3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
New Jazz Pianist/Compser Debuts on Arkadia, May 29, 2001
This review is from: Rainmaker's Dance (Audio CD)
When I picked up this CD, a glance at the tune-list told me this was an unusual album. Of twelve tunes on the album, only one, "My foolish heart" was familiar. The other eleven were compsed by Lenz. I thought, maybe producer Bob Karcy and/or Lena had a foolish heart or ego.
On reading producer Bob Karcy's liner notes, I learned that Lenz receive classical piano training and then moved on to jazz. He has performed jazz concerts in his native Germany but this CD is his first recording effort in the U. S.
The breadth of Lenz's pianistic and compositional skills are astounding. He swings. Some tunes are Monk-like in their harmonies. Some tunes have florid runs reminiscent of the Roger Williams "signature" run on "Autumn Leaves." He even give sthe ballad "My Foolish Heart" his own unique treatment with unusual harmonies. Lenz's compoistions have unique titles which have to do with his own experiences, but you'll have to listen to the album and read the liner notes to fully appreciate this.
Lenz is backed by New York studio musicians Ira Coleman, bass; Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, drums; and, on two numbers, by alto saxophonist T. K. Blue.
Congratulations for Lenz and group for a gigantic first effort. I hope for the next album sooner rather than later.
--F. Norman Vickers is volunteer executive director of the Jazz Society of Pensacola ( FL).
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