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Chris Donnelly Metamorphosis http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40749 1 of 2 1/18/2012 10:14 PM

TandemNews.com - Print This Story http://www.corrieretandem.com/printer.php?storyid=11153 1 of 2 4/15/2011 3:04 PM From the file menu, select Print... Chris Donnelly releases adventurous new album By Kerry Doole Talk about walking a musical tightrope without a net. When young Toronto jazz pianist / composer Chris Donnelly launched his second CD, Metamorphosis, with a performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre recently, it was the first time he d ever performed its material in public. Adding to the challenge is the fact the record comprises one single 50 minute composition, so Donnelly needed to play it without interruption. He rose to the occasion with graceful ease, and those in attendance were suitably impressed. Word of Donnelly s talents as a pianist of impeccable technique and as an adventurous composer will soon spread internationally with the release of Metamorphosis on local record label ALMA. He first made a mark with his 2008 debut album, Solo. It featured reinterpretations of jazz standards by the likes of Bill Evans, Bud Powell and Charlie Parker plus seven original compositions. Nominated for both Juno and National Jazz Awards, Solo won Donnelly real peer respect. He now ups the creative ante with Metamorphosis, a solo piano work merging classical, jazz and new music elements. It is based on the 1939 work of that name by MC Escher, the world-renowned Dutch graphic artist. Just as Escher s monumental graphic delights its viewers with its imaginative shape-shifting, Donnelly s composition takes a riveting journey through a musical landscape that changes subtly and seamlessly. In an interview with Tandem, Donnelly explains the concept. I had started writing music after Solo, and I was reading a book called Gödel, Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, by Douglas Hofstadter. His idea was that things are more related than I thought they were, and concepts like infinity and recursive structures were explored. Escher has a key role in the book, and one of his works included was Metamorphosis 11. I started thinking a lot about those themes while I was writing musical pieces that were all related on some level, melodically, rhythmically, and thematically. Parallels between Escher s work and the compositions Donnelly was writing gradually became clearer. I had the idea of writing music like this picture. Start with a theme, and end with it, but write ten tunes that are all related and bring them all together in this one piece. The result is a perfect balance of composition, improvizational structure, and challenging technique. There s a challenge in just sitting down and playing this that I found exciting. The poetic power of Metamorphosis has been recognised by Toronto s Poet Laureate, Pier Giorgio Di Cicco. He has written a 10 line poem inspired by the work, with each line serving as a title for a composition. It reads: You are the dancer, In the time-scape of sound,you enter the fountain, Cresting, falling away, In the chimera of notes, You hear the voice, In a blossom of water, Saying you are the azure, The bough of time, You are the dance. Also impressed by Donnelly s work were the estate of Escher, and they granted him permission to reproduce the images featured on the striking cover art of Metamorphosis. Helping capture Donnelly s vision was noted Toronto record producer (and ALMA

