Customer Reviews

Solo Piano

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gonzales was an electronic producer, a rapper and then he retired (or so he said). However, nobody would've suspected that he would release an amazingly beautiful stripped-down piano based album! That is exactly what this CD is, an album full of beautiful piano music, and one of the best modern piano productions of the 21st century so far! But the story behind Gonzales and his history of music makes this that much more interesting; one can see that his talent does not limit him to one area of music but it is almost limitless. This album is truly magnificent! Listen for yourself...

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Wait, is this the same crazy Gonzales who is linked to electro-clash artists like Peaches and Miss Kitten? Yup, but on this record, you wouldn't know it. This album of (you guessed it) solo piano tracks recalls the melancholy and beauty of Satie, as well as a bit of Debussy, Rachel's and Modern Jazz Quartet. It's haunting and lovely, and I couldn't (and still can't) get enough of it. Many of the songs have a slightly sinister feel, and sound inherently Spanish, though not being a musicologist I find it difficult to describe how. In my opinion, this is a very important record, and one for lovers of all things romantic (in the Romanticism sense) to fall for.

Love this disc. Good to listen to pure piano for a change. Gonzales does create some good melodies though. Not inaccessible at all, but easy to listen too.

I don't know much about Gonzalez or modern solo piano, but this is just lovely. Quiet, thoughtful, pretty.

Based on reviews via Amazon and sound clips, I purchased this CD last year and it's truly wonderful. It's perfect for listening to in all these typical daily events: reading the Sunday paper, drinking wine and cooking dinner, having a bath, organizing files, having friends for dinner, or just doing nothing!! I really recommend it and plan to find the sheet music to play on piano too. Thanks Amazon for your continued reliable reviews!!

Someone asked me in a recent conversation, "does a song speak to you but you can't figure out what its saying?" I answered directly referring to Gonzalez' Solo Piano. Paired down to its simplest form, this CD is illuminating in its quiet, low speech. It tells me about the speed of life, and how sometimes, its more than necessary to just hear the keys. Its a mood-altering gem I use for "medicinal purposes" quite often, and in many of the tracks, the sound of the piano's hammers paired with Gonzales' key strokes bring the music's whisper especially to life. Amazingly, the CD envelopes a rainy day at dusk with ease, but somehow manages to be nice for afternoon sunlight.

This is pure enjoyment dotted by Satie's influence throughout.

The liner notes say that it is like music from a silent movie. I think that that's a pretty good description. I'd say it fits in somewhere between jazz and classical. Pretty distinctive sounding... I heard it on the radio and remembered what time it played and then looked it up on the internet. Thanks kcrw for introducing me to cool music.

Gonzales delivers on this, most beautiful CD. Really, like the previous reviewer said, "just buy it." You won't be sorry. This is almost a set of etudes. He even posted the sheet music on his website, with a statement that anyone with even a little piano playing ability should be able to learn these pieces- almost sketches, but each with definate form- with only a few hours of practice. (that is if you can read music).

Anyway- this music is sublime, captivating, and also just an amazing group of tracks to listen to while walking. I often listen to it while walking through Central Park in New York City. It has an almost Debussy or Satie like charm and beauty. HIGHLY recommended. Buy the real deal CD too, don't just download the crappy mp3s of it that are floating around.

"16 themes for left hand accompaniment and right hand melody; hear the influence of French piano style (Ravel, Satie) as filtered through Canadian folk and American jazz (Nina Simone, Keith Jarrett) in his-own unique creation. Throughout the album, Gonzales' former job as silent film accompanist shines through."

And if you like this, check out the 2-CD set from TOSCA entitled "Dehli9" - which is an all solo piano set of arrangements, in a similar style. It's also beautiful. And the packaging is devine.

This is an excellent album, and one of my favorite to put on when relaxing. However the mp3 download from amazon was horrible quality. The sound degenerates into crackling noise on the high notes. I am missing all of the wonder flourishes and accents. I thought it was my speakers but the sound comes out the same on all of my setups. This is a shame as I have had excellent luck with most other amazon downloads.

I had this recommended to me by two friends who never like anything, so I immediately sought it out. I think Gonzales' electronic solo stuff is OK, and his production is better but it doesn't hint at this!.

This is the ultimate "chillout" record (from someone who hates chillout records). Just Chili on his piano (supposely he made it when he was stressed in the midddle of a particularily difficult session with Serge gainsbourg.). beautiful and memorable melodies. It is on my Ipod, all my computers. Not classical, not jazz - something in between and totally perfect.