Customer Reviews

Narada Classic: San Juan I / San Juan Suite II

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

 

 

The good people at Narada have finally seen sense and re-released this CD as a "Narada Classic". And a classic it is too, for this CD features some of the most accompolished piano playing you're ever likely to hear. What technique this man has!

Michael Gettel just oozes talent. His piano playing on "Summer Rain" is nothing short of incredible. He captures perfectly the subject of the piece. So much so, in fact, that my class of 11 year olds were able to guess the title of the piece just by listening to it.

It is so rare to have a CD where every track is strong and commands one's full attention. This is definitely not mere background music. From ominous clasps of thunder to the sound of whales, Gettel's piano dances around Nature's wonders.

Disc one is stronger than disc two, but the purchase price is more than justified by the brilliance of the original "San Juan". The melodies are breathtakingly beautiful and few of Gettel's fans would dispute that "San Juan Suite" showcases this musician at his very best.

I cannot recommend this CD highly enough. A wonderful CD to be treasured.

In a nutshell these are Michael Gettel's finest works. All of his music gives glimpses of his superb technique however these two disks have an immediacy and energy that his other disks just don't have. His other works, while certainly enjoyable in their own right, distract us with background accompaniment that only seems to gauze over the music. However, these are so direct and so well performed they will give you shivers! How about San Juan Suite III? Michael are you listening?

Incredible solo piano, particularly on San Juan Suite I. I love this CD!

fantastic CD. I had to look & listen to get the double. One of my favourites, still, after months & months.

My mother had the first San Juan Suite on tape cassette, and we've listened to it for years and never tired of it. To this day, it is one of my favorite pieces of music, and is by far the one that calls to me of home. I can't say enough good things about it.

So, when I heard there was a San Juan Suite II, I coveted it for ages before finally downloading it last year. And I was...disappointed. For a STUPID reason.

The piano is GORGEOUS. The melodies are INCREDIBLE. It's the perfect complement to the first SSS and isn't at all repetitive. Except for one thing. Every song in the entire album is overlaid with cheap, horrible synthesizer.

The first SSS focused on the piano, with the occasional addition of water music or whale song as an accent (lovely). The second SSS almost seems to use the piano as an accent for the synthesizer. It frankly ruins it for me. I've started to adore the opening and closing seconds of the songs where the synthesizer is absent. The first SSS was a tribute to nature, simplicity, and beauty. Why add some miserable electronic mess? I'm brokenhearted. If they ever re-release this with the synth removed, I will buy it in a heartbeat.

SSS 1 is glorious, worth every penny and more. SSS 2 is...well, neither of those.