TandemNews.com - Print This Story http://www.corrieretandem.com/printer.php?storyid=11153 2 of 2 4/15/2011 3:04 PM head) Peter Cardinali, who set up a session at The Drive Shed studio. I had never played the piece right through before then, recalls Donnelly. I was a little worried about endurance, but I think the adrenaline of being in this beautiful studio with an amazing Steinway piano took over. I thought, this is it. I ve worked on this for three years. I m excited and ready to go. Donnelly played the work in its entirety four separate times, then he and Cardinali chose their preferred take. Donnelly s academic background is reflected in the artistic achievement that is Metamorphosis. At age three, the Toronto native was enrolled in Humber College s Community Music School, and by 10 he was already improvizing and playing in ensembles. He was simultaneously studying classical piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music, and, as he notes, I was part of the first generation of jazz students and now professional musicians who started out with both a jazz and classical education. His next stop was The University of Toronto, where he earned a Masters of Music in Jazz Performance. Donnelly studied under noted jazz pianist David Braid there, citing him as something of a mentor. Donnelly is now a professor at U of T. Upon his graduation, the university conferred the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award upon him, an honour given to the student deemed to have the greatest potential to make an important contribution to the field of music. With Metamorphosis, that potential is already being realized. Metamorphosis is now out on ALMA Records Chris Donnelly and Mark Laver perform at Gallery 345 on May 26. Publication Date: 2011-04-17 Story Location: http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=11153

08/06/11 - Midwest Record - Entertainment Reviews, News, and Views http://midwestrecord.com/mwr369.html 1 of 3 1/18/2012 10:00 PM home About MWR MWRBlog 08/06/11 ALMA 5 AFTER 4/Rome in a Day: Progressive leaning Canuck jazzbos come back to the studio after a long time away and record a set almost in one take that's a cooker throughout. Heady stuff that has a great flow and a sound to match, this is an energetic, engaging set that sounds like it came from 52nd St as opposed to Canada. It's got that groove that gets you bopping along in your chair before you even realize you're doing it.. If you can be groovy and edgy at the same time, this crew has found a stellar way to do it. Well done. 62112 CHRIS DONNELLY/Metamorphosis: Very much of an edge pushing set, this isn't going to be for every one but it will probably find it's audience. The piano man under takes 50 one minute piano solos based on the Escher painting of the same name. Left field enough for you? The miniatures are quite quaint throughout, but you really have to have precious tastes to appreciate the approach on the way to the pay off. For creative thinkers willing to go the distance with this concept. 