Customer Reviews

Gershwin: 3 Preludes; 6 Songs; Chick Corea: 20 Children's Songs

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

 

 

A good CD. The 6 Gershwin songs were arranged by the performer, and although they are superb, they aren't as sweet-sounding as I'd like them to be. They're just a little severe. (I prefer the eccentric to an extreme but exquisite Mario Ratko-Delorko recording) The Preludes are great pieces, and the interpretation is good. The interesting Children's Songs seem somewhat harsh and plain, but that's the way they were written.

I don't know what to say about this great piano CD I am so ignorant about the music. Leon Bates seems to know what he is doing. The Gershwin is really engaging and some of the tunes even though I am almost too young to know them do recognize them and he does a great job with playing the piano transciptions of the songs. The preludes at the beginning are a bonus.

But the real main course here is the Chick Corea Children Songs which put some classical music to shame I am afraid to say being a classical music fan that I am. My next logical step is to get Corea himself doing these miniatures I suppose. My budget was tight and this Naxos price was right. So I went for this CD.

If you have any interest in Weill, Gershwin, or Krenek which I do then I suggest this CD highly. The Corea is one of the greatest cycle of piano miniatures in the 20th century!

This is a very satisfying album. If you are a Gershwin fan, you will likely love Mr. Bate's spunk. The Corea Children's Songs are a gem, and I thank Mr. Bates for bringing them to life.