Poetry Prelude

Richard Thompson (Artist), Darryl Taylor (Artist), Louise Toppin (Artist), Gunther (Artist), Filiano (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Albany Records
• ASIN: B000EMGJLI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,276 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dream Variations

2. Six Preludes for Piano

3. The Shadow of Dawn

4. Wade in the Water

Editorial Reviews

Richard Thompson, one of today’s most artistically aware composers, offers here “two song cycles and six piano preludes, in a contemporary classical vein as well as an arrangement of the Spiritual, Wade in the Water, for jazz quartet.” Thompson’s work here helps to highlight the natural tendency of today’s urban American composers who, not content to write in one style of music, work to remove the presupposed barrier between traditional classical music and contemporary jazz, thereby underscoring their artistic and spiritual kinship. Mr. Thompson, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, has written compositions which combine European and African-American styles, so that the formal structures of European classical music develop ideas which are essentially jazz in nature. Thompson completed graduate studies in jazz at Rutgers University in New Jersey. While there, he studied jazz piano with Kenny Barron and classical piano with Ted Lettvin. He also holds a jazz diploma! from the Berklee College in Boston.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Visual, lyrical, sensual music, June 21, 2006

By 

AfroAmericanHeritage (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poetry Prelude (Audio CD)

The works here combine formal European classical structures with African-American styles, essentially jazz. Of the two song cycles, I liked "The Shadow of Dawn" (settings of poetry by Paul Laurence Dunbar) best, and felt the music perfectly captured the essence of the words, as if both flowed from the same hand.

But my favorite works were the Six Preludes for Piano - so much so that I hit the back button and listened to the entire set again before moving on.

I don't usually comment on CD cover art, but the compelling "Jammin' Delight" by Ivey Hayes provides the perfect portal for the visual, lyrical, sensual music of Richard Thompson. I recommend you hold it in your mind's eye as you listen.