32212 BLUE CLAIR PLANET Z featuring SUSAN AQUILA: You've got an interesting bunch of talent on board here that just blows the roof off the sucker. Aquila is a jazz/rock electric violinist with a classical background that sounds more like she's Jean Luc Ponty's daughter than Clara does. Kicking it out on the music of Rob Tomaro, also a jazz rocker with a classical background, the two are an incendiary combustion that can't be denied. The credentials of these two speak for themselves. Simply put, when you want that jazz/rock thing with something extra that just doesn't quit, this is the set to put at the top of your list. This is hot stuff that just can't be denied. CIRCO MISTICO BENJI KAPLAN/Meditacoes no Violao: A New York kid with Brazil in his blood and what appears to be a lightening mind takes his guitar to Brazil and comes back with the same something you first heard in someone like Ottmar Liebert's music (yeah, he didn't do Brazil, we know). Playing like a native, this is one of those quiet kind of albums Jobim would inspire as this tyro and his strings play up all the storm you need to rock the house, quiet style. A stunning late night album, this guy is a natch and you're going to be hearing a lot from him. Be the first on your block. Killer stuff. 01/17/12 01/13/12 01/11/12 01/10/12 01/09/12 01/08/12 more MWRBlog Articles... Search Amazon. Enigmatic Ocean Jean-Luc Pon $10.98 Fusion Jazz and Rock G Various Artis $8.99 Cosmic Messenger Jean-Luc Pon $12.41 The Imagine Project Herbie Hanco $9.99 River: The Joni Letters Herbie Hanco $12.86 Possibilities Herbie Hanco $0.47 Modal Mojo Dominant Don Mock Da $7.99 COMEDY CENTRAL DAN LEVY/Congrats on Your Success!: Another recent alum of Chelsea Handler's laugh factory, Levy has been bringing it for stand up fans for a while and has been the recent recipient of some high comedy industry honors. Finally at the tipping point in his career where you stop calling him that guy' and start calling him by name, the laughs keep coming. This package pairs a cd and dvd giving you quite the panoply of his oeuvre from recent stand up to past Get Widget Privacy

Metamorphosis - Chris Donnelly AllMusic http://www.allmusic.com/album/metamorphosis-r2266212/review 1 of 1 1/18/2012 10:52 PM Artist/Group» New Releases» Editors' Choice» Top Pages» Top Composers» Moods» Themes» Instruments» Countries» Artist Spotlight» Classical Reviews» Pop Genres» AllMusic Blog Overview Review Credits Charts & Awards Buy Metamorphosis Chris Donnelly Album Browser < Previous Artist Chris Donnelly Album Metamorphosis Rating Release Date Mar 22, 2011 Label Alma Records Time 50:38 Genre Jazz AMG Album ID R 2266212 Next > Style Modern Composition Corrections to this Entry? Review by Ken Dryden Chris Donnelly's second CD, like his debut effort, consists of solo piano. But the young man is even more ambitious for this outing, as it consists of one continuous original work in ten connected movements, inspired by artist M.C. Escher's 1939 Metamorphosis. The piece combines both composed and improvised sections, and while one can hear the influence of various pianists, one never feels that the music gets into a holding pattern or into such a dense improvisation that the concept is lost. Rather than splice together his best takes of each movement, Donnelly recorded the entire piece four times, then selected his favorite performance. For such a young artist, Donnelly has a gift for finding remarkable voicings, developing each theme in a logical yet creative manner, and never losing the ear of his listener. Among the highlights are the dramatic, heartfelt "Cresting, Falling Away," the intense "You Hear the Voice" (in which