Following the global success of her ‘Salsa Nueva’ CD, Venezuelan virtuoso pianist Elena Riu returns with a simple but strikingly original concept. An eclectic line-up of sixteen of the UK ‘s foremost contemporary classical and jazz composers were asked to write a short piano-solo piece inspired by the blues. To this collection Riu added three compositions by ‘established’ composers: Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Aaron Copland and Stephen Montague (an extraordinary re-interpretation of the Gospel classic Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen) and her own piece composed specifically for the album. The result is a wide-ranging collection of works, each one reflecting the strong individuality of the composers and yet creating a thematically unified whole.This widely-appealing album features some of the UK ‘s leading composers in the classical-contemporary and jazz scenes. Riu asked them each to listen to their favourite albums and to draw inspiration from past and present masters of this genre.
The compositions by Sally Beamish, Harvey Brough, Peter Cowdrey, Cimeon Ellerton, Julio D’Escrivan, Douglas Finch, Rolf Hind, Elena Kats Chernin, Ana Lara, Phillip Neil Martin, Lola Perrin, Nick Redfern, David Rosenboom, Huw Warren, Matt Wright and Nikki Yeoh are like a set of variations along the well-travelled road of popular music. Sometimes mellow, sometimes more rhythm than blues, sometimes jazzy or just plain funky, Riu’s aim is to enthuse both seasoned aficionados and newcomers to classical-contemporary music through a kaleidoscope of fresh ideas, infectious rhythms and harmonic twists. Riu’s solo piano is occasionally complemented by the subtle brushes of percussionist Joby Burgess (Powerplant, New Noise, Ensemble Bash).
TRACK LIST:
1. OPEN
2. REMIX
3. ELENA’S BLIUES
4. DR J & MR H’s CHEEK TO CHEEK MIDNIGHT RAVE
5. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD
6. MONSTA
7. FUNKY JUMP
8. PASTEL’S SONG
9. BREAKFAST IN MILESTONE
10. FLEETING BEUTY
11. BACK TO THE RIVER
12. MIRANDA’S BLUES
13. No. 1 FROM 4 PIANO BLUES
14. CAMINATA DE PASTELITO
15. KICKING LITTLE SHADOWS
16. ODE TO SUN-RA
17. RHYTHM, FALLIN’ BLUES
18. OFF THE WALL
19. MISSY LAKE
20. NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN
Also available as downloads:
