improvvisazione chitarristica dal sapore country, abile e duro. Anche “III” è un brano di improvvisazione chitarristica dal mood Blues, duro e tecnico.

“Raven’s Wood” è un brano dal sapore Folk, New Age e Jazz del trio, caratterizzato da un appassionato oboe e da un arpeggio di chitarra.

La caratteristica di questo album è la “libera improvvisazione”, ma non è avanguardistica e selvaggia come il Free Jazz. È un album di Fusion acustica sofisticata dal gusto urbano e contemporaneo, simile a quello di John Zorn degli anni ’80.

Diario (ECM, 1973)

“Diary” è l’album di debutto solista di Ralph Towner pubblicato nel 1973. Towner suona la chitarra, la chitarra a 12 corde, il pianoforte e le percussioni e le tracce sono state registrate con il doppiaggio di multi traccia.

“Dark Spirit” è un disco dal gusto moderno e dall’atmosfera neutra e vaga, con abili e libere improvvisazioni di pianoforte e chitarra.

“Entry in a Diary” è un brano di improvvisazione per chitarra sola dal gusto moderno e folk.

“Image Unseen” è una dura canzone improvvisata con un gioco appassionato, armonici, pizzichi e alcuni rumori di chitarra.

“Icarus” è una famosa canzone del Paul Winter Consort, composta da Ralph Towner. In questa registrazione la canzone è suonata da una chitarra e da un pianoforte appassionati, con uno stato d’animo contemporaneo e trasparente.

“Ogden Road” è un brano rinfrescante e astratto, appassionato e abile nell’improvvisazione in duo di chitarra e pianoforte.

“Erg” è una canzone dal sapore latino con improvvisazione chitarristica, rumori di body tapping e percussioni latine.

“Silence of Candle” è un brano New Age sentimentale e dall’atmosfera rinfrescante, in cui George Winston è l’unico associato al pianoforte.

L’album di Jazz Fusion acustico dal sapore New Age ha un’atmosfera sorprendentemente contemporanea, urbana, sofisticata e arida.

Risorse e collegamenti

Official Website of Ralph Towner

Ralph Towner Digital – Shop

Wikipedia (EN)

All About Jazz

Prog Archieves

Discogs

Rate Your Music

AllMusic

IMDb

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