one can hear Donnelly's classical roots), and the hypnotic "The Bough of Time" (with its Igor Stravinsky-like dissonance). The themes "You Are the Dancer" and "You Are the Dance" (used as the opening and closing tracks, respectively) are variations on a similar motif, with Donnelly creating a wall of sound with his use of the sustain pedal as the suite gently fades to its stark conclusion, much like a heart beating for the last time. Chris Donnelly's Metamorphosis is a major accomplishment that proves this young Canadian is worthy of wider recognition. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 You Are the Dancer Donnelly 2:41 2 In the Time-Scape of Sound Donnelly 4:58 3 You Enter the Fountain Donnelly 4:28 4 Cresting, Falling Away Donnelly 5:48 5 In the Chimera of Notes Donnelly 6:05 6 You Hear the Voice Donnelly 5:37 7 In a Blossom of Water Donnelly 5:20 8 Saying You Are the Azure Donnelly 4:42 9 The Bough of Time Donnelly 7:24 10 You Are the Dance Donnelly 3:35 indicates Track Pick indicates a click-through to a song review Our Authors About Us Contact Employment Product Submissions Advertising Privacy Policy Terms of Service Copyright Policy 2012 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

παραμορφωμένο, επιθετικό ροκ κομμάτι. Αλλά στο Sing a sad song, που είναι ένα από τα αγαπημένα μου κομμάτια του Merle, μου αρέσει να το παίζουμε απλά και να μένουμε κοντά στο πρωτότυπο. Είναι τόσο όμορφο! Το If we make it through December είναι το πιο λυπημένο χριστουγεννιάτικο τραγούδι που έχω ακούσει και πιστεύω ότι αυτό φαίνεται και στη δική μας εκτέλεση. Σε μερικά σας βίντεο στο YouTube εμφανίζεται μαζί σας και τραγουδιστής, όταν παίζετε ζωντανά. Σκοπεύετε να κάνετε και κάποια ηχογράφηση με τραγουδιστή; Περάσαμε πολύ καλά σ εκείνη η συναυλία! Ο Robbie Fulks, ένας σπουδαίος και καινοτόμος τραγουδιστής της κάντρι, είχε την καλοσύνη να ανέβει μαζί μας στη σκηνή. Μας παρακίνησε να παίξουμε στρέιτ στα κομμάτια που τραγούδησε. Ήταν κάτι που συνέβη τυχαία, καθώς βρισκόταν τότε στην περιοχή και είχαμε έναν κοινό φίλο. Δεν έχουμε σκεφτεί να χρησιμοποιήσουμε τραγουδιστή στο μέλλον. Πού και πού όταν τα έχω πιει, επιχειρώ να τραγουδώ εγώ σε κάποια κομμάτια, αλλά η φωνή μου είναι κακή Θα προτιμούσα να μπορούσα να τραγουδώ αυτά τα τραγούδια, αντί να παίζω σαξόφωνο. Στα περισσότερα από τα CD της εταιρείας Hot Cup υπάρχει πολύ χιούμορ και διάθεση για πλάκα. Ο Jon Irabagon μάς είχε πει σ αυτό το περιοδικό ότι το χιούμορ είναι ένας τρόπος που σε βοηθά να σκέφτεσαι έξω από την πεπατημένη και να προσπαθείς να αναπτύξεις κάτι δικό σου Ξέρω τι εννοεί. Το χιούμορ διατηρεί τα πράγματα χαλαρά και σου επιτρέπει να αφήνεις τη μουσική να κατευθυνθεί οπουδήποτε θελήσεις, πράγμα που το θεωρώ πολύ σημαντικό. Μ αρέσει το ότι περνάμε καλά με το συγκρότημά μου στις συναυλίες. Τα λάιβ μας είναι διαφορετικά από τις ηχογραφήσεις. Υπάρχει πολλή σοβαρότητα στη μουσική και είναι καλό να προσπαθείς για κάτι διαφορετικό. Πάντα μου άρεσε να κάνω αστεία. Και οι γονείς μου έκαναν το ίδιο και μεγαλώνοντας σε τέτοιο περιβάλλον απέκτησα κι εγώ χαλαρό χαρακτήρα Πώς φαντάζεσαι ότι θα αντιδρούσαν οι φίλοι της κάντρι ακούγοντας τις εκτελέσεις σας; Φαντάζομαι ότι θα σκέφτονται πως κάνουμε πλάκα με αυτή τη μουσική, αλλά σε καμιά περίπτωση δεν γίνεται κάτι τέτοιο. Απλά, έτσι είναι η μουσική μας. Κάθε λίγο και λιγάκι παίρνω κάποιο μέιλ από κάποιον που τυχαίνει να του αρέσει και ο Merle Haggard και η αβάντ-γκαρντ τζαζ, αλλά αυτό συμβαίνει μάλλον σπάνια. Το κοινό στο οποίο απευθυνόμαστε είναι πολύ περιορισμένο, αλλά όταν η μουσική μας βρίσκει αυτούς τους ανθρώπους αισθάνομαι πραγματικά όμορφα. Ξέρεις αν ο Merle Haggard έχει ακούσει τη μουσική του από εσάς; Στείλαμε μερικά CD στο μάνατζερ και το διαφημιστή του, αλλά δεν πήραμε καμιά απάντηση. Δεν μπορώ να πω με σιγουριά αν μας άκουσε, ή, κι αν το έκανε, αν του αρέσαμε. Πάντως αν πρόκειται να μας ακούσει ελπίζω να αντιληφθεί το σεβασμό που έχουμε για τη μουσική του. Ποια είναι τα επόμενα σχέδιά σας; Η γυναίκα μου πρόκειται να γεννήσει το πρώτο μας παιδί. Έτσι θα κάνω ένα διάλειμμα, αλλά μετά θα επιστρέψω στη ροή των πραγμάτων. Θα κλείσω μερικές εμφανίσεις και πιθανότατα θα ηχογραφήσουμε άλλο ένα άλμπουμ. Θα θελα κάποια στιγμή να φέρω το γκρουπ στην Ευρώπη. Ξέρω ότι ο Moppa ήδη το προσπαθεί. J&Τ 31

δίσκοι λέμε α: Thin Air Suite, που έδωσε και τον τίτλο όλου του CD. Ο πιανίστας Covell και ο σαξοφωνίστας Fiorenza κινούνται σε λιτό, ασταθές, μελωδικό, μίνιμαλ, ιμπρεσιονιστικό, χαλαρό, θαμπά ατμοσφαιρικό περιβάλλον, σαν να προθερμαίνονται για τη συνέχεια. Τρεις πολύ χαμηλού προφίλ συνθέσεις αφιερωμένες από τον Covell στον φίλο, μέντορα και δάσκαλό του Charles Banacos, που έφυγε πρόωρα λίγο πριν ξεκινήσουν τις ηχογραφήσεις. β: Sakura Suite. Πάλι έχουμε τριμερή σουίτα (με καταχρηστική ερμηνεία του κλασικού όρου) όμως αυτά τα τρία μέρη δεν δείχνουν τίποτε το κοινό ή συνδετικό να έχουν. Προηγείται μία «Ελεγεία για τον Τζο Βιόλα» ένας θρήνος για σόλο σοπράνο σαξόφωνο, φόρος τιμής στον μουσικό, δάσκαλο και πνευματικό πατέρα δεκάδων σπουδαστών σαξοφώνου στη Βοστώνη. Αυτή η Ελεγεία είναι η μόνη σύνθεση του Fiorenza. Οι υπόλοιπες είναι όλες του πιανίστα και παραγωγού. Ακολουθεί το «Τάνγκο για την Καλλιστώ» ένα σπουδαίο θέμα χάρμα ακροάσεως μείγμα πιατσολικής και τζαζικής τεχνοτροπίας με εντυπωσιακά μελωδικο-αρμονικά επεισόδια. Τρίτο βήμα, η σύνθεση Sakura, Sakura βασισμένη σ ένα ιαπωνικό παραδοσιακό μοτίβο. Ίσως το πιο κομψό και άρτιο σημείο του δίσκου με σπουδαίες εναρμονίσεις της πεντατονικής μελωδίας. (Το κομμάτι αρχίζει 1:13 μετά την αρχή του! Στο ξεκίνημα έχουμε τρεις σιγανές νοτίτσες και μπόλικη παύση!). γ: Europa Suite. Δύο συνθέσεις, η πρώτη μινιατούρα (1:14), η δεύτερη μεγάλιθος (39:56) πραγματικό μενίρ, τεράστιο όσο και επιβλητικό! Το πρώτο κομμάτι είναι μία συνθετότατη σπουδή πολυστιλιστικής πολυφωνίας, σωστό διαμαντάκι! Ακολουθεί ένας σαραντάλεπτος αυτοσχεδιασμός που είναι ικανός ν αφήσει μ ανοιχτό το στόμα τον ακροατή. Εκπληκτικά δομημένο improv με κρυμμένο θέμα και πολύ συγκεκριμένο αισθητικό πλαίσιο. Σαν παραλλαγές ύφους σ ένα μουλτι-στάιλ χάος Υπ όψιν: Η Καλλιστώ και η Ευρώπη είναι δορυφόροι πλανητών. Σχετικό και το εξώφυλλο. Επαφή: www.originalcopyrecords.com Κορνήλιος Διαμαντόπουλος CHRIS DONNELLY: Metamorphosis (Alma) Από τη νέα γενιά των πιανιστών της τζαζ, ο Καναδός Chris Donnelly είχε αφήσει εξαιρετικές εντυπώσεις με το δισκογραφικό του ντεμπούτο Solo, που είχε προταθεί για Juno το 2008, αποσπώντας στην πορεία κι άλλα σημαντικά βραβεία. Η εκφραστική ωριμότητα κι η σπινθηροβόλα εκτελεστική άποψη του Donnelly προχωρά ένα βήμα παραπέρα στο πρόσφατο άλμπουμ του Metamorphosis, όπου ο συνθέτης, πιανίστας και αυτοσχεδιαστής αποκαλύπτει τη ξεχωριστή βιρτουοζιτέ και τις σπάνιες εμπνεύσεις του στις δέκα κινήσεις ενός ακόμα σόλο δίσκου. Ένα απολαυστικό CD, που συμπυκνώνει την ευφυΐα, τη σπιρτάδα, την ευρηματικότητα, το πάθος και την