Customer Reviews

Little Girl Blue

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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How to recognize an outstanding female pianist (or how to want to be female!)

The passion made of fire has a name and (for the rest of the male mortals!) is a beautiful woman: Katia Labèque (she also plays the synthesizers in John McLaughlin's "Belo Horizonte", wich I also recommend!).

This time she plays duets with Jazz Monsters: Chick Corea, Michael Camilo, Joe Zawinul, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock and a Young Cuban Virtuoso: Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

This is the kind of CD I prefer to listen the whole day long.

Katia: please, PLEASE keep on playing like this...

¿ Cómo reconocer a una pianista sobresaliente? (!o cómo querer ser mujer¡)

La pasión y el fuego tiene un nombre propio y (para el resto de los hombres mortales) es una bella mujer: Katia Labèque ((ella toca los sitetizadores en el album "Belo Horizonte" de John McLaughlin, el cual también recomiendo).

Esta ocasión ella toca duetos con los Grandes del Jazz: Chick Corea, Michael Camilo, Joe Zawinul, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock yun Joven Cubano Virtuoso: Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

Éste es el tipo de CD que prefiero escuchar todo el día.

Katia: por favor. POR FAVOR sigue tocando así...

Since I bought this a few months ago it has become one of my favorite CDs. The smoothness and sensuality are pure heaven. It will melt you.

Five INVIGORATING Stars!! Wonderful jazz duo piano performances! Katia Labèque epitomizes musical versatility. She is a highly-respected classical concert pianist, a member of the stupendous world-class Labèque Sisters Classical Piano Duo, performs classical music as a member of the heralded duo with the super violinist Viktoria Mullova, has performed as a 'sideman' with John (Mahavisnu) McLaughlin's jazz fusion group, has her own eclectic "Katia Labèque Band", and to show that the jazz world has taken notice of her, jazz legend Miles Davis dedicated a blazing fusion suite to her ("Perlude to Katia" and "Katia") and McLaughlin dedicated the entire "Belo Horizonte" CD to her. I have seen her perform in duo with McLaughlin in Europe and she is a burning soloist with great timing, who brings her classical firepower into the mix often as she makes some impressive piano runs. Here she plays jazz piano with some of the true jazz keyboard giants: Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michel Camilo and Joey DeFrancesco. Her sister, master pianist Marielle, joins her for one selection to show off her jazzy skills. She's generally using written transcriptions as a jumping-off point for her jazz-influenced explorations of classic jazz pieces, while each jazz guest is improvising at will in an empathetic way as each duo truly makes great music.

Michel Cimilo's "On Fire" begins out of tempo before accelerating, and has Katia & Marielle in a blazing four-handed experience that roams from latin to 4/4 time. Bill Evans' "Turn Out The Stars" is a marvelously beautiful 6 minute performance with Chick Corea & Katia, as is their awe-inspiring performance of Evans' "We Will Meet Again". "Summertime" has Joey DeFrancesco putting aside his mighty Hammond B3 organ for a rare piano appearance and the two play a great stride piano-laden version of this classic. Joe Zawinul revisits his 'Weather Report' days as "Volcano For Hire" is, as expected, super-fast, hip and funky: a great display by two virtuosos from different worlds but definitely on the same page. And finally Herbie Hancock and Ms Labèque revisit the transcription of Herbie's stupendous solo on "My Funny Valentine" performed live with Miles Davis decades ago: it is a beautiful 11 minute exposition. Ms Labèque dedicates the CD to the late jazz piano legend Bill Evans. This is 'rapprochement' between classical and jazz musicians, on the jazz side of the fence, at the highest level. Highly Recommended!! Five BIG Stars!! (Audio CD, with Jewel box and liner notes & photos: 67:19 total time.)

Why was'nt this record awarded with the Grammy ? Well... because is too good for NARAS. Because Labeque is French. Because it's Jazz and she is supposed to be "classical". Because Rubalcaba plays too good for his American elders to forgive him. And most of all, because this Little blue eyed beautiful artist is so smart that she plays for the sake of music, not for a lousy award!