Active Imagination (Solo Piano)

Isadar | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 2, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mainya
• ASIN: B00000I965
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #541,713 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #39 in Music > Indie Music > New Age > Piano

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent CD!, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Active Imagination (Solo Piano) (Audio CD)

I love this CD! It constantly amazes me how many outstanding composer/pianists there are out there - especially in relation to the few who are highly (commercially)successful within this broad genre. I would say that "Active Imagination" definitely belongs near the top of the heap. Isadar's style is original, and his pianism is excellent. He lists his inspirations as Liz Story, Keith Jarrett, and Bill Evans, and I can hear traces of all three in his playing, but find his composing and playing styles to be uniquely his own. The first three tracks are lively and upbeat ("Active Imagination", "Throwing the Dice", and "Where the Wild Things Are") with an easy, jazzy, improvised feel. The meter changes are fascinating, and the bluesy beat on "Wild Things" is infectious. From there, the mood seems to gradually darken and become more introspective. "Waiting" is a beautiful, flowing mood piece full of questions and a lovely melody line. Isadar's cover of Liz Story's "Wedding Rain" is wonderful - this is a piece I often work on with my advanced students, and everything about Isadar's interpretation of the piece seems right without being a carbon-copy of Liz's recording. "Feu Follett (The `Spook' Light')" has a nice, easy flow with a strong sense of mystery; it also has an unusual rhythm that lightens the mood and adds a bounce. "Uncertainty" is cooler and more aloof, but gorgeous in its flowing introspection - that it ends with a major chord, feels like the soul-searching has had positive results. "Love Chaconne" is the closing track, and is the longest and most abstract piece on the CD. The left hand plays a repeated pattern while the right hand goes off in several different directions (one of the primary characteristics of a "chaconne"). Beautiful in its simplicity, this is the only track that seems to contain an element of pain and sorrow, but never dissolves into melodrama. "Active Imagination" is excellent from start to finish and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes solo piano with substance and complexity, but is still accessible, melodic, and rhythmic. Bravo amundo!

-Kathy Parsons Wind and Wire Issue 11

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating piano, yet easy on the ear, April 28, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Lake Charles, Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Active Imagination (Solo Piano) (Audio CD)

This album has a wonderful variety of music - from exuberant to reflective - that are easy on the ear yet stimulating to the mind. Both at work, where I want music that doesn't intrude, and at home, where I want to focus on the music, Isadar pleases!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful to your Imagination, February 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Active Imagination (Solo Piano) (Audio CD)

One of the most excellent cd's i have come across in this year, Although my intrest in piano music not not very high, Active Imagination give you chance an excellent verity of piano music the sound really calmed me and relaxed me ..i recommend you to buy it