ενέργεια ενός σπουδαίου πιανίστα, ο οποίος κινείται με πρωτοφανή άνεση στους τζαζ δαιδάλους, φλερτάροντας τόσο με κλασικούς, όσο και με μίνιμαλ ή αβάντ-γκαρντ δρόμους. Το πιανιστικό παίξιμο του Chris Donnelly αντικατοπτρίζει μία προσωπική άποψη, που έχει ως αφορμή τις ευφάνταστες συνθέσεις του και η οποία υλοποιείται δημιουργικά στα πλήκτρα. Η πρωτοπορία και η πρωτοτυπία συναντούν το συναίσθημα και η εγκεφαλική και συχνά ακαδημαϊκή γραφή του συγκλίνει με την αμεσότητα. Λυρικός και ονειροπόλος, αλλά ταυτόχρονα παραβατικός, χωρίς να προκαλεί με ακραίους νεολογισμούς, ο Donnelly αξιοποιεί το πλούσιο εκφραστικό του οπλοστάσιο χαρίζοντάς μας ένα υπέροχο άλμπουμ, που βρίθει στιλιστικών εναλλαγών και ηχητικών μεταμορφώσεων. Η μουσική τού Καναδού αντλεί από τη λεγόμενη κλασική, κινούμενη σε γνήσιες, αυθεντικές φόρμες, χτίζοντας ένα εξαιρετικό μελωδικό προφίλ και μιαν ηχοχρωματική ποικιλία που σπανίζουν. Η προσέγγισή του, ωστόσο, εκπέμπει έντονη διάθεση πειραματισμού και εσωτερικής αναζήτησης ενεργοποιώντας αθέατες πλευρές ενός διαρκώς ανήσυχου πιανίστα, που πολλές φορές αποδομεί και επανεφευρίσκει το μουσικό του περιβάλλον καταθέτοντας ένα νέο με όρους προσωπικούς. Και κάτι ακόμη, που έχει τη σημασία του. Ο δίσκος τού Donnelly πήρε δημιουργική εκκίνηση από την ομώνυμη δουλειά (1939) τού μεγάλου ολλανδού γραφίστα Maurits Cornelis Escher. Επαφή: www.almarecords.com Γιάννης Μουγγολιάς LEON GURVITCH PROJECT w/ FRANK LONDON: Eldorado (Morgenland/ A&N) Πολυσχιδής μουσική φυσιογνωμία ο Leon Gurvitch, αποτελεί χαρακτηριστική περίπτωση >>> 5 AFTER 4: Rome In a Day (Alma) Έχοντας ήδη μιαν αξιόλογη δισκογραφική παρουσία, το καναδέζικο συγκρότημα 5 After 4 μάς χαρίζει μέσα από την έκτη του ηχογράφηση ένα ωραίο άλμπουμ, που συνδυάζει τη ψυχαγωγική πλευρά της μουσικής με το άρτιο τεχνικά παίξιμο και τις πλούσιες ιδέες σε συνθετικό επίπεδο. Η μουσική του Rome In A Day αντλεί πλείστες όσες επιρροές από τον ήχο της τζαζ, της σόουλ και του φανκ και ξεδιπλώνεται με μια ξεχωριστή δυναμική, που αποτυπώνεται στους ρυθμούς και τις μελωδίες. Όμορφες αρμονίες και μινιμαλιστικά περάσματα διαδέχονται τα γεμάτα ενθουσιασμό και ενέργεια ρυθμικά τέμπι, με το τελικό αποτέλεσμα να ισορροπεί περίτεχνα ανάμεσα στη ρομαντική αίσθηση και το χαρούμενο groove. Έντεκα εξαιρετικές συνθέσεις με την αυθεντική υπογραφή των μελών του γκρουπ εκ των οποίων η τελευταία 14λεπτη υπό τον τίτλο Animal crackers συμπυκνώνει το ιδιαίτερο ύφος του δίσκου, μας αποκαλύπτουν ένα υποδειγματικά παιγμένο swing, ενώ σε πολλές περιπτώσεις ο οργανωμένος αυτοσχεδιασμός απελευθερώνει απρόβλεπτες δυνάμεις. Το ευαίσθητο άγγιγμα των πνευστών του Johnny Johnson συναντά τις ψυχωμένες παρεμβάσεις του πιάνου, του rhodes και του οργάνου του Matt Horner, την ώρα κατά την οποίαν οι μουσικοί τους διάλογοι υποστηρίζονται από το ρυθμικό υπόβαθρο των ντραμς του Vito Rezza και του μπάσου του Peter Cardinali (χειρίζεται και όργανο, ενώ έχει κάνει και τις ενορχηστρώσεις). Οι 5 After 4 μάς προσφέρουν ένα θαυμάσιο δίσκο, κοντά στο ύφος των θρυλικών Crusaders, δημιουργώντας ατμόσφαιρα και πείθοντάς μας ότι τα κλασικά διδάγματα του τζαζ παρελθόντος μπορεί να έχουν νόημα στις μέρες μας, όταν προσεγγιστούν με σύγχρονο τρόπο από μια δεξιοτεχνική μπάντα. Γιάννης Μουγγολιάς J&Τ 41

