Word: pianists
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...with electronic instruments, exploring the links between the European tradition and other world music, and involving himself in music education on every level from Sesame Street to Tanglewood. "The whole idea of what music is and what culture and education are has changed so much," says Emanuel Ax, the pianist who is a longtime friend and performance partner of Ma's. "Yo-Yo is in a way the right man at the right time. I think we need people like him if music is to remain a truly vital force...
...Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Han fixed his gaze upon the baton, bobbing his head slightly and effortlessly threading his melody into that woven by the full orchestra. Every note in the cascading arpeggios of the concerto resounded under Han's steady fingertips, and the interchange between pianist and orchestra was seamless. Pausing to wipe his brow, cheeks and hands during every rest, Han attacked each section of Mendelssohn's work with unfaltering strength and decisiveness, even though the piece seems to be continually in transition, full of arpeggios and climbing scales. His energy was rewarded by waves...
...live recordings, the Rubalcaba performance, which constituted the now-established pianist's North American debut, is more immediately arresting than the other, which features the relatively subtler, more angular style of pianist Geri Allen. Allen's set features more integrated playing and arguably more depth than Rubalcaba's virtuostic display, however. In the end, both recordings prove to be quality examples of contemporary small-group jazz. They are worthwhile, though not essential, acquisitions for serious acoustic jazz fans...
...rather dissimilar playing styles of the two pianists mark the greatest difference in personality between the two concerts. Rubalcaba possesses extraordinary virtuosity, and his technical facility is very evident throughout his performance. With his cascading solo lines and fluid, rapid-fire outbursts of notes, he seems extroverted almost to the point of brashness. His linear, lyrical sensibility and use of stylistic devices like tremolo octaves are very reminiscent of McCoy Tyner. But Rubalcaba's lines are even longer, and his touch more commanding, than that of John Coltrane's former pianist. Rubalcaba's improvisations are heavily patterned and rhythmically defined...
Haden's trio with Geri Allen feels less like a vehicle for showcasing the pianist and more like a veteran, integrated combo--no surprise, since they had played and recorded together well prior to the engagement, unlike the group with Rubalcaba. Allen's set is also evenly divided between the compositions of Allen, Haden and Motian, while Rubalcaba's featured three Haden tunes and three standards...