Customer Reviews

Now Playing: Movie Themes - Solo Piano

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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First off, I'd have to congratulate one of my favorites, Mr. Dave Grusin, for coming up with this wonderful project. Though he admits that there were some challenges that came along with this recording since most of this material was originally written for orchestra, it still came out perfectly. There's no doubt in my mind that he's such a great pianist, a virtuoso at that! He's got what it takes to be one. He's got the extraordinary ability and the inherent expression and rhythm that make these pieces so pleasing to the ears.

Listen to his heartwarming interpretation of "It Might Be You," the theme from the movie "Tootsie," and you'll definitely agree with me that this is the very best piece of all and it's my absolute favorite. This song is an Academy Awards Nominee for "Best Original Song" in 1982.

The other remarkable pieces are "On Golden Pond," theme from the movie of the same title, "Theme from Mulholland Falls" and the most intriguing melody, "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter." Some of the listeners are deeply moved and affected with this piece that it made them cry. I guess there's some poignancy on the melody that affects the listener's sensitivity. The pieces with melancholy melodies are "Letting Go," the theme from Jon Voight's movie "The Champ," and "Random Hearts," theme from the movie of the same title. Not to mention "Hurricane Country" which is also remarkable. It has an exotic rhythm to it and he used fingernails on the strings to produce the 'harp-like' sound. This piece is marvelous. Imagine all these innovations he's done to produce the desired sounds from a piano. He's such a great talent and his creativity is amazing!

According to Mr. Grusin, the most challenging piece is the last one - "Mud Island Chase," the theme from Tom Cruise's movie "The Firm." In this piece, he had to use a mallet to produce the desired sounds from a piano, like "rapping and striking the interior and exterior wood, strumming the strings and beating them with a mallet, as well as playing the keys in a traditional manner." But he also assured that "there was no permanent damage to the piano (Steinway 459) sustained."

This is solo piano playing at its very BEST!

For the last 15 years I have been collecting CD's by Dave Grusin. So when I got hold of 'Now Playing', I was aware that the tracks of the CD were already in my library, yet in different orchestral arrangements. When I listened to the CD the first time, I was impressed that all the well known songs have been arranged for solo piano without losing the tense and atmosphere of the origial version - on the contrary. And after a month I still discover new details when listening to Dave Grusin's very creative and innovative arrangements of his own music. What impresses me the most, however, is to listen to the way Dave Grusin exploits all the corners of his Steinway. Here is a true musician! Listen to 'On Golden Pond' or 'It might be you' (from Tootsie), and you will understand why I consider 'Now Playing' Dave Grusin's masterpiece.

My wife gave me a Record Voucher as a gift and told me to indulge myself with the music of my own choice.I am sure the staff in the record store were sick of the sight of me bringing CDs to them for a listen.Still after a few weeks nothing I tried had any feeling of satisfaction until I listened to Dave Grusin -Now Playing.
Wonderfull music played with wonderfull feeling and sensitivity.
Take your shoes off.Switch off the lights and sink into the beautiful atmosphere of Now Playing.And what is more I know my wife will love it too. You will not be disappointed.

This is an amazing CD. I don't know if I can add more to what others have written other than to say this is a very moving CD. I was particularly impressed with the Memphis Stomp from The Firm. Just amazing... Did I say yet this CD is amazing????

A must have for any Grusin fan.

I just bought this CD by Dave Grusin. I've been following Dave's musical paths for over 25 years. I din't realize that he has also composed the soundtrack for many great films prior to this. Almost all of them have a place in this wonderful album. Be it Heart is a lonely hunter or Heaven Can Wait, Dave proves that he is an absolute virtuoso of the piano. My personal favourite is the theme from Mulholland Falls which according to me is a difficult composition. I can't think of any one song in this CD which is inferior. The songs just flow on from each other. It's a difficult task for any musician to do a solo album (esp a music composer) but Grusin comes up a complete winner. It also just goes to show that if a musician writes great material it would last a lifetime and it certainly does ! March on DG !

As a fan of both Dave Grusin's film scores and his jazz music, I was curious about this disc, as it is a collection of his movie themes and songs, but performed solo on piano by the composer. I have many of these songs on his other CDs, and so I was afraid it would be, to me, repetitive. I couldn't have been more wrong: Hearing these themes with no one between the composer and the listener was a whole new experience. The disc is on the quiet side - some would lump it under "Easy Listening," as though it were made for elevator music, which is not the case at all - but this is a disc that grows on you the more you listen. Highly recommended for jazz lovers and for those film-music lovers who want a different take on some familiar themes.

Dave Grusin is just one amazing artist...
Suddenly I just realize that without this music, the film may not be that good at all...

beautiful arrangements, great recording (the Steinway's resonances are perfectly captured). My personal favorites is his arrangement of Random Hearts. BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU ADD JACK'S THEME, Dave? The absolutely haunting piano piece Jeff Bridge's character plays in Fabulous Baker Boys. Big miss that its not in this collection, but its still wonderful music. I only with he'd release these arrangements as sheet music!

No one has written a review on one of my all time favorite music compositions (Hurricane Country from the film Havanna), so I had too, because I love it so. It is everything Jazz should be. It is soulful, sensitive, intelligent and reverent; kind of like love. Hit the repeat button on that one and let it flow! Thank you Mr. Grusin!

Fantastic cd. Beautiful, relaxing piano jazz. All instrumental.
Dave Grusin is a great pianist. I listen to this cd all the time.