Honoring the Masters
Nearly two years ago, Adventure Music started a new series called Piano Masters. The idea behind it was to showcase the “intimate experience of solo piano music between artist and audience.” In the vision of Jim Luce and Richard Zirinsky, Jr., the Adventure Music Piano Masters Series featured world-renowned pianist performing on the Fazioli F-308 Concert Grand piano. The first volume featured Benjamim Taubkin. Now, volume 2 will be in stores on April 17, 2012, and headlines Philippe Baden Powell, son of guitar master Baden Powell and brother to guitarist Louis Marcel Powell.
Philippe Baden Powell was born in Paris, France, in 1978. He began studying the piano at age severn, and when the family relocated to Rio de Janeiro, he took classic piano lessons with Sonia Maria Vieira and later attended the Brazilian Music Conservatory. Since the early 1990s, he has been performing with his brother Louis Marcel, with whom he formed the Banda Powell, and later in that decade, he joined other Bossa Nova stars, such as Billy Blanco and second generation Bossa Nova performers, such as Kay Lyra (daughter of Carlos Lyra). He has also performed along with Seu Jorge, Farofa Carioca, Diogo Nogueira, and Carol Saboya. More recently, you have probably read about his featured performances in Mario Adnet’s AfroSambaJazz right here in MB. Philippe was also featured in Vittor Santos’ Renewed Impressions in 2006, the same year he released his first solo album for Adventure Music, Dirt Road (Estrada de Terra).
Piano Masters well achieves its purpose of an intimate experience between the artist and his public. The album was originally recorded in 2008 in a one-day session and features six original compositions by Philippe Baden Powell performed side by side with other stellar artists’ compositions, including music by Baden Powell, Vinícius de Moraes, Thelonious Monk, Egberto Gismonti, Edu Lobo, Caetano Veloso and John Coltrane. All music is beautifully performed in Philippe’s incomparable “wildly rhythmic” style, as Allmusic calls it. Just one listen to “Consolação” is enough to hear the vigor and expertise in the hands of this talented musician. His own “Frevo da Sorte” is yet another example of his immense talents both as a composer and performer. When he ventures outside the Brazilian repertoire, such as with “Round About Midnight” and “Giant Steps,” Philippe’s light shines even brighter. “Round About Midnight” is soothing and yet dark as midnight itself. Egberto Gismonti’s “Lôro” has echoes of Ernesto Nazareth in this unforgettable rendition. It is simply put beautiful!
Piano Masters does justice to its name with this volume two in the series. Featuring Philippe Baden Powell was a magnificent choice. You can read more about the artist in his website.
ALBUM INFORMATION
Philippe Baden Powell
Piano Masters Series, Vol. 2
Adventure Music AM 1072 2 (2012)
Time: 49’15”
Tracks:
All tracks by Philippe Baden Powell, except where noted.
- Prologue
- Frevo da Sorte
- Consolação (Baden Powell – Vinícius de Moraes)
- Round About Midnight (Thelonious Monk – Cootie Williams)
- Choro Para Metrônomo (Baden Powell)
- Lôro (Egberto Gismonti)
- The Meantime
- Canto Triste (Edu Lobo – Vinícius de Moraes)
- Sou Você (Caetano Veloso)
- Garfield
- Giant Steps (John Coltrane)
- Vista Chinesa
- Ending
