Word: pianists
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Harry Connick Jr. has long viewed himself as something of a Sinatra for the '90s. Although he broke into jazz a decade ago as a solo pianist influenced by Bud Powell and Art Tatum, his career veered sharply toward big-band and string-arranged music after his 1989 sound track, When Harry Met Sally, went multi-platinum. When his version of the classic It Had to Be You--with Connick singing--became a hit, he began moving his repertoire closer toward pop, writing, as he did on 1991's Blue Light, Red Light, jaunty big-band tunes that echoed...
Following this, the pianist launched immediately and surprisingly into the Rondo, a rollicking movement with many mood changes. Levinson exhibited a remarkable appreciation of these mood changes and an amazingly fluid technique. The orchestra performed its part admirably, fully capturing the excitement so eloquently expressed by Ben-Dor's movements on the podium...
...would like to have a parallel career as pianist and conductor, and I love to teach...
Pratt began playing the piano at the age of six, the violin three years later and at 16 entered the University of Illinois, where he studied piano, violin and conducting, before moving to the Peabody Conservatory and earning diplomas in all three areas. It was as a pianist, however, that he seized the attention of the musical world. His kinetic style and distinctive personality stirred up a storm of critical raves and public interest...
Pratt performed in solo at Jordan Hall Sunday as part of the BankBoston Celebrity Series. The Crimson spoke over the phone with the pianist just before his departure from Albuquerque for Boston...