Chris Donnelly, solo piano Solo Alma On his first solo venture, Canadian pianist Chris Donnelly proves he is insightful, inventive and an accomplished performer and composer. Published on October 12, 2010 Chris Donnelly, solo piano Solo Alma ACD92382, 67:31 ****: On his debut, simply titled Solo, Canadian pianist Chris Donnelly harnesses the communion that can exist between a musician and his or her chosen instrument. Donnelly is only his late twenties is already one of Canada s premier jazz players: he was nominated for a Juno award last year, has performed with elder Canadian artists and is now a University of Toronto professor. On Solo released in 2008 and reissued by Alma Records Donnelly shows his ease with either jazz or classical on four interpretations of standards that range from Charlie Parker to Walt Disney and seven originals that merge his classical and jazz background. Donnelly opens with Bill Evans Very Early, which starts as an inspired echo of Evans style and gradually but impeccably escalates into a swing tone, moving from introversion to extroversion: the tempo rises and without preamble Donnelly even slips in a slice of discord. Donnelly s jazz chops are brought to the fore on Bud Powell s Hallucinations, where Donnelly demonstrates his technique and virtuosic ability: his fingers roll up and down the 88 keys and he concludes with a witty outro. He gives a similar sense of humor and depth to a lengthy deconstruction of Charlie Parker s Donna Lee that applies several variations that illustrate Donnelly s improvisational expertise and performance proficiency. The pièce de résistance is a Cinderella Medley that combines So This Is Love with A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Donnelly begins with sublimity and subtly edges in amusing asides as the melodies come to the front. He also progresses from a recital quality into emotional territory and from straightforwardness into sophistication. While translation of other artists material is the bread and butter of any emerging performer, originality is a different issue and Donnelly proves he is insightful, inventive and accomplished on his seven compositions. For the Drifters is a mid-tempo treatment that shifts around a fissured melody and presents moments of conflict alongside comfort. Serenity is a well-

named, dreamy ballad where single notes reverberate from Donnelly s grand piano and has a touch of rural folk impressionism. Serenity slides directly into likeminded Winter s Waltz, which has a deeper landscape attribute and alters shape to include sharply pounded keys, more of Donnelly s delicate lightheartedness and his self-constrained finesse. Donnelly s most notable work is his three-part homage set in B-minor that is scattered among the 11-track program. Song in B Minor Satie has a moody mannerism that mirrors Erik Satie s subdued character and melancholic melodic forte and exemplifies Donnelly s classical music education. The brief Song in B Minor Fauré is a tribute to French composer Gabriel Fauré and cultivates a concession of expression with a harmonic poise reminiscent of Fauré s streamlined compositional approach. Song in B Minor Eva follows a comparable path and is centered by a parallel melody. Donnelly s harmonic and melodic lines and chords are beautifully rendered by engineer Peter Olsen and were captured in the University of Toronto s resonant Walter Hall, a perfect location for this recital-like recording. For those interested in future endeavors, Donnelly plans to follow up Solo with a sophomore project entitled Metamorphosis, based on M.C Escher s graphics.

