Customer Reviews

Love Locked Out

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I've known Chris personally as a fellow musician for about fifteen years, and mention this only to attest that the warmth, extreme sensitivity, humor, and honesty that is Chris Anderson the person is in evidence tenfold in his playing.

Chris, first and foremost, really IS that overhyped-into-meaninglessness commodity: an original. Further, the format that most reveals all the subtleties of his playing is this one: a solo recording. I enjoy his group playing too (he's an extraordinary accompanist with phenomenal ears, just ask any singer or soloist who's used him), but in a solo setting you get the full breadth of his unique touch, reflectiveness, and harmonic world-view with nothing to get in his, or for that matter, your way. One of his special abilities, you see, is rubato treatment of tunes. And the wild excursions he can take the listener on are totally grounded in knowledge of every nuance of how the basic tune goes. I guess if I HAVE to pick a favorite, it would be "Love Letters".

Music speaking louder than words, there's not much more to say, except that Chris's individual approach and subtlety may be a challenge at first, but hang in. These performances will haunt you. And if you want something fast, loud, and with chops "up the wazoo", forget it--you've definetly come to the wrong record.

Every cut on this album is beautiful. Chris is almost like a well kept secret, which is unfortunate. He is truly a brilliant pianist of the highest caliber.