Customer Reviews

Blue Gardenia: Latin American Music of Hal Isbitz

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not since I discovered Scott Joplin's classical ragtime in 1974 have I been so entranced. Hal Isbitz is undoubtedly one of the great musical geniuses of our age and deserves far wider recognition and appreciation. I always wished Scott Joplin had written more pieces like "Solace" and now I've gotten my wish! No recording in my life has affected me like this one. I have played it for months, and the haunting melodies continue to tumble through the ears of my mind all day long. EVERY piece on this album is compelling and emotionally evocative beyond anything I've heard before. To me it expresses the plaintive and primordial longing of the Latin American soul. And John Arpin interprets this music like no other, with achingly sublime feeling and expression and a masterful control of every note and nuance. This inspired music will resonate in your heart and stir your deepest passions.

Hal Isbitz is recognized by his peers as one of the most talented composers of the exciting "terre verde" style of music. Hal's music has been performed at many music festivals such as the Ragtime Bash at Boulder, and the Scott Joplin Festival at Sedalia. Hal's beautiful music is a favorite with audiences and professional performers alike.

John Arpin who is well known as a performer and as past president of the Toronto Ragtime Society gives a sensitive and Chopinesque introduction of twelve of Hal Isbitz's Latin-American compositions on this CD. Fantastic!

Treat yourself and someone you love, to some of the most exciting music being written today!

Hal Izbitz is one of the most talented composers writing today! Izbeth begins where the great Brazilian Ernesto Nazareth left off. John Arpin is Canada's finest pianest. His performance of Izbitz's complex and haunting music is lyrical magic.

I fell in love with the partial piece played on NPR's Fresh Air and was convinced that I need to hear the whole piece, only to find out that the whole album is equally if not more infatuating than "Blue Gardenia" itself. "Meditation" is huantingly beautiful, although it would be unfair to rate any one piece higher than the others. I find the recording outstanding, the work of Hal Isbitz passionate and delightful, and John Arpin's intepretation brilliant. This album helps expand my width & depth of musical taste for Ragtime music, if not "Terre Verde" style which I am looking forward to explore more. I recommend this to anyone who looks for delight and passion in piano music.

This is truely the most beautiful, romantic and sensitive music that I have heard in many years. I wish that John Arpin would record some more of Hal Isbitz's wonderful compositions. This CD is a treat for the soul and I have been sharing my discovery of it with all my friends. An absolute treasure!

I heard this album reviewed on NPR some time ago and was really intrigued ... Hal Arpin's fusion Terra Verde style combines Scott Joplin's rag, the latin rhythms of Bosa Nova, and strong classical elements of Chopin. I went in the house and wrote the title down and bought it the next day. I've listened to it over and over. Would be great background music for a relaxing dinner party, but I have also listened to it with headphones and it's a treat to listen to. Hal Isbitz in my new favorite composer, and the pianist Arpin is a master.

Heard a small bit of this on NPR, tracked down the CD and bought it. An absolutely gorgeous hunk of music, a cross between tango and Scott Joplin, although that pat description doesn't cover it. I've been playing it over and over like a junior high school kid and still love it.

By the way, if you're a pianist, you can order the music score for this CD directly from the composer, and play the music yourself (although probably never as well as Arpin does on this CD). Email the CD publisher and they'll give you the specifics.

Each of the pieces on this album can stand on its own beautifully and John Arpin does a wonderful job of interpretting every piece. But as a collection they don't go together well. Almost every piece has the same rhythm (some a bit slower and some a bit faster) and it starts to get old after a few tracks.

I heard a snippit of this CD plus a review and some background of Hal Isbitz on NPR (WNYC) last week and sent for it right away. I found it so elegantly moving and lyrically beautiful. Upon further hearings, new nuances touch my ears because there is so much depth in its classical structure. I am listening more and more to contemporary classical music since it is being written more and more with the listener in mind, as opposed to being an intellectual pursuit that pleases no one but the composer. This album has knocked my socks off in its composition and Hal Arpin's interpretation. I am a librarian in a middle school and am constantly playing music of every kind both to expose and familiarize students with what exists. This piece will be a consistent must play. Any other suggestions? Let me know.

John Arpin's piano is too much like a Vegas lounge act for me. He has added lots of trills and flourishes which I guess thrills some people, but I think he's much more talented than his albums suggest. I wish he'd just play the music without the fireworks.