Bruce Crowther s Reviews http://www.swing2bop.com/reviews.html#225 21 of 50 1/18/2012 10:53 PM minds and there isn't a jarring note to be heard. On each of the CDs there are three songs from Robin McElhatten (now known as Robin McKelle). Any one of these CDs (which are available separately) is worth your attention. Chris Donnelly Metamorphosis (Alma ACD 32212) This ambitious work is a 10-part suite for solo piano that vividly demonstrates Chris Donnelly's skill as instrumentalist and composer. Inspired by the similarly titled work by graphic artist MC Escher, the music has depth and emotional content far exceeding what is often heard today in contemporary jazz. From his Canadian base, Chris is now extending his reputation worldwide. Quite clearly, Chris is an important addition to the ranks of jazz piano players and one who should be sought out by all who love this particular strand of the jazz tapestry. Nancy Donnelly A Greater Love (MisD Records) A very welcome newcomer to the ranks of jazz singers, Nancy Donnelly has performed extensively in Boston, New York and surrounding areas but is as yet little known outside the USA. This CD, her first release, should change all that. Accompanied by the fine trio of pianist Peggy Stern, bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Matt Wilson, Nancy swings admirably through a selection of original material (by Nancy and Peggy) and familiar standards, although none of these is overused and hence contribute to the overall feeling of freshness. Melodic and accurate, Nancy's singing voice is always a delight to hear and she interprets ballads with introspective warmth, while on mid-tempo pieces she swings with seemingly effortless ease. If you didn't know this was a debut, you would certainly not guess. This is a singer with full and justified confidence in her ability and one well worth getting to know. Bob Dorough Sunday At Iridium (Arbors Records ARCD 19305) Perhaps it stretches the definition to call this a jazz CD, but how do you describe an artist like Bob Dorough? Witty, inventive, a multi-talented pianist, singer, composer, educator, he has been around seemingly forever. Indeed, he is now 80-something yet nowadays, most Sundays, he can still be found entertaining audiences at New York's Iridium Club. This is where this engaging set was recorded early in 2004. Mixing standards with his own compositions, some of which have themselves become standards, he remains as sparkling as he ever was in the past. Bob sings and plays his way through songs such as 'You're The Dangerous Type', 'Comin' Home Baby', 'We'll Be Together Again' and 'Sunday'. On the latter, as well as on 'Ain't No Spoofin'', Bob is joined by guest trumpeter Joe Wilder, while pianist-singer Daryl Sherman sits in on 'Without Rhyme Or Reason'. Warmly recommended to all fans of Bob's, and if you have yet to encounter this remarkable musician you could not wish for a better place at which to start. Christiana Drapkin/Charles Sibirsky Songs About You (Iana Records IANA 2003) This interesting set from the pupil-teacher team of singer Christiana Drapkin and pianist Charles Sibirsky offers a mixture of standards, jazz songs and originals. Christiana has a lightly ethereal sound, pleasantly reedy in places, and she presents her material in a relaxed and confident manner. Her teacher for many years, Charles is a fine piano player and his accompaniment and solos are fluid and eloquent. Also heard on most tracks is bassist Murray Wall. Charles's originals, 'Formation', 'Open Your Heart', 'Cholesterol Blues', are all good songs that deserve a wider hearing. Madeline Eastman The Speed Of Life (MadKat MKCD 1009) A strikingly gifted singer, Madeline Eastman is decidedly contemporary in her approach to jazz. Although drawing upon the great standards, she reworks and revitalizes the songs with flair and imagination. Her vocal sound is mature and her improvisations are fluent. Accompanied here by a first-rate band, including pianist Randy Porter, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Akira Tana, Madeline is not only the solo voice and leader, when the moment demands, she is also a thoroughly integrated member of the ensemble. This is a very good example of this fine singer's work and one that will very likely send you hunting for more. Good to know that Madeline is also a skilled singing teacher; through someone as talented and skilled as this the future of jazz singing is in good hands.

Jazz Music: CD Review: Chris Donnelly - Metamorphosis http://www.jazmuzic.com/2011/09/cd-review-chris-donnelly-metamorpho... 2 of 7 1/18/2012 9:53 PM

Jazz Music: CD Review: Chris Donnelly - Metamorphosis http://www.jazmuzic.com/2011/09/cd-review-chris-donnelly-metamorpho... 3 of 7 1/18/2012 